Please Help - Bizz Energy

Sweet_Sugar_1984

Hi

Please can someone help me?

I purcahsed a business property in July last year, at the time I took an Electricity meter reading and submitted it.

However, recently I've received a bill for £8000, based on an estimated reading. I rang Bizz Energy and asked them why it was estimated and they told me that it was because they did not receive my original reading and they are now demanding that I pay the full amount on the bill!

I have not used the property that I bought at all and so I have no idea how I'm going to pay this amount. What can I do?

I would really appreciate any help whatsoever.

Thanks!

basmic

Take a meter reading now, and give it to them over the phone. Then ask what your bill now stands at.

spiro

If you purchased the property then the old owner must have also submitted a closing read. Try to get it touch with then and ask if they have had a final bill and the reading used. You say the bill was for £8000 and the reading estimated. Is the opening reading estimated, end reading estimated or both? If the end reading is estimated then if they dont believe the reading you supply them ask them to come and read it for themselves. If its the opening reading and both you and the old owner used the same supplier, then if you both agree the Change of Tenant reading the supplier should accept it. If you both used different suppliers ask them what the Change of Supplier reading was and see if it agrees with the reading when you took ownership, if not and its a lot lower then the old owner may have deflated the reading to get a smaller bill. Hope this helps.

Sweet_Sugar_1984

Thanks, both the start and end readings are estimated and I can't find the reading I took at the time. I have tried to get in touch with the previous owner but they have not been co-operative.

spiro

Sweet_Sugar_1984 wrote: »

Thanks, both the start and end readings are estimated and I can't find the reading I took at the time. I have tried to get in touch with the previous owner but they have not been co-operative.

As you bought the property and it was a business try checking that your solicitor who handled the sale does have the reading, as this was a business transaction I would have thought it would have been formally recorded.

Sweet_Sugar_1984

Hi.

I've already checked with the solicitor and he doesn't have it. I can recall at the time that he told me to handle it and so I took the reding down, which I can't seem to find anymore.

spiro

You say that you are not using the building, does that mean its empty and little or no elec being used? If the useage now is the same as in July'07 read the meter every week and send the readings to your supplier every week. When you have done that for 4 weeks ask them to recalculate the opening reading by calculating backwards and issue a new bill.

Sweet_Sugar_1984

Thanks for that, as far as I know hardly any electricity has been used at all as I only visit the property once in a while and I made a point of switching everything off when I purchased the property. Are you sure the electricity company will accept current weekly readings to recalculate the bill from the beginning? What does the law say on the matter? Thanks.

spiro

In law business users dont get the same level of service as domestic customers. Having read your meter weekly for 4 or so weeks and supplying them to your supplier ask them to get the 'Data Collector' to 'deem' backwards to your supply start date and then compare this reading with the opening reading they have used. Also having read it for 4 weeks divide by 4 and multiple by the number of weeks between the start and end date on the bill and see how out the consumption is.

fatlad1971

Sweet_Sugar_1984 wrote: »

Hi

Please can someone help me?

I purcahsed a business property in July last year, at the time I took an Electricity meter reading and submitted it.

However, recently I've received a bill for £8000, based on an estimated reading. I rang Bizz Energy and asked them why it was estimated and they told me that it was because they did not receive my original reading and they are now demanding that I pay the full amount on the bill!

I have not used the property that I bought at all and so I have no idea how I'm going to pay this amount. What can I do?

I would really appreciate any help whatsoever.

Thanks!

How did you submit the reading ?
Bizz are in more of a sticky situation than you, they cannot prove your true consumption , have you not been paying them from june last year ?
If it was me id offer them a fair settlement and say sue me, don't let them bully you

Sweet_Sugar_1984

fatlad1971 wrote: »

How did you submit the reading ?
Bizz are in more of a sticky situation than you, they cannot prove your true consumption , have you not been paying them from june last year ?
If it was me id offer them a fair settlement and say sue me, don't let them bully you

Hi thanks for the advice.....The thing is I've never been in a sitation like this before so I'm just worried sick....They've told me I have to pay the estimated amount of £8000 until someone's been round from their company to check the meter and I have to pay by 01/10/08.....And yes I've not paid since I bought the property in July last yr....Would it be better going to a solicitor?