Help... Southern Electric have messed up on my meter readings

tink1981_2

Hi

I've been having some problems with Southern Electric. I moved house back in July and when I moved I called to give my meter readings. Then in august I got an estimated final bill. I phoned them, but as I was unable to locate the bit of paper I wrote the readings down on they told me that the only way they would be able to finalise the account at the address was via some formula they use to work out what it was likely to have been. I was told I didn't have much option and so went with their estimation.

I had decided to stay with them at my new address and told them to put things in place to take over my supply from the existing companies. I received no correspondence from them about when they were taking over the supply or asking me to provide them with readings. All I had was letters from British Gas and Npower saying please don't leave. I received final bills from the companies which I paid without questioning as I was suffering severely from stress at the time and just wanted the matter closed. Now I am back to thinking straight it's got me wondering what the final bills were based on if no readings were supplied and I suspect that I have paid over the odds for what had been used.

I received my first bill from Southern Electric yesterday and the figures really confused me... and electric bill stating last reading 48263 and their estimated reading 48424 yet when I went and looked at the meter its showing 48262. The gas bill last reading is showing as 18166 and an estimated reading of 181202 and the meter shows 18167. They have now taken the meter readings and have asked me to call back on friday and give them another reading. They will then take this as my avaerage usage and back track it to August. I'm now spending 2 days with out heating and using only desk lights in an attempt to keep the reading down. I didn't start using my heating until Ocotber and object to them using a winter reading to back track over the summer months when I wouldn't have needed to have lights on from 5 on wards or needed to use the heating.

I have been paying by direct debit a figer based on what they think I use when actually they don't have a clue!! I am planning on writing to their complaints department and the energy ombadsman about this and I am now looking to change supplier.

I have been looking at the energy proce comparison sites, but I'm finding it hard to find an accurate figure as I have no real idea of what my usage has been over the past 12 months. I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for how i can get a more accurate comparison as I really don't want to have to stay with Southern for a further 6 months.

Sorry for the rant

Jane

Premier_2

You need to pay for all energy consumed and no more.

Simply look at the final meter readings on the bills from BG & nPower and they should correspond to the start meter readings from SSE.

tink1981_2

The Npower and british gas reading don't correspond because they were estimated as well and I never gave them a final reading, they just sent me a final bill which I stupidly un-questioningly paid

j

Premier_2

tink1981 wrote: »

The Npower and british gas reading don't correspond because they were estimated as well and I never gave them a final reading, they just sent me a final bill which I stupidly un-questioningly paid

j

The readings should correspond, but whether they were estimated or not is immaterial.

If there is a gap between the readings, you have received energy without paying for it; if there is an overlap you are paying twice for the same energy - neither of which is right.

filmnoir

Premier wrote: »

The readings should correspond, but whether they were estimated or not is immaterial.

If there is a gap between the readings, you have received energy without paying for it; if there is an overlap you are paying twice for the same energy - neither of which is right.

True, also if todays read on both the Gas and Electric are way to high or low or even negative (gone backwards) compared to the openning read you can ask SSE to reagree the reads with npower and BGAS. If not, its best not to change the 'openning read' as it relies on the companies aggreeing it with each other.

A Gas change of openning read is called a 'shipper agreed read' and electricty its called 'disputed change of supplier read' however you do not need to mention this and SSE should spot this when you call.

To increase your chances of a new openning read being agreed by both paerties take a few reads over a period of a week or two and submit them with the request to change your initial openning read. Don't forget its not guaranteed as the old supplier has to agree it.

Vestra

Have you got the readings on you when you moved into the property? If so good call up Southern Electric with those and reading from today.

Or take readings today and another set 5 days away and call up with those.

Ask them to dispute the cos reads, they will contact the old suppliers for you and you will recieve an amended bill from them with hopefully a refund, and make sure the "reading this time" on Southern Electrics bill is billed up to date. That way you will ensure you are paying if not exactly what you used but a much better estimate.