High Estimate before Switch?

RufusA

I switched from Seeboard to Atlantic a few months ago for both gas and Electricity.

Dispite giving meter readings over the phone and confirming on the switch confirmation form, Seeboard have calculated a very high (and seemingly random) estimate for my final bill.

6 weeks of arguments later and Atlantic have now reduced their "start" point as a meter reading, but Seeboard are refusing to budge because they *still* haven't been notified by Transco of the revised meter reading. So as it stands I'm paying twice for the same energy and £150 out of pocket!

I'm sure this will get resolved in due course (and a hefty refund from Seeboard), but has anyone else suffered from incorrect meter readings / high estimates when switching?

Rufus.

bmckay

I decided to switch from scottish-hydro to scottish gas.

Thought I had paid the last payment so cancelled the direct debits last month.
Not had a bill from Scottish Gas yet but today got a bill in from Scottish-Hydro for £272 for electric and £108 for gas (bills have usually been £80 and £60)

Dont understand it at all, how can they do this?

Brian

daknockman

Rufusa - I assume your dispute over the reading is for gas.

Firstly check what type of gas meter you have. If your MPR (M-Number) begins with 74/75 then it is an IGT (Independant Gas Transporter) meter. These are more and more common in new build properties. As these are independant, transfer details don't go through Transco meaning a lot of the time the correct readings aren't passed between suppliers.

If this is the case Seeboard may close your account to a rdg you provide to them, or request Atlantic to send them across the reading they have started your account to.

If the MPR is Transco (i.e. any other) then it's more than likely neither supplier has submitted a read in time (normally the gaining supplier) to Transco, meaning that Transco have had to estimate one. This can be resolved by giving a couple of backup readings to your current supplier and asking them to raise a SAR (Shipper Agreed Reads) with Seeboard to dispute the transfer read.

It should then be resolved fairly quickly and you should get your money back if you have already overpaid.

bmckay - If your transfer reads are correct it may have been your DD was too low with Hydro. Did you notice on the statements if a balance was brough t forward?

If not I'd advise to check the start readings S-Gas have used to make sure they are correct then contact them to send the relevant information to Hydro to amend your final bills with them.

Hope this helps.