Help with a bill?

baza52

did you get out the bed the wrong side today Kim?
Are we not here to offer helpfull advice?

calleyw

baza52 wrote: »

did you get out the bed the wrong side today Kim?
Are we not here to offer helpfull advice?

Some people don't like the truth.

I think Kim has offered advice.

And it is hardly difficult to track your own usage to work out what a bill is. I do and am never surprised at what my bills are. And I hardly the most organised person in the world.

Why is that people seem to want the help and advice to be all cuddly wuddly and not the truth. Granted Kim did not need to be so blunt but that is the way she is. See her other posts.

The OP needs to:

1) check the actual meter reading and correct it if wrong
2)once corrected bill arrives or if current bill is correct then they need to contact the company and arrange a repayment scheme
3) the OP needs to keep a very close eye on there bills and watch what they are using and when. Etc etc.

Yours

Calley

KimYeovil

What was not helpful about post 5? It seemed to cover the bases.

SuziQ

I got a huge bill as EDF forgot to bill me for my electricity for 9 months-I had only recently changed to them and saw the DD going out for gas every month and wrongly thought the DD covered gas and lectric-stupid I know but I had never had gas and leccy from the same company before. I fiercly resisted a prepayment meter as I hated the idea,plus they did agree some fault in not taking the DD.They allowed me to pay it back monthly (I gave them £100 down on it first) and I have just finished paying ot off-to find they read the meter wrong last month and I am now in £198 credit I have decided to leave it there to cushion my winter bill.

catenorfolk

I would make sure you read your meters everytime a bill comes in and contact billing company so they can make sure you always get a correct amended bill. Anyway, Most companies will allow you to pay extra on a monthly direct debit or payment plan as long as you cover your actual usage and also some of the debt each month. but you would need to make sure you paid on time each month, or they are within their rights to install a prepay meter without your permission. they just need to apply for a warrant. you would also get charged for the warrant visits as well. Anyway apart from the inconvenience of having to top up your card for the meter the electric is not anymore expensive these days, and it might be easier for you to budget your monies.

Macro_3

I'm getting really weary of all the posts bashing people for not budgeting. The fact is that the poor OP had a job less than four weeks ago, so budgeting month by month for electricity probably wasn't an issue for him until now. I really doubt that lecturing him on his slip up is going to help much.

OP, all that said, I think the only option open to you is to talk to your utility company. I think that given the size of the bill they will be sympathetic and come to an arrangement with you.

savemoney

Actually whether you work or not it doesn't matter, you should budget and also take regularly readings and submit them as it can in most cases stop nasty surprises

Of course you budget even if you work, it may well be it wasnt so much an issue as it is now or he may have been duped by low direct debts whilst still consuming vast amounts of energy

I read my water/gas/electricity on 25th of every month, put the readings into excel and then submit them online and I dont have a lot of cash and I also have a disabled child who feels the cold due to her condition, and I can do it, I have to or I am in deep xxit

I am not saying the OP has in this case, but many people get duped by utility companies by low direct debits, it is for your own interest that you monitor and keep your suppliers updated and if you cant afford to use so much you have to cut down and cut your cloth accordingly

EDIT actually looking at OP own post he cant have been that loaded in past as he has just recently lost his job and only has £90 so he should have really monitored, fair enough I bet he/she has learnt from this

Macro wrote: »

I'm getting really weary of all the posts bashing people for not budgeting. The fact is that the poor OP had a job less than four weeks ago, so budgeting month by month for electricity probably wasn't an issue for him until now. I really doubt that lecturing him on his slip up is going to help much.

OP, all that said, I think the only option open to you is to talk to your utility company. I think that given the size of the bill they will be sympathetic and come to an arrangement with you.

Macro_3

savemoney wrote: »

Actually whether you work or not it doesn't matter, you should budget and also take regularly readings and submit them as it can in most cases stop nasty surprises

Of course you budget even if you work, it may well be it wasnt so much an issue as it is now or he may have been duped by low direct debts whilst still consuming vast amounts of energy

I read my water/gas/electricity on 25th of every month, put the readings into excel and then submit them online and I dont have a lot of cash and I also have a disabled child who feels the cold due to her condition, and I can do it, I have to or I am in deep xxit

I am not saying the OP has in this case, but many people get duped by utility companies by low direct debits, it is for your own interest that you monitor and keep your suppliers updated and if you cant afford to use so much you have to cut down and cut your cloth accordingly

EDIT actually looking at OP own post he cant have been that loaded in past as he has just recently lost his job and only has £90 so he should have really monitored, fair enough I bet he/she has learnt from this

Well, good for you. My point is that it's marvellous to tell the OP that he should have budgeted but it doesn't help. I'm sure he realises, with hindsight, that he should have kept an eye on his bills and is kicking himself now, so patronising him by stating the completely obvious won't help.

A bit of understanding and kindness wouldn't go amiss.

savemoney

As I said in my 1st post he should contact the utility provider only they can sort this out, he will have to pay it regardless or may pay more now through a key meter

He has had problem now for over 20 days his first post was this

Southern Electric charged me £1782 for 6 months in a small flat!

I dont know what he was doing but either he was using far too much or he has a problem with his meter or a cannabis farm using his energy

I think average combined energy usage is around £1100 probably more if he only uses electric as its more expensive to heat home with that

Oh and he only moved in, in December so not even a full winter

"Hi there, I moved into my flat (which is a small 2 bedroom place) in December 2008"