Powergen, can you really trust them?

CelticStar

I totally agree with everyone's comments on Powergen, they are an absolute nightmare, I think I'd rather burn horse manure on an open fire and have candles than rely on them for my heat and light again.

I was a customer of Amerada a few years ago - a brilliant company who were so successful at offering cheap fuel allied to great customer service that they were bought out by the 'big boys' at Powergen. Cue months and months of problems, letters back and forth, furious telephone calls and, eventually, a letter to Energywatch after Powergen tried to say we owed them £2,000. This was ludicrous as I always make sure my account is up-to-date by reading the meter regularly and adjusting my direct debits accordingly.

Eventually Powergen capitulated after Energywatch contacted them. I must admit Energywatch were great in our experience so perhaps it is worth the OP contacting them again.

The moral of this story is: don't get tempted by Powergen, it just isn't worth it in the long run.

TOBRUK

I was with Powergen for about 20 months, paying direct debit every month - starting £50 for both electricity and gas. After about 6 months, I received a bill (for information only) and was in debt, so they increased monthly debit to £60 a month. As months went by the next bill my debt had increased - I was over £150 in the red! They wanted to increase my direct debit - I wanted them to check the bills as I felt I was being cheated somewhere, and although the readings were correct and everything corresponded, I felt there was something odd going on - how can you prove the way they calculate??! I even told them that I wanted to decrease my monthly payment NOT increase it - I was living on my own and could not believe I was using this much energy!

During this time, I had had a new boiler (combi), had the walls insulated and the attic reinsulated - so the house was much warmer and I was using less fuel with a combi!

I got in touch with Energy watch, sending them all the details, all correspondence between myself and Powergen (having written letters rather than phonecalls or emails regarding the matter). They got in contact with Powergen, and after that Powegen agreed for me to decrease my monthly payment to £50, although they said I was in debt.

A strange thing happened - I did not change my useage of gas or electricity, but within 5 months, I was in credit - £67.26!! How? Although they had told me that the readings, calculations were correct previously this was extremely odd.

I then changed supplier to SWALEC who I have been with for about a year - paying £50 a month which includes both gas and electricity, and had two statements with estimated readings which I have checked the meters myself and the readings have been almost exact to the estimated - guess what, I am in credit of over £40 with gas and just slightly over (in debit) with electricity!

I would never ever touch Powergen - somehow or other they were diddling me out of a lot of money.

Tell me how can you be in debt (on account) for over £150.00, then pay less a month and find in 5 months that you are in credit of £67.26!!

Something is wrong somewhere.

WARNING - DO NOT TRUST POWERGEN!

Gem_

Powergen are a total pain - they have sent a debt collection agency after me for a gas bill of £197 for 2004 / 2005. The thing is: I moved out of that house in 2003!!!! I pointed out to them that the only reason they had my forwarding address is because I told them I was moving .... still taking weeks to sort out and getting all sorts of solicitors letters etc.

On the other hand when I moved in to my last house I got a bill from NPower for £250 for one months usage - and I was on a prepayment metre!!!

They are all as bad as each other.

You have my sympathy.

G

feesh

Powergen messed up my boyfriend's bills, and when he rang up to get it sorted, they said he was £200 in credit and sent him a cheque back for the lot.

The thing is, he hadn't been with Powergen for very long, and certainly hadn't ever given them anything near £200 in payments, so he made quite a nice profit!!

He took the money and ran.

Similarly with me, I ended up £600 in credit due to their abominable estimation of how much gas and electricity I would use. I got it all back and switched to Southern Electric (I'm not very happy with them either, but that's another story!).

smartie1976

Regarding the OPs original post, clearly your meter reads are crossed, and this is continuing to be a problem. Contact PG again - ask to speak to a manager immediately (if not go to customer relations) - and tell them that you want someone to come out and replace the meter (This is united utilities job up here in manchester). If no joy here complete the online complaint form.
Stress in no uncertain terms that £40 is unacceptable compensation and that you will seek a private settlement (even if you have no intention to, the threat works very well)

If you have any further problems tell them that the customer is 71, and that you are going to national press about the stress and hastle, and you will be seeking a private claim for compensation through the courts. More than likely they will get their act together sharpish. If they are breaching any laws (depends which one) a company can be fined up to 10% of their annual turnover.

I also had a problem with Powergen when I was renting.
I rang up - told them I was moving in and so gave them details for my gas account.
My elec was already with BG so I told them I was swapping to BG and under no circumstances would they be retaining my custom.

a week later, lo and behold a "glad you're xferring your elec acc to powergen".
I went absolutely berserk at them, rang them and gave them mega grief.
Nightmare.

what i will suggest is that wherever possible after bills are received that the meter is checked and the read cross referenced. Reads should be supplied where estimates show on the bill (even if it's only a handful of units).
I would recommend that as far as possible if you suspect something is wrong that you regularly submit your own reads to assist your supplier in calculating your bills more accurately. If you've not had a bill for a while - submit a reading - pre-empt the next bill.
Immediately question any billing discrepancies.

This is obviously more difficult for some older people but with all the problems we keep hearing it is becoming a necessity, and there are plenty of people on here willing to help out if you are struggling yourself.