Electricity bill misery.... advice needed

Cardew

honeyD wrote: »

Contact Energywatch. !

Energywatch was abolished on 01 Oct 2008.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/whats_new_oct08_complaints_about_gas_and_electricity_suppliers.htm

brysiewysie

It's now consumer direct but you should go through the suppliers complaint process first;

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

spiro

dollarjon wrote: »

They can only back bill you one year, its their fault! offer them a years payment over 12 months.

Looking at the letter and bill this is for a business account. They are not subject to the same rules/codes as domestic accounts i.e. 12 month back bill rule. If your business has used the fuel then you will have to pay.

Premier_2

honeyD wrote: »

Contact Energywatch. My parents just had this problem with a different company and they were told the provider could only claim back for one year.
My parents just got their bill squashed because Scottish Power admitted it was their fault for not calibrating the meter.
Good luck, and dont give in without a fight!

With all due respect, your situation was different on 2 significant counts:

1. Your parents were domestic consumers. As spiro rightly says, the supplier is under no obligation to apply the 12 month rule for a business customer.
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/MARKETS/RETMKTS/COMPET/Documents1/11070-16305.pdf

2. Your parents were using a pre-payment meter. As domestic consumers, the supplier was responsible to recalibrate the meter to take account of a price change "within a reasonable timeframe".
http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5581&p_created=1210083990&p_sid=G_BDwZfj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01ODMsNTgzJnBfcHJvZHM9LTEmcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=&p_topview=1
The issue here was caused by estimated bills for a credit meter.

qwertman

ok a bit of an update...

I've noticed on my old bills that there is supposed to be an evening and weekend rate and a standard weekday rate, but the evening and weekend one hasn't moved at all, even on the amended bill its been billed as 0p for all these years. Checked my meter and it flashes between two readings, one, the standard one above 55436, but then the next one is 0.00001 or something like that. What times are normally classed as "evening" and is it possible that my evening and weekend are being clocked at my standard rate or is it clocked at all? where do I stand on this?

thanks

redcar_2

Are you getting charged for all those old units at the price they were at the time?

Seems like the unit cost is very static on your bill. I don't see why you should pay todays prices for leccy used 4 years ago.

qwertman

yeah I've checked old bills, the units were charged at that price at the time.

so anyone know if I have the right to demand they check the meter for the evening and weekend charges and amend any discrepancies before I pay?

phead

qwertman wrote: »

yeah I've checked old bills, the units were charged at that price at the time.

so anyone know if I have the right to demand they check the meter for the evening and weekend charges and amend any discrepancies before I pay?

Obvious question, the meter has two rates, but do you actually have a timeswitch unit to switch the rate? If you do then its faulty and they need to reprice.

qwertman

I'm not sure about timeswitch unit, I dont know what one looks like? it flashes between two figures, one is the reading above, the other is at 0. Is it possible that my nighttime units are not being charged at all? If so I'm in big trouble cos the bill are going to be even bigger...