‘My energy provider owed me £800 but still doubled my direct debit’

Energy companies are doubling down on direct debits from creditworthy customers as regulators prepare to probe the practice.

Suppliers must submit data to regulator Ofgem by next week to prove they have not unfairly increased bills.

The watchdog had grown suspicious that companies were overcharging customers and using their balances to shore up their own finances. The energy price cap rose 54 percent in April, but tens of thousands of households have seen their bills rise much more.

A Telegraph Money reader had a balance of £800 with his supplier but after asking for a refund he only got half of it back, while her debit doubled.

Another reader, Richard John, said his supplier E.On tried to increase his direct debit from £60 to £113.

“I told them not to increase it to no more than £80 a month or I’d cancel my direct debit,” added Mr John, who said his usage had fallen. “They agreed. I told them that if I got cold I would turn off the heating and that I would start burning the furniture as it would be cheaper.”