We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Gas underchared now got huge bill

hi all, im new so please forgive me if this is in the wrong place.
i have had something similar to other posts happen to me. i got a bill today for £2292! Scottish power have said that they have been under charging me since i moved in 5 years ago. its not a problem with the meter readings. i check my meter readings and someone comes out every quarter to check them and our figures are always the same.
the problem is how they have converted it to kWh.( i have an imperial meter.) the formula on their computer used to to this has been wrong since i first started with scottish power. i phoned them up and they have dropped the figure to £700 (they can only back date it 12months.) but there is no way i can afford to pay this. my husband has recently been sacked and we really dont have any spare cash. we have turned the gas off (no heating or hot water) for the past 2 months because we just cant afford it. as well as eating nothing but toast for months :(
i dont know what to do, are they allowed to do this? surely someone should have noticed a fault during the first 5 years? i have foned at least 3 times during the 5years because my bills had suddenly dropped or went sky high and on every occassion i was assured that the readings and calculations were correct. now they are telling me something different. how can this be?
any advice or information would be much appreciated.

Comments

  • Vestra
    Vestra Posts: 856 Forumite
    I'd say you've done pretty well only to have to pay the last 12 months. Think of all the free gas you have had! Make a suitable payment plan with them as I don't think they will demand it all at once.
  • notbritishgas
    notbritishgas Posts: 2,313 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    ernie84 wrote: »
    hi all, im new so please forgive me if this is in the wrong place.
    i have had something similar to other posts happen to me. i got a bill today for £2292! Scottish power have said that they have been under charging me since i moved in 5 years ago. its not a problem with the meter readings. i check my meter readings and someone comes out every quarter to check them and our figures are always the same.
    the problem is how they have converted it to kWh.( i have an imperial meter.) the formula on their computer used to to this has been wrong since i first started with scottish power. i phoned them up and they have dropped the figure to £700 (they can only back date it 12months.) but there is no way i can afford to pay this. my husband has recently been sacked and we really dont have any spare cash. we have turned the gas off (no heating or hot water) for the past 2 months because we just cant afford it. as well as eating nothing but toast for months :(
    i dont know what to do, are they allowed to do this? surely someone should have noticed a fault during the first 5 years? i have foned at least 3 times during the 5years because my bills had suddenly dropped or went sky high and on every occassion i was assured that the readings and calculations were correct. now they are telling me something different. how can this be?
    any advice or information would be much appreciated.
    Sorry to be harsh but your bills have been approx 30% of what they should have been, I think you could have noticed that.
    But to agree with above post, to get it reduced to £700 is a bonus so try to negotiate a payment plan to suit you. good luck.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 347.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 251.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 451.8K Spending & Discounts
  • 239.5K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 615.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.1K Life & Family
  • 252.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.