14 months of underestimated bills - big bill waiting

parnhat

Hi everyone,

Let me get this out of the way first ; I clearly should have checked the meter for each estimated bill - i don't know why i didnt i only thought to when i began to hear about overestimations!

So i dont dispute the new reading i've worked out how much we use in 24hrs approx 17 units, and according to the actual reading just taken the average per day over the last 14 months since the previous reading is 24 units per day.

What i need to know about is strategy, how to approach the supplier, and any useful tactics that might enable me to spread the cost or even reduce it.

The facts are as follows:

Opening reading: 3751 (09/05/07)
Latest Estimated: 5277 (02/05/08)
Actual Reading: 13930 (15/07/08)

Therefore: 8974 units outstanding - gulp!

I just don't understand how they could underestimate so much for so long

What d'you think?

espresso

parnhat wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Let me get this out of the way first ; I clearly should have checked the meter for each estimated bill - i don't know why i didnt i only thought to when i began to hear about overestimations!

Strange, you only bothered to check the meter readings when you though that they might be over estimating!

Sorry but the onus is on you to actually check your invoice and inform them if the estimated reading is incorrect. They will probably want to recover the amount owed over a six month period by increasing your monthly payments and as you have already used the energy, this seems reasonable.

parnhat

Thankyou, that was really helpfull - i wish that i was as organised as you so i could trawl these boards looking for people in trouble to wind up.

I held my hands up at the begining of the article, i accept i was negligent - i wasn't asking for confirmation of this, rather any suggestions as to how to deal with the impending problem.

If anyone else has been as irresponsible as me perhaps you could tell me your experiences or how you dealt with the problem.

Regards

Cardew

To be fair you did ask what do people 'think'.

Nearly all companies will allow you to pay back over the same period of time as it took the debt to build up.

You may be able to negotiate a 'goodwill' reduction on the outstanding sum; especially if you agree to pay off the arrears immediately. A 10% reduction is realistic and often within the power of a call centre accounts operator. 20% from a supervisor is not unknown!

Be nice and make it a request, not a demand!! You ain't in a strong negotiating position!!!

P.S.
The reason they 'underestimate for so long' is that when an initial underestimated reading is accepted(by default as you didn't correct it!) that becomes the base line for the computer algorithim to calculate future estimated bills.

Incisor

parnhat wrote: »

Thankyou, that was really helpfull - i wish that i was as organised as you so i could trawl these boards looking for people in trouble to wind up.

I held my hands up at the begining of the article, i accept i was negligent - i wasn't asking for confirmation of this, rather any suggestions as to how to deal with the impending problem.

If anyone else has been as irresponsible as me perhaps you could tell me your experiences or how you dealt with the problem.

Regards

Don't bite. It's not worth it. You are doing very well to have the start and finish readings to hand, compared with many who post here. FWIW, I think that you should negotiate to clear the balance over the same period as it was built up.

harborjenny

Incisor wrote: »

Don't bite. It's not worth it. You are doing very well to have the start and finish readings to hand, compared with many who post here. FWIW, I think that you should negotiate to clear the balance over the same period as it was built up.

Good luck with negotiating, I take it you are staying with the same company, so it should not be as bad, I am swapping company as they had not set me up an account for gas, now I am changing I understand I may have to pay it all in one go!

Hope it goes well for you.

The_Zealot

parnhat wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Let me get this out of the way first ; I clearly should have checked the meter for each estimated bill - i don't know why i didnt i only thought to when i began to hear about overestimations!

So i dont dispute the new reading i've worked out how much we use in 24hrs approx 17 units, and according to the actual reading just taken the average per day over the last 14 months since the previous reading is 24 units per day.

What i need to know about is strategy, how to approach the supplier, and any useful tactics that might enable me to spread the cost or even reduce it.

The facts are as follows:

Opening reading: 3751 (09/05/07)
Latest Estimated: 5277 (02/05/08)
Actual Reading: 13930 (15/07/08)

Therefore: 8974 units outstanding - gulp!

I just don't understand how they could underestimate so much for so long

What d'you think?

What if you would just switch to another company (likely one that provided capped energy bills for a while) and provide them with the last reading in line with their estimates?

savemoney

You could ask them if they could possibly pay the shortfall over so many weeks/months but tbh it is your responsibility to check and give the supplier the readings.

I would be indeed angry that if responsible customers who take a few minutes of there day once every month or so to inform there energy supply of there new updated readings were then being penalised by paying more by those who cant be bothered to do it and then get subsided energy, that isn't fair on me or others either.

It doesn't take long to find the time, there is no excuse for this kind of lazyness or ignorance

jd87

Parnhat - The people at the energy company call centre will be very unhelpful. It is their job to get money out of you as soon as possible at whatever cost. I suggest you call the energywatch helpline on 08459 06 07 08 and explain the situation to them. They will be able to advise you who to speak/write to in order to arrange a sensible repayment plan. Either way though, you are going to have to pay.

Joyful

Before you go to Energy Watch you need to contact your Supplier and see what they say. They will usually give you 12 months to pay on a payment plan.

parnhat

savemoney wrote: »

You could ask them if they could possibly pay the shortfall over so many weeks/months but tbh it is your responsibility to check and give the supplier the readings.

I would be indeed angry that if responsible customers who take a few minutes of there day once every month or so to inform there energy supply of there new updated readings were then being penalised by paying more by those who cant be bothered to do it and then get subsided energy, that isn't fair on me or others either.

It doesn't take long to find the time, there is no excuse for this kind of lazyness or ignorance

Hi thanks, btw i do agree with your sentiments i take it as a lesson learned and accept that it was naive - its not an excuse but it is a reason - this is the first time i've been responsible for my leccy bills - everywhere else i've lived my utilities have been included in my rent.

Rest assured its a mistake i wont be making again!

Parnhat