Getting to grips with the Direct Debit Calculator on your online account

If you’re logging in to your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS) regularly you might have spotted a ‘minimum  monthly’ recommended Direct Debit amount showing on the Homepage.

To help you see how we work the Direct Debit amount out, you can use the Direct Debit calculator. This tool is currently available on the web browser online account and not the app.

If you click ‘Adjust your Direct Debit’ you’ll be greeted by this page:

You can see the basic breakdown of how the recommended Direct Debit amount is worked out by clicking ‘continue’ and then clicking ‘How we work out the minimum monthly payment’ and ‘Check your monthly payment calculation’

This shows how we use your predicted costs and current balance to determine the correct monthly amount to cover your average energy use.

For a more in-depth view, you can return to the ‘Direct Debit calculator’ page. If you type in a figure for how much you’d like to pay, you’ll see a visual representation of how that will affect your account balance and costs. You can select either ‘balance’ or ‘cost’ to see the two visuals:

You’re able to change the figure in the ‘Direct Debit’ amount box to update the graphs, showing what would happen to your balance if you adjust to this amount.. This helps to visualise the most suitable amount you should be paying.

As we want to make sure you’re paying enough to keep you covered, you’ll only be able to adjust your Direct Debit amount to the calculated minimum. Your Direct Debit amount is reviewed regularly to ensure that you’re paying enough, and we’ll contact you if it needs to be increased. Find out more here on how we review your Direct Debit if you’re on a fixed contract:

Is there any support available if I’m struggling to pay for my energy?

There’s help available if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills – both from us at OVO and from government schemes and charities as well. There are many ways we can help – such as setting up a payment plan for you, which spreads the cost of your energy to make it more manageable. If you want to find out about payment plans, you can request one online here – we’ll take you through what you need to do, and ask you for some details.

Our dedicated team is also specially trained to support you. They can make sure you’re receiving any financial assistance from the government that you’re eligible for, and take you through payment support schemes that are available.  You can find out more about these schemes and where to seek free, independent advice right here.