Bill has doubled - help

Diane2

I swapped from N Power Dual Fuel, to Scottish Power's Fixed Price Energy On line tariff in August based on all the comparison sites showing that this would save me about 1/3 on my fuel bills.

The changeover went through in October and my first quarter's actual bills show an increase year on year of 50%.

I have checked and the meter readings are correct. Scottish Power have confirmed that I was put on to the August 08 (pre price increase) fixed rate tariff.

I'm stuck now. Does anyone have any ideas what I could check next?

Thanks

Di

KimYeovil

Is the price 50% more expensive or is the bill 50% higher?

Premier_2

When you say the consuption has gone up by 50%, do you mean the cost has gone up by 50% or the actual metered amounts have gone up by 50%?

If it's the cost, well there were 2 price increases last year and they amounted to about 50%. I know you say you got a a fixed deal before the second increase, but what was the premium you were paying for such a fixed rate? 10% may not have been unusual. There were threats of the price going up by 70% by year end and people were rushing to fix at any price. In the end prices only went up by much less than that.

If you mean measured consumption, it would be surprising that both gas and electricity have both gone up by 50%. However, all you can do is look at what you're using and see where the extra 50% could be going.

Diane2

Hi, sorry the bill is 50% higher.

I didn't look too closely at the detail - just the bits that told me I should save 1/3 on my current bill.

We are now paying £105 per month gas and electric for being freezing!

Am I just out of touch with costs?

Di

Magentasue

I think you're saying that you expected to pay less this winter than last winter? As pointed out, that 'save 1/3' was a predicted saving on this year's bill, not what you were charged last year.

Did you check how much you were being charged per kwh and compare it? I bet you're paying more than you did last year, but I also wonder if you are using the same amount of energy?

Diane2

Yes you're right. I thought the estimated saving was against what I had paid last year - not on what I was about to pay this year.

Lack of attention to detail!!

Ashamed to say that I didn't keep bills so don't know about last year's consumption.

I'll make sure I keep them from now on!

Actually this on line billing is easier from that respect I think.

Thanks so much for your input - I don't feel like I made such a bad decision now!.

Thanks

Di

redwin11

I changed to Scottish Power last September and have run up a bill of £350 in the space of almost four months - about £50 more than the same time last year with EON.

Just called them up and it's gonna cost me £50 to get out of the Fixed Price rate.

I appreciate that no-one knew utility bills would start being cut, but all that nonsense about getting onto a fixed price last year was exactly that - nonsense.

If i had stayed with EON, or even gone to Scottish Power's standard rate, I would have had smaller bills AND i wouldn't have been charged to switch once the prices came down.

Diane2

Do you think they definitely put you on the right tariff?

We joined that week of general hysteria when Scottish Power were the only one's not putting up the price till the following week - August/Sept time.

Is it worth it for you to pay the £50 to come off the tariff?

I tried to work out the best deal last night (with very little info) and just ended up with a headache.

Our situations are almost identical - my first quarter bill is £330 - I only spent £800 for the whole of last year - and was warmer!!

Di

redwin11

To be honest, if I knew I was going to have to pay to get out of the contract, I would never have signed up for it.

It was a case of using a price comparison website and quickly signing up - as you say, before the prices rose.

Helps to read the small print!

I'd like to get out of the contract asap and go onto a standard one, but seeing how they set ridiculously low monthly payments (despite me telling them) I now owe them about £100 which they will want upfront.

In short, they are useless, but have got me tied in.
And I'm annoyed.

Diane2

I wonder if there is just a list anywhere of what they all charge - I' sure that would be more accurate than a comparison service.

Nevermind, Poundland have some good hotwater bottles in! Di

redwin11

Well, the companies all charge in different ways, so it's difficult to do a fair comparison unless you know your exact usage.

You're not wrong about the hot water bottles...!