Just been told they are moving me to monthly billing - I want to stay on quarterly.

[Davidmyer]

I have just received an email advising that without consultation AGL is moving me to monthly billing.  I don't want it.  I want to stay on quarterly.  I do not want the hassle of paying every month.  I don't want to go on an automatic debit - I want no-one to have access to extract money from my account - I pay when I have seen a bill and checked it.  So do I now have to change retailer?  Is there any way of staying on a quarterly billing cycle?

[Lester]

Hey @loxucedena "Hey Sanjee, you can definitely switch back to quarterly billing, even with a digital meter—just contact AGL directly to sort it out. I found this site helpful for understanding billing options: .pk link removed  Good luck!

Best regards, Simran Singh"

Simran, you do know this is an aussie energy forum, not Pakistan ?

I am fairly sure that link you have posted before is relative in .pk only, WHY POST IT (AGAIN) ???

[Mayhemdiva]

Thank you for your quick fix. I received my email today TELLING ME that i was being put on monthly bills after 35 years of AGL quarterly. No opt in or out just telling me. 

So using your instructions I opted out. Surely it should be an option not a rule.

Thank you again.

[Caban]

I too was changed to Monthly. 

An hour later I looked into my online account and switched it back to Quarterly.

Would really have preferred to be asked rather than just switching me over.

[SYED_AGL]

Hi @Caban,

Thanks for reaching out.

You can absolutely switch back to monthly billing at any time from your online account — it’s completely flexible. If you’re still experiencing any issues or have further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly here:
👉 http://agllink.co/6006UK1Ve

We’re here to help and want to make sure everything’s working smoothly for you.

SYED 

[diseydi]

I received the same email and was disgusted and I imagine the real reason is the extra money for admin costs that doing monthly would accrue their way.  No way for this old chook.  I went on to My Account and changed it back to quarterly so I'll watch and see what happens.

[Lester]

@diseydi I imagine cashflow reasons would be high on the list too.

Plus thinking deeper, power prices are getting that high now that people on quarterly that are struggling might find it hard to come up with 3 months of usage budget wise, better for those customers to perhaps go monthly.

[lilacgerry]

Australia, energy companies are heavily regulated regarding how they manage your account, and they are required to inform you of changes to your contract, which includes the billing cycle

. 

Requirements for billing cycle changes in Australia (under the National Energy Customer Framework, covering NSW, SA, ACT, TAS, and QLD):

• Advance Notice of Changes: Retailers must let you know if they change your contract, which includes the terms regarding how and when you are billed.
• Explicit Informed Consent: If a retailer wants to change your billing cycle—for example, moving you from quarterly to monthly billing—they are supposed to obtain your explicit informed consent.
• Maximum Billing Period: Retailers must issue a bill at least once every 100 days.
• Bill Content Requirements: Any changes to your bill, including the frequency, should be communicated clearly.
• Pro-rata Billing: If a billing cycle changes, your energy usage will be "pro-rata" calculated to ensure you are charged correctly for the time spent on each rate. 

What to do if your billing cycle changed without notice:
If your provider changed your billing cycle (e.g., to monthly) without your consent, you should:

1. Change it back under your account settings If you did not consent and dont like the change
2. Contact your retailer directly to voice your objection if you cant do this on your own and ask them to switch you back to your previous schedule.
3. Contact your state's energy ombudsman if the company does not resolve the issue, as this may be a breach of their obligation