New Digital Meter Reading Confusion

Poosmate

Oh Lordy! I nearly wet myself!!!!!!

Just checked my latest bill and saw this!!!!!


Customer Number:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Current Balance:
£ 1129.44 in credit

Tariff:
Elec Click Energy 6

Payment method:
Debit card/Credit card

Paperless Billing:


Erm... what do I do now?!!??!?!!

lol

It's too scary! I can't be owed that much! Should I ask them to check it before asking for it back? Or ask for it back and wait for them to decide they've made a mistake and ask for most of it back?

Now I'm in a quandry!

Thanks

Poo

Poosmate

Latest update:

I've sent an email stating if this is the correct amount to please send me a cheque as soon as possible.

I won't hold my breath for it but I won't stop bugging them till I get whatever is owed me back.

Please wish me luck.

Poo

[Deleted User]

Hi,

wow, :eek: nice surprise, :j hope it's right for you, enjoy.

Did you get a detailed statement back to the new meter being installed?

Oh, in a previous post you said how frugal your were with leccy, well I don't think having the telly and computer on will use much, more the heating and water heating.

Now that things are squared up, keep your eye on things, take a meter reading at least once a week, daily if you wish, and you will get an idea of what is using what.

If you want post your readings here I'm sure you will get help.

Good luck, hope you get the money, forget about money saving for a bit and treat yourself. :beer:

SwanJon

Looks good so far - what readings did they use on the bill?

The next thing to look at it your heating -
- living flame gas fires look nice but lose a lot of heat up the chimney
- Plug in radiators use electricity at day price (11.093)
- are there storage heaters in the property? If so you might be better using them? (Night prices 4.981)

If you are not using storage heaters or the immersion then you are probably better off on single rate:
Click 6 E7 prices (-VAT) (East Midlands)
Day T1: 30.937 Day T2: 11.093 Night: 4.981
Click 6 Single rate prices (-VAT) (East Midlands)
T1: 18.783 T2: 8.151

Based on your past usage, changing to single rate could save you about 20% (or 20p/day). There is little chance of them backdating this change though as they usually go by how the house is set up unless they are told otherwise.

Don't spend it all at once!

Poosmate

Thanks both for your replies.

I think it's sorted now. I'll believe it when I get my refund though.

I was right to question the credit though, it's nowhere near that amount! I knew it couldn't be because I've only paid them just over £1000 for the electric since January 2008 when the new meter was fitted. Good job I'm not really stupid otherwise I could have bid on a new car on Ebay with that dough! lol

Anyway, I sent an email requesting they check the figure and send me a check for the correct refund last night.

I got an email back stating that it showed that figure because they were "fixing" my account at the time. The actual credit is £197, but they've taken off the cost of my gas so reduced the refund to £114 which they promise will be in my account no later than 27th July. Still £114 cash in the bank will help towards my new old banger!

SwanJon, maybe you could answer a question for me please regarding this statement from the email:

I am delighted to tell you that I have arranged to refund the remaining balance of £114.77, this will be in your bank account no later than 27 July 2010.

After BG put my monthly DD up from £34pcm to £232pcm (and took it as well!) I cancelled the DD and have since been paying basically what I wanted to pay and when I wanted to pay (I know it's a bit naughty but they really upset me) by paying the money direct into their bank account from mine i.e. no DD or SO so they can't take any money out of my account. Can they pay it into my account even though the account is no longer linked to BG except that it's where money is credited from?

Hope I've explained that ok.

Thanks for your responses SwanJon, you are a credit to BG and I must admit, so far the customer service has been very good. The proof of the pudding, of course, will be if I get my refund by 27th July.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again

Poo

Poosmate

Just to reiterate:

My actual readings are as follows:

T 07139

1 05215 and

2 01924


There is no electric heating in the house at all except for the 1kWh and 1.5kWh oil filled radiators I bought last year. The 1.5kWh one was on for a few hours each of the coldest nights (quite a few over this last winter) and the 1kWh one was on for less time. I have found that just a small amount of heat in other parts of the house (kitchen and landing) is enough to keep those areas from leeching the heat from my lounge. I only have a gas fire in the lounge.

As I said previously, my emersion tank broke so there's no stored hot water in my house. Hot water comes from the kettle or the shower.

Oh, one bad habit I seem to have got into is running my washing machine on the daytime rate electric, I should start running it after 1am again, that should help even up the usage and reduce my bills somewhat.

Hope that helps.

Poo

SwanJon

Theoretically, no, it won't go into your bank if the DD is cancelled, in which case it'll come as a cheque which can take 2 weeks.
It is possible that in their zeal to fix it and get the money back to you quickly someone has reinstated the DD, in which case you can probably see this on your online account.
However, I've not worked with DD's for a while so they may have found a way to do it.

Thanks, always nice to hear good news - when the money arrives might be worth replying to the email to say it's arrived and say the same.

Poosmate

Sounds a bit scary. Surely they can't reinstate a DD without a DD mandate being signed by me? To be honest, I'd rather wait 2 weeks for a cheque than allow them access to my account.

I'm hoping that they will pay it into my account in the same way I pay money into their account, afterall, I can't take money out of their account can I?

I will reply to the email once I receive the refund.

Cheers

Poo

SwanJon

You can agree a DD over the phone & internet too, but you're right that you should always have full knowledge of it.
It is possible that they have tweaked the system to allow payments by bank without an active direct agreement - it would make sense to have this option....

Poosmate

I agree, paying money into someone's account isn't rocket science and I guess they have to move with the times especially with cheques being phased out.

I'm not going to worry about it as legally they would have to inform me if they were going to take money out of my account x many days (28?) prior to doing so and I haven't been notified of such yet.

I'll keep you informed.

Poo