Monthly payment plan but not my debt

keziah

I moved into a private rental on 15 December. The Estate Agent took the meter readings on that date and told the utility companies I'd moved in. I got a letter from Scottish Power a week or so later that I opened by mistake which was actually addressed to the landlord (the name was hidden by the envelope) and was a reminder for unpaid bills. The letter said if it wasn't paid they'd put them on a monthly payment plan.

Thought no more about it then yesterday a bill from Scottish Power turns up. They have put me on a monthly payment plan and have decided I will pay £113 per month. Reading the back of the bill, a monthly payment plan "enables me to spread my bills over 12 months". My tenancy is only for 6 months. There is no calculation or meter readings to explain where they have got this figure. There is just me and a 2 yo in a small mid-terrace 3 bed house. I have just moved from a 4 bed 3 storey house where the quarterly bill wasn't much more than £113.

EA is closed till Jan 4th, landlord is not answering phone and I tried to ring Scottish Power just to get to the top of the queue and get cut off.

Surely they can't bill me for someone else's usage? Can I demand to pay quarterly for the fuel I've actually used? I have never paid monthly in my life and I don't intend to start now- added to which I can't afford £113 a month.

The meter readings for the first 2 weeks of my tenancy show I've used 51 units of gas and 52 electric.

Pincher

You need proof of check-in readings.
Preferrably the check-in report/summary/inventory.
If the readings are correct, then send a copy to Scottish Power, with written letter.

If the check-in readings are wrong, and you signed it: good luck.

Cardew

Write, write, write!

Don't ring!!

Fire_Fox

Did you submit meter readings to SP when you moved in and change tariff from 'standard' (expensive)? Are the meter readings on the letter you have received correct? Are you sure SP have are writing to you about a debt payment plan and not informing you of the direct debit amount? A direct debit does allow you to spread the cost of twelve month's use over twelve months so you pay for part of the winter use in the summer, it doesn't matter if you only remain for six you just close the account and settle up at the end of the tenancy. Often DD amounts are based on the previous tenants usage patterns, but if you submit regular meter readings you can ask for the amount to be adjusted. You can of course ask to go onto a tariff that allows quarterly payments but you may pay more per unit of energy.