Electricity Dilemma

Dangerboy

I'm currently living in a rented apartment and haven't had any electricity bills for a year (
I contacted the provider with meter readings, told them when I moved in and gave them initial and current meter readiings. They said they'd send a bill out.
The lady read all the details I had provided back to me to check everything was correct.
Two weeks later (this morning) I received a bill and they've totally c*cked it up- they have used the current reading as the initial reading (from a year ago) and estimated usage to date. The bill is for ~£130 and my sums (based on the correct usage) estimated that it would be ~£700.

Now to the dilemma- I'm fed up of electricity companies providing poor service- I've had no end of hassle in the past. Morally I know that I should contact them and ask to pay them more money, but they have sent me an incorrect bill based on the correct information that was provided to them.

Do I pay the incorrect bill and save money, or do I contact them and put right their mistake?

oldwiring

I think you know what you, an honest person, should do. What ever the merits, probbaly few and demerits, probably many, are, it is up to your conscnece to decide. You may be paying a smaller amount now but in the longer term will you end up paying even more over all as the under read units may have to be paid for at a higher price

Ken68

Hi Danger.,.......you could STOOZE with the money, i.e. keep it in a highest paying interest account, until your providers cotton on.
Agree with Oldwiring, you need to pay it...eventually.

In the meantime 5% of £570 is £28.50p.

going2die_rich

Pay the bill they've sent. Drag it out for another 2 years and they can't bill you for something more than 2 years ago.

Simple fact is, you've told them the truth and the correct amounts and they've sent out the bill using their hitech calculating systems. So obviously it's you who has mistaken the bill amount and you do actually owe £130 not £700

After all, you've never paid for electricity in a year how would you know what the rates are, just pay the £130 and if you worry they will ask for the money later just put the extra £600 in a savings account.

In reality they'll probably send you more than one bill anyway, this one will probably be on one rate and the next to follow will be on different rates with all the price rises this year.

Don't listen to that daft honesty policy, do you really think they'd pay you back if you overpaid? I am sure you will sleep fine, just turn up the electric heater and smile