Scottish Power tried to con me when switching!

tartanterra

BEWARE OF SCOTTISH POWER!

I have just switched from Scottish Power to E.ON for both gas and electricity to improve the deal I am on.

I gave my final readings to E.ON on 02/07/09, and as a "belt and braces" measure, I also logged onto my Scottish Power account at the same time, and inputted these readings into my account so that I knew exactly how much my final bill would be.
As my account was in credit by a considerable amount, this also meant that I knew EXACTLY how much I would be refunded, when the switch over was complete.;)

So far so good............but!.....

I have just received my confirmation of switch over from E.ON which gave my starting readings as exactly the readings I supplied. Again, so far, so good - I have no complaint against E.ON.:D

I received my final electricity bill from Scottish Power yesterday, and they have billed me up to the reading I supplied, and are refunding me £91:06. Again, happy with that; no complaints.:D

I received my final gas bill from Scottish Power today, and they have "upped" the final reading I gave by 110 units!!!!:mad:
Looking at the bill, it is clear that they finalised my account six days after I inputted my final reading on BOTH SCOTTISH POWERS and E.ON's websites, yet not only have they "upped" the final reading, but they appear to believe that I used £115 worth of gas in six days - during the summer months!!!!!!:mad:

I have telephoned Scottish Power this morning (and paid for the priveledge - an 0845 number, and was kept on hold for 10 minutes), and they are now going to revise my final bill to correct the dodgy reading, but they could offer no reasonable explanation for this attempted rip off.:mad:

What concerns me, is that even with the dodgy reading, I received a refund of £142. I suspect that many people would have been happy with this, and not cross referenced all the information, thereby allowing Scottish Power to get away with this, in my opinion, appalling confidence trick.:mad:

IF YOU HAVE RECENTLY SWITCHED FROM SCOTTISH POWER, PLEASE GO BACK AND CHECK THE PAPERWORK , TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE NOT FALLEN VICTIM TO THIS SCAM!

Vestra

When was your actual change over date? The readings that are used to close your account are provided by the new supplier so Scottish Power have simply closed your account to the information provided by Eon, if you gave the readings on the 2nd and your change over date wasn't until the 8th Eon have probably just estimated your readings.

Now that you have phoned scottish power they have disputed the readings to change them to the actual reading. The readings that Scottish Power close your account on should be what eon open the account with and it is up to the new supplier to supply the readings.

slinga

If you have a BT line aren't 0845 calls free on weekends?

tartanterra

Vestra wrote: »

When was your actual change over date? The readings that are used to close your account are provided by the new supplier so Scottish Power have simply closed your account to the information provided by Eon, if you gave the readings on the 2nd and your change over date wasn't until the 8th Eon have probably just estimated your readings.

Now that you have phoned scottish power they have disputed the readings to change them to the actual reading. The readings that Scottish Power close your account on should be what eon open the account with and it is up to the new supplier to supply the readings.

My change over date was 02/07/09, and E.ON provided the correct readings to Scottish Power (as Scottish Power admitted this morning). As previously stated, Scottish Power took six days to prepare the final bill, and upped it by £115.

Scottish Power did not "dispute" what I told them this morning. The agreed immediately that I was indeed correct, and the bill was wrong.
Had I not been so vigilant, I would be £115 poorer.

This was a clear error by Scottish Power, who incidentally, still have not explained to me how they think I could possibly have used £115 worth of gas in the six days AFTER my account was finalised.

Ridiculous and shameful, in the extreme.

tartanterra

slinga wrote: »

If you have a BT line aren't 0845 calls free on weekends?

Not to Scottish Power, who confirmed to me that I was indeed, being charged for the call I made to them.

Whilst it may only be 3 pence a minute, there is a principle involved. Scottish Power were effectively charging ME for a telephone call, to sort out THEIR mistake.

Joyful

ALL 0845 numbers are free if dialled from a BT line. That will include Scottish power.

tartanterra

Joyful wrote: »

ALL 0845 numbers are free if dialled from a BT line. That will include Scottish power.

Possibly you are right, however, all I can quote you is what Scottish Power told me i.e. "this call is being charged at 3 pence per minute"
If it is actually free, then it's a further sad reflection on their customer service!:rolleyes:

Joyful

They have to say that in case you call them from another suppliers phone line.

tartanterra

Joyful wrote: »

They have to say that in case you call them from another suppliers phone line.

Just checked up on what you said (on the internet), and BT have abolished charges for 0845 numbers for customers on BT call packages.
Unfortunately, I'm not on a BT call package, so it seems my provider is allowed to charge from zero to 10p per minute.

littletommytucker

Scottish Power did not "dispute" what I told them this morning. The agreed immediately that I was indeed correct, and the bill was wrong.

This is what is known in the energy industry as a "dispute". You contacted Scottish Power, they agreed the reading was wrong, and started a "disputed reads process". Meaning they have sent off the relevant data to the National Grid and in turn your new supplier who will now both amend the meter reading. To clarify the matter further, this meter reading was provided by E.On, as it is always the company you change to that submit the change over reading to National Grid, so the incompetence of your new company meant they were losing out on £115.... which is a drop in the ocean to all parties involved. And Scottish Power most definitely don’t have some sad old man sat at a pc fiddling meter readings thinking "he he, I conned tartanterra out of £115, I hope she doesn’t notice".

slinga

Joyful wrote: »

ALL 0845 numbers are free if dialled from a BT line. That will include Scottish power.

Don't want to hi jack the thread but from what I read this depends on which BT package you are on.
BT rental has now gone up to £12.50 for three months, basic package gives free 0845 at weekends.
Next package gives free 0845 at weekends and after 6pm
Next package gives 0845 free at any time.
IIRC.

I think but am not sure that these packages also include 0870 numbers.