Scottish Power Bill

[burlyshirley]

I have always paid this bill quarterly by cheque, but when I checked my emails this morning, I have received an email from them demanding payment for this quarter and telling me ways to pay. I have NEVER paid this way before. Does anybody think it's a scam, or do any of you pay your electricity bill this way ? I would be grateful for any responses. Thank you.

[davebro]

seems like they want to drag you into the 21st century.

[calmck]

I would be very careful. Does it have correct account number? Does your name appear as it is on your account? Does it give meter reading and number, if so check with yours. Contact Scottish power if u can

[bednobs]

have you ever given them your email address?
does the email say dear (your name) or dear customer?
is it time for your quarterly bill?
was there anything on your last bill saying about email (sometimes they put a message on)
I get an email from my power company each month letting me know its time to read the meter and to look at my account, but as i #pay by DD they never ask me to pay by email

[carrot99]

Look on the back of your last bill for ways to pay and then you'll be able to see that they have given you the correct details.
I pay by direct debit it's easier than writing and posting a cheque and I think you get a little discount for direct debit.

[burlyshirley]

Thanks for replies, apart from 10:29. Yes bednobs I had to ring them yesterday with a query and they did ask for my email address, but they also told me that my bill would be sent out to me, as usual, in four to five working days. I told them that I still prefer to pay this way and I thought that was that ! They seem to have all my correct details and have addressed me by name, so it probably isn't a scam, but I needed to make sure. I have to go out now, but I will ring them later - another 30 minutes wait probably !

[bednobs]

is one of the options in the email to pay by cheque?
if so i'd just carry on doing that if that's what you prefer.
There will be a time coming shortly though (if this isnt it) where they will most likely take away your ability to do that, so it might be worth giving another way a go to see if you can get used to it. when my milkman went over to DD rather than cash on the doorstep, it took me a while to get used to it, but i use cash so little nowadays i wouldnt be able to go back

[maggiebee]

I pay my Scottish Power bills monthly by direct debit and have done this for many years. It's probably kosher, but would double check just to put your mind at rest.

[Etch]

How is the email "demanding payment"? I suspect that the email is simply letting you know how much your bill is going to be and reminding you of the available methods of payment (which will probably also be on the paper bill).

[burlyshirley]

No bednobs, there is no option to pay by cheque. I have already been holding on now for 15 minutes trying to get through to them again ! I still want to pay by cheque for as long as I can and still receive a paper bill, but I do realise that all this will probably be stopped in the near future. Thanks for all your assistance.

[Barmaid]

Unfortunately, these large companies are trying to force us all into doing everything online and by direct debit (generally with DD, they always end up owing you so they have interest free use of your money). There is now an "App" for almost everything and trying to talk to a real person is the devil's own job. OK, most of our stuff is done like this, since it is convenient for us.

It is not convenient for my 95 year old grandmother who doesn't have a smart phone, cannot use a computer and prefers to pay in cash!! I really feel for some of that generation who have lost a fair amount of independence by the way the world is going. Thankfully, my mother is techo savvy and she does it all - that isn't the point though. Because of the way things are going, so many of the elderly (I realise not all and we have some extremely capable 80 year young guys and gals on this site) are struggling to deal with things they have always dealt with themselves and end up having to appoint someone to do this stuff for them.

Anyway, that is off your point BS. You could try going onto their website and seeing if you can access your details online. Do not follow a link but get the details off the back of your bill.

[bednobs]

or wait for the 5 days to see if it comes as a bill too

[burlyshirley]

Yes, I totally agree with everything you say Barmaid, it is a lot of the elderly (not all I know) who struggle with all these 'new fangled' ways ! I myself am not very tech savvy and do not own a Smart phone, or a Smart anything for that matter ! My own brother often has a go a me for still using cheques, but as long as my bank issue them to me and people still accept them, I will go on using them (my choice). I finally got through to a human voice and she was a big help and reassured me that I wouldn't get any more emails and can carry on paying by cheque (until it's no longer possible of course) lol. Happy to be a dinasour haha ....

[burlyshirley]

I was considering doing that bednobs if I couldn't get through today, but hopefully it's been sorted now.

[ToraToraTora]

cheque? You on the electric yet?!
I pay by monthly DD, get the discount for paperless and dual.

[ToraToraTora]

TBF shirley you probably could save a fortune by switching. Scottish Power have been getting a bad press of late. I went to Octopus.

[bednobs]

i too am with octopus and like the way they conduct their business. Not sure if you could pay them by cheque, which is what shirley wants to do though

[bobbinwales]

So pay by cheque plus 70-80p each time for a stamp? Seems so last century to me now... I remember when I used to line up all my cheques and envelopes to post and now wonder why...DD is o much easier, saves postage and usaully theres a discount for DD.... and avoids late payment charges or hassle

[perseverer]

At the moment, all the energy suppliers cheapest rate is likely to be decided by the price cap, so there is no point in switching, especially if you are currently on some sort of fixed deal which is cheaper!