About time OVO permitted Variable Direct Debit for Smart Meter users.

Hey @bray55,

Thank you for your idea! This has been raised before internally and by customers, I know that this payment method is available with a few other providers, I believe EDF is included in this cohort. The most common type of direct debit is 'fixed' monthly direct debit, the reason we choose this payment method is because it allows customers to budget and creates an average over the course of the year therefore avoiding large winter payments. 

I’ve changed this to ‘Can’t be done yet’ as it is not something OVO are considering currently. However, that’s not to say it won’t happen in future- it’s a popular idea so can continue to be voted for so we can gauge the interest in variable direct debits. 

Keep the ideas rolling! 😊

Why on earth not. OVO CAN HANDLE DIRECT DEBITS WHY NOT VARIABLE DIRECT DEBITS!!!? Even useless British Gas can do this !!

what is also shameful is your apparent intent to charge 5% more .

Get this done.

I’d like to vote for variable direct debits but if this type of payment method is introduced then those of us who don’t have/want smart meters but diligently provide monthly meter readings should not be excluded. 

Variable direct debits are a good way of helping OVO customers pay only what is due during cost of living crisis rather than accumulating large balances on energy accounts that could be used to pay other bills.

OVO used to offer them back in the day, but withdrew VDD several years ago. It’s unlikely they’ll come back.

Sorry for being a pedant, but OVO direct debits are variable .. what you are asking for is monthly full bill settlement by direct debit.

A variable Direct debit in the industry is where the DD is exactly the same as your bill each period, which could be monthly or quarterly. 

So you never have any credit or debit on your account. 

OVO have the added nuance of live billing to add to the mix. 

If customers prefer variable direct debits the best thing is to simply switch. 

@Jeffus 

Thanks, I've worked hand-in-hand with BACS for long enough, sat on enough BACS working groups to agree industry standards and file formats and specified enough BACS interfaces to understand direct debits and industry terms around payment processing. 

A variable direct debit is simply a mandate that allows the payee to vary the amount drawn against the mandate. People like Martin Lewis abusing the term means that a lot of people now mistakenly think that variable only refers to a direct debit that varies every month/quater to settle a bill/statement in full.

It is a fair point about the distinction.

Anyway, it is what it is now, the energy companies use the term

https://help.shellenergy.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360001033877-Should-I-set-up-a-variable-Direct-Debit-

I see my mobile company and my water company used the term.

@Jeffus 

Absolutely .. it has become so abused, or misused, that the proper meaning has become lost.