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Rank 1
October 7, 2022
Solved

£66 government energy bills support scheme deducted from my OVO account balance not added?

  • October 7, 2022
  • 645 replies
  • 34621 views

Can anyone explain what’s going on here?

Opening balance was £335, we used around £90 worth of electric/gas combined (£66 government payment was taken off this, hence the £22 charge), I paid £150 so by my reckoning the balance should have gone up by around £125.

It hasn’t though - they seem to have then deducted the £66 again.

Does anyone know why? Do I need to contact them or will it right itself?

Best answer by Blastoise186

Updated on 28/06/23 by Abby_OVO

 

This scheme is now closed.

 

How you will be awarded the £67 depends on how you pay. If you’re seeing a deduction, it’s because you pay by Direct Debit and the grant payment went into your OVO account and is then deducted from the account and refunded to your bank account. 

For all information on this topic please see the website page Energy Bills Support Scheme or this previous response:

 

 

If you pay by direct debit and have seen the credit go to your OVO account, this payment will be transferred into your bank account. 

 

The payment will be made 3-5 working days after the direct debit has cleared. This will happen automatically and you don’t need to do anything. 

 

All customers who pay this way will receive their refund into their bank accounts within 3-5 days of their direct debit date. For example, if your direct debit is the 15th of the month, it’ll be 3-5 days after this. 

 

For anyone that pays on demand, their payment will be made directly to their OVO account. 

 

 

If you pay by Direct Debit

You’ll receive your discount as a refund. This means you’ll carry on paying your full Direct Debit amount. Once the Direct Debit payment has cleared, we’ll refund the monthly discount amount to your bank account shortly after. If you cancel your Direct Debit, or your payment fails, there may be a delay in applying the discount to your account.

You’ll get your discount every month, even if you don’t get monthly statements. You'll see confirmation of the discount on your next statement. 

 

If you pay when you get your bill

You’ll receive your monthly discount as a credit to your energy account in the first week of each month. You’ll see this on your monthly bills from October. 

We’ll add the discount to your energy account every month, even if you don’t get monthly bills. You'll see confirmation of the discount on your next bill. 

For example, if you receive your bills on the 15th of the month, we’ll add your discount in the 1st week of the month, starting in October, so you’ll see confirmation of this on your bill dated 15 October.

 

Hey @meccles !

Please check your Charges as well. I suspect you’ll see a line entry there that explains it, just like this example:

 

645 replies

Jeffus
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 2, 2022

@Jolewin 

Click on "See details"

Look for "Energy Bill Support Scheme"

 

Newcomer
November 2, 2022

@Jeffus , thanks for the reply I have done that but it doesn't address the point I'm afraid.  

 

If you take my screenshot as the example. 

 

I had a credit balance of £103.65. 

For the period my usage was £46.27

This would leave a credit balance of £57.38. 

I then paid my dd of £251.00

This would leave a credit balance of 308.38. 

They then refunded me £66. Great gave me the £66 pounds back. But my balance also reduced to £242.38. 

So yes they have refunded me £66 of my own balance not reduced it in any way.... the refund just give me 66 I've already paid back not 66 additional which is what the scheme is supposed to do. 

Jeffus
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 2, 2022

Hi,

Post a screen shot of what you see when you click on see details. You may need to post a couple of screen shots.

I will explain how it works.

OK?

Newcomer
November 2, 2022

Hey @Jeffus , don't worry I've worked it out now! I can see the 66 credit has been made before the £46.27 balance is displaced. 

 

Thanks for your help, mystery solved! 

Jo

Jeffus
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 2, 2022

Hey @Jeffus , don't worry I've worked it out now! I can see the 66 credit has been made before the £46.27 balance is displaced. 

 

Thanks for your help, mystery solved! 

Jo

Happy to help 😊

Firedog
Super User
Super User
November 2, 2022

For the vulnerable people i know, a reduction in the direct debit would have been better. It would have reduced the risk of them being overdrawn on their bank account for a few days in the period between taking the direct debit and getting the £66.  

That is a valid argument - thanks for putting it forward. However, it sounds as if these customers might be well advised to move the date of their DD, e.g. to the day after (a) payday. 

As regards the ‘few days’, in my case it was less than 48 hours: DD on 10 October, credit to my bank account at dawn on 12 October. OMMV.

I’m one of those who would be struggling without the EBSS, so I’m afraid I can’t follow your admirable example.

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
November 3, 2022

Hey @Wendy64,

 

Sorry for the issues you’re having.

 

It sounds like you’re PAYG with Boost? We have more information about how the Energy Bills Support Scheme payment will be paid to Boost customers in this similar thread:

 

 

If you haven’t received yours or are concerned you aren’t able to top up, please get in touch with Boost Support. As @Blastoise186 pointed out they can offer things like emergency credit or financial support. You also could discuss with them changing to pay monthly with OVO if you think that would suit you better. 

 

Hope this helps. 

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Newcomer
November 3, 2022

I am super confused by this. I can see the £66 has been paid in my bank. However, £66 is added to my monthly bill… then surely this only cancels it out.

So what’s the point in this benefit?

Surely it should be paid in to our bank and then NOT added to our bills.

juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 4, 2022

@Jamie80 can you check on your Charges Breakdown - there should be an entry Energy Bill Support Scheme -£66 which is a negative charge ie a payment into your account.

Newcomer
November 4, 2022

@Jamie80 can you check on your Charges Breakdown - there should be an entry Energy Bill Support Scheme -£66 which is a negative charge ie a payment into your account.

Hi @juliamc it does show -£66 as a refund. But this is added to my bill total, not deducted. Unless I am missing something or maybe not understanding this correctly!?