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Southern Electric - Price Rise
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This does'nt seem fair, Southern electric increased our Electric unit charges 2/3rds of the way through the last qtr, they never told us - i only found out when the bill came last week. They had also over estimated the bill by around £225 - so i phoned them to adjust the bill. I also asked how they worked out how much of my bill was charged at the old unit rate, and how much was at the new unit rate - apparantly they just estimate it??? Seeing as they always over estimate the main bill - i guess they've probably got it wrong... Anyway how do they know that i was'nt on holiday over the period that the price increase covers ??? Surley they should come out and read the meter before putting the price up ?
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They have somewhere in the region of 7-8 million customers (accounts).Surley they should come out and read the meter before putting the price up ?
You expect them to read them all on the same day as the price rise?
So long as they get accurate readings often enough their estimates will be fairly close.
If you are worried about them estimating your usage when you are on holiday, phone them up on the day you leave with a reading, and do the same when you get back.0 -
OP
all supply companies have 65 working days to inform customers (after change).
Customers then have 10 working days to reject price increase and another 15 working days to INITIATE a transfer to take place within a reasonable timescale.
If all this happens they are then not allowed to charge you the increased price and must bill you at the existing price until the switch completes.
HTH
MP
EDIT
The quote in this post explains it best... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...&postcount=206
I have a poll / discussion on Economy 7 / 10 off-peak usage (as a % or total) and ways to improve it but I'm not allowed to link to it so have a look on the gas/elec forum if you would like to vote or discuss.:cool:0 -
I have checked my increases and i'll be honest-it has made a few pounds difference a year. If you call them they will look at the account and review the D/D payments. I was concerned and they were so so so helpful. I really do love the service I get from Southern and they are very supportive, quick and the call waiting is a couple of mins max even at peak times. I cannot stand British Gas after the experience I had in the past and Npower is on Watchdog as I type so I am happy to be with the best supplier.
Nice one Scottish and Southern-you keep your customers at the heart of your business and you are a credit to the industry and make life a lot easier for me!!!
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you....if you keep putting my prices up even by a few pounds a year-you keep up the customer service as impeccable as it is and I will be perfectly happy!!Loan-£3600 only 24 months of payments to go!!!
All debt consolodated and cards destroyed!!
As D'Ream would sing 'Things.....can only get better'!!!0 -
They have somewhere in the region of 7-8 million customers (accounts).
You expect them to read them all on the same day as the price rise?
So long as they get accurate readings often enough their estimates will be fairly close.
Obviously not, but they could give me the option to phone in a reading within so many days after the increase.
My point is there's no way this estimate can ever be corrected - as with other estimates. They decide how much you used before the rise, they decide how much is after - thats it, if they got it wrong - then hard luck! For me its unlikely to be mega ££'s out, but if was a small buiness, pub etc.. then it could be quite a lot.0 -
Obviously not, but they could give me the option to phone in a reading within so many days after the increase.
My point is there's no way this estimate can ever be corrected - as with other estimates. They decide how much you used before the rise, they decide how much is after - thats it, if they got it wrong - then hard luck! For me its unlikely to be mega ££'s out, but if was a small buiness, pub etc.. then it could be quite a lot.
It is still the same problem - sending out a letter to get millions of people to phone through their readings is no small task and would sent the call centres into meltdown when a large number phoned them through.
That is the reason for the 65 day thing I mentioned above - i.e. if you don't accept the change you can switch and stay on your old rate until you do.
Bills should be pro-rata (i.e. a split at the date of change)
If you phone through an ACTUAL reading they will re-calculate and this will alter the ammount you pay at the old rate.
If you are sticking with them and haven't phoned already, OVERSTATE your current reading so that you will pay for more units at the old rate and will also have a smaller bill next time it comes (as you have effectively pre-paid some by overstating)
MP I have a poll / discussion on Economy 7 / 10 off-peak usage (as a % or total) and ways to improve it but I'm not allowed to link to it so have a look on the gas/elec forum if you would like to vote or discuss.:cool:0 -
Atlantic will not recalculate bill based on actual readings..... well not so far !If you phone through an ACTUAL reading they will re-calculate and this will alter the ammount you pay at the old rate.
MP
In my case I supplied meter readings on the 1 April 2008, they have confirmed receipt of the readings, but they are applying their own estimated readings at the price change date. Their customer services, which are normally good, do not seem to understand that they are charging me at the higher rate for both gas and electric for energy used prior to the price rise date resulting in me being overcharged.
Now moving my problem up through their complaints system.0 -
Atlantic will not recalculate bill based on actual readings..... well not so far !
Is this the case where you heard about the rate change and phoned them through the day before?
If so is a slightly different thing, I'm talking about pro-rataing a bill, you about adding an extra reaading. - If I am right, you are asking to have an ACTUAL reading entered (on a non-online tarrif) mid cycle (sounds so simple but these companies have ways of making it difficult!). Whereas the billing system will be set up to accept the readings each quarter or when the account is closed.
If that makes sense?
i.e. they can only "average" out between 2 readings and pro-rata, not enter that you used say 60% of your units in the first 40% of the billing period.
MP I have a poll / discussion on Economy 7 / 10 off-peak usage (as a % or total) and ways to improve it but I'm not allowed to link to it so have a look on the gas/elec forum if you would like to vote or discuss.:cool:0 -
mute_posting wrote: »It is still the same problem - sending out a letter to get millions of people to phone through their readings is no small task and would sent the call centres into meltdown when a large number phoned them through.
Yes, true - but in my opinion its their problem - not mine. It would'nt be that much hassle, theres already a automated system for phoning in readings + they could stop sending me pointless letters asking if i want my wiring checked and get there a*rs's in gear and actually send me the letter about the price rise BEFORE the price rise takes effect! Why should i pay for eleccy units at the higher rate - which were actually used at the lower rate - why should i give them money for nothing...
They still have no way of knowing exactly how much is at the old rate, and how much is at the new...If you phone through an ACTUAL reading they will re-calculate and this will alter the ammount you pay at the old rate.
If you are sticking with them and haven't phoned already, OVERSTATE your current reading so that you will pay for more units at the old rate and will also have a smaller bill next time it comes (as you have effectively pre-paid some by overstating)
MP0 -
They still have no way of knowing exactly how much is at the old rate, and how much is at the new...
True, but unless you're running blackpool illuminations the difference in the bill is not going to be immense, and like I say if you are staying with them you can skew it in your favour anyway with the method I suggested above.
At the end of the day, if it is a major problem for you, I can onnly suggest a fully online tarrif and providing readings monthly.
HTH
MP I have a poll / discussion on Economy 7 / 10 off-peak usage (as a % or total) and ways to improve it but I'm not allowed to link to it so have a look on the gas/elec forum if you would like to vote or discuss.:cool:0
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