Just for information - there has been some discussion in the past re the return of credit rebates on Direct debit accounts when switching away from SP. I have had it confirmed to me that any due rebate will be paid by cheque NOT BACS transfer to the bank account; It is not necessary therefore to keep the DD open once you have dates for supply switching if you are sure that you will be in credit.

BREWERDAVE1:

I have had it confirmed to me that any due rebate will be paid by cheque NOT BACS transfer to the bank account

When I saw that on the SP website I hoped it was out of date information. It's certainly a dated procedure. Far rather be subjected to the vagaries of a DD mandate than "cheque in the post".

Don't know how widespread Scottish Power "cheque in the post" is, but Southern Electric refund by BACS gets my vote.

Don't disagree Jalexa - I was asking as I didn't want to keep the DD open unecessarily as I'm well in credit.

Whats even more confusing/dated is that SP apparently revert to two accounts when you announce you are switching a dual supply - their reason is that the actual dates that the two supplies will switch/terminate will be different. They apparently will set up two new DDs just to settle final bill!!

BREWERDAVE1:

Whats even more confusing/dated is that SP apparently revert to two accounts when you announce you are switching a dual supply - their reason is that the actual dates that the two supplies will switch/terminate will be different. They apparently will set up two new DDs just to settle final bill!!

While in general I'm very impressed with SP billing (and prices FWIW) - they automatically and accurately recalculated my DD after 9 months when I submitted a meter reading - you are right about the 2 DDs. When I switched I got seperate DD notifications for each fuel, but only a single combined collection. "Technically" a breach of the DD rules. The renotification was a single DD so it looks as if they have a systems quirk at the start and end of a supply agreement.

SP offer cheque rebates by default. However, they WILL give you a BACS transfer if you are insistent enough (i.e. explain that it is difficult for you to get to bank while out working etc). The cheques from SP also took 7 working days to arrive, and 4 days to clear through my account for some reason as well. I don't know whether this was just my bank (HBOS) or the SP cheque, but a ridiculous amount of time all the same.