Arrears (Long Story)

Anniek1969

I'm with Scottish Power and I'm all electric. I've always been with them and about 12 years ago they installed a pre pay meter until my arrears had been paid. After about 2 years I had them remove this and put me on a monthly payment scheme. Thats where the problem started, since then I think I've only had one bill that has been actual readings the rest have been estimated. I've had my meter read about 3 times every year and posted the proper readings to them if I've missed the meter reader but they always sent me estimated bills which means that over the past 10 years or so I have been acumulating arrears.

About 2 years ago I was paying £40 per month and I asked them to put it up to £70 as I knew that I was probably using more than £40 which meant more arrears. I gave them the meter readings and they sent me an estimated bill saying I owed them around £1000 in arrears but to keep paying £70 per month
, I worked out the readings and it was just around £800 I owed them. Last november they sent me yet another estimated bill with a total balance of £1110.61 and I arranged with them to put my payment up to £102 per month. I've been trying to keep an eye on my usage and according to my current meter readings I've used around £950 since the begining of September. I just wonder if my meter is faulty as this seems excessive, I live in a 3 bedroom house but I only have 1 heater running, I use my dryer about 3 times a week and do my washing at night when the meter is on economy. I only put my water heater on at night and through the day the only things that are on are the pc and the tv. I've just had another letter from them asking me to put my payment up to £195 per month but there's no way I can find another £93 per month as we're already on a debt management plan with most of our creditors and I don't think they would accept lower payments, in fact most are looking for more.

The thing is when I took a meter reading last september I had readings of 67683 for day and 69134 for night and I took the readings over a period of about 4 weeks and worked out we were using around £45 per month but when I went in last week to check the readings they were 64794 for day and 68689 for night. I thought that I had made a mistake with the readings in september and the 6's should have been 5's but every reading I have over the few weeks all start with 6. This is a complete mystery to me. Not only does the usage seem really high but my water heater was broken for about 3 weeks so I had no hot water and we've been having showers instead of baths so I can't see how we have managed to use so much.

I was wondering is it possible to switch providers when you're in arrears and then come to an arrangement with Scottish Power to pay the amount left owing to them or will I have to pay the arrears first because when I've looked into switching I can definately get a better deal than the one I'm on with scottish power. My only other option is to ask them to put in a prepayment meter but the last time they done that they had it running so fast I was using about £30 per week.

I won't be able to contact them till monday as it's in husbands name and they won't speak to me so I'll keep an eye on the meter over the weekend and see what happens.

Sorry, told you it was long but any advice is really appreciated.

Thanks

irnbru_2

Anniek1969 wrote:

I've been trying to keep an eye on my usage and according to my current meter readings I've used around £950 since the begining of September. I just wonder if my meter is faulty as this seems excessive, I live in a 3 bedroom house but I only have 1 heater running, I use my dryer about 3 times a week and do my washing at night when the meter is on economy.

Quite similar to myself except I have 4 storage heaters on, no dryer or electric shower.
From mid-October to just now I've used about 550 GBP.

Anniek1969 wrote:

I only put my water heater on at night and through the day the only things that are on are the pc and the tv.

How long is the heater on at night? All through the E7 period?

Anniek1969 wrote:

The thing is when I took a meter reading last september I had readings of 67683 for day and 69134 for night and I took the readings over a period of about 4 weeks and worked out we were using around £45 per month but when I went in last week to check the readings they were 64794 for day and 68689 for night. I thought that I had made a mistake with the readings in september and the 6's should have been 5's but every reading I have over the few weeks all start with 6.

If it was 5s then that's approx 7000 in the day and 9000 at night.

First thing , make sure the meter is working.

If the readings should start with 5 then your ratio of day to night is pretty poor. In the past 6 months 90% of my usage is at night time.

Anniek1969

Took a reading yesterday about 2pm and then again this morning. Had the water heater on all night and used 5units @ 0.03682=0.1842 and the other meter had until 10am used 29@0.08535=2.475. Don't have any storage heaters as they've all eventually broke through the years so have never replaced them, have a convector heater on through the day for a few hours (which I've now put off to see the difference) but it still seems as if I'm using a lot for the things that are running.

irnbru_2

Assuming the meters are working and you've transcribed wrongly:

Day: 57683 -> 64794
Night: 59134 -> 68689

For someone not using storage heaters that's a lot of units at night.

Based on this old thread you still seem to be better off on E7.

If your readings are wrong then:

Day: 29
Night: 5

So 34 units per day, which means 15% usage at night and 85% in the day.

Not having an electric shower or dryer , I can't tell if your day usage is normal or not for those type of appliances.

What's actually wrong with the storage heaters? Burning the convection heater is going to be more expensive.

Anniek1969

The storage heaters just burnt out I think, they were quite old. Think I might have to look into replacing them as you say the convector heater will be costing us a lot more.

I think it's just been a long winter and not being able to get washing out in the garden to dry very often in the last few months the dryer has been on more. Of course Scottish Power putting their prices up doesn't help.

Hopefully we might get some decent weather soon so I can keep the heater and dryer down to a minimum but as you know,the weather here in Glasgow is so unpredictable I'm not holding my breath.

Just going to have to really watch what we use and see if we can make any cut backs with it otherwise I won't be able to get the arrears repaid for a very long time.

irnbru_2

Anniek1969 wrote:

I use my dryer about 3 times a week and do my washing at night when the meter is on economy.

Anniek1969 wrote:

I think it's just been a long winter and not being able to get washing out in the garden to dry very often in the last few months the dryer has been on more.

I don't know how much a dryer costs to run (I think your convector will be the main culprit) but it might be cheaper to do the wasing during the day and have the dryer on a timer using E7.

Anniek1969 wrote:

The storage heaters just burnt out I think, they were quite old. Think I might have to look into replacing them as you say the convector heater will be costing us a lot more.

It's advisable to get them looked at as you'll save in the long term.

If your hot-water tank is not on a timer then consider getting it on one. I have mine on for an hour and a bit just before E7 finishes.

Anniek1969

It definately looks like the convector is what's costing me, haven't had it on all day and in the last 6 hrs i've only used 1.8units so will have to think about using storage heaters I think.

Never thought about putting the dryer on a timer that's a good idea, the water heaters already on a timer but I think I'll get one for my washing machine as well so I can take advantage of the night time rate.

Hardworkingmum_2

Hi Anniek1969,
Using electric is like shopping for clothes without price tags and then getting a bill at the end! The trick is elimination and tracking. Firstly switch off everything with a plug and wall switch then check to see your meter wheel is motionless (you MAY have a faulty immersion heater) and take a time and dated reading. Then turn on each electrical appliance and see how fast your meter is running to identify high users and how much they use. Appliances like, water heaters, cookers, tumble dryers and storage heaters all use alot of electric, in other words anything that uses electric for 'heat' = £££.
Then every week for the next 6 weeks take meter readings to check your meter isn't at fault. If you think it is, then give Energywatch a ring, they give free and impartial advice to all energy comsumers.
Ideas for saving on energy. As you have E7 and the night rate is from midnight till 7am (please check your own times), are you heating your water only within these times and is your tank properly insulated? Do you have energy saving light bulbs in every light, I bought all mine in Tesco...only £1.97 each. Don't leave your tv on stand by or leave your mobile charger plugged in. Keep tumble drying to a min, then hang up your clothes to finish drying. Ovens...put your food in as soon as the temperature light goes out and use a timer to switch off your oven 5 mins before the end of the cooking time. Washing machine, use during the night rate and wash clothes on 30c. Freezers...if it's more than 5 years old'ish' and half empty, it could be costing you upto £60 a year to run, check the energy efficancy number and fill empty spaces with loaves of bread. Hope I'm not telling you how to suck eggs, but all these energy saving tips can make a huge difference over a year.
As to you switching suppliers, the answer is a definate no, until you have settled your bill, sorry.
Good luck and I do hope your bills come down.