E-on 'Underestimated' Usage?

Ruby38

E-on

Would appreciate any feedback or help on this, please, as I'm totally lost with it.

I currently pay £76 direct debit for electricity and gas with E-on. Yesterday had a letter to say that it would have to rise to £239! When I first phoned I felt sure that this must be some sort of horrible mistake, but the chap I spoke to insisted it's correct.

In May I was in credit and then in June (when I checked online) there was a bill for over £500! The person I spoke to said that because I hadn't given actual meter readings from November 09 to June 10 that they had 'underestimated' my usage?

What makes it even more frustrating and I feel, underhand, is that in June I changed to another product and spoke at length with a member of their team about the best product and how much the direct debit would be, etc.

HELP and thanks in advance if anyone can shed any light on this for me or how I go about checking it out.

Andy_WSM

Ruby38 wrote: »

What makes it even more frustrating and I feel, underhand, is that in June I changed to another product and spoke at length with a member of their team about the best product and how much the direct debit would be, etc.

Did you give them accurate readings at the time and did they put them on the system?

An "estimate" is only a best guess. Without actual readings from you - or a meter reader if they were able to gain access what else can they do?

Cardew

Ruby38 wrote: »

E-on

Would appreciate any feedback or help on this, please, as I'm totally lost with it.

I currently pay £76 direct debit for electricity and gas with E-on. Yesterday had a letter to say that it would have to rise to £239! When I first phoned I felt sure that this must be some sort of horrible mistake, but the chap I spoke to insisted it's correct.

In May I was in credit and then in June (when I checked online) there was a bill for over £500! The person I spoke to said that because I hadn't given actual meter readings from November 09 to June 10 that they had 'underestimated' my usage?

What makes it even more frustrating and I feel, underhand, is that in June I changed to another product and spoke at length with a member of their team about the best product and how much the direct debit would be, etc.

HELP and thanks in advance if anyone can shed any light on this for me or how I go about checking it out.

The reason you were in credit in May but in debt in June, is that your monthly direct debits are credited every month to your account, but bills are credited quarterly.

So I could look on-line today and find I am, say, £300 in credit and then look tomorrow and find I am, say, £100 in debt.

The energy company estimate(guess) your consumption. Unless you check the readings on your bill against the actual meter readings and inform the company of any discrepancy, you will always have a problem until they have an established pattern of your consumption.

tomhann187_2

No real advice but just to sympathise - I'm in exactly the same position. Move in a year ago, was told £60pcm was enough for gas and electric and then get my bill and it's £700 in debit! WHAT!

Nothing I can do unfortunately. Just a massive underpayment and over-use on my behalf. Have to bite the bullet and spread the payments. I spoke to a lovely guy who was really understanding and has let me pay it back over 12 months.

Premier_2

Ruby38 wrote: »

...I currently pay £76 direct debit for electricity and gas with E-on. Yesterday had a letter to say that it would have to rise to £239! ...

Wow, that's a big rise. :eek:

You should be able to negotiate with the supplier that the debt that now exists should be repaid over the period it originally built up ... so perhaps about 7 months. Plus of course, they need to addjust the monthly cost to refkect what you are actually using.

Perhaps they have done this, but that would mean you are using £150 of lecky a month!!! :eek:
That might be about right for an all electric property in the middle of winter, but in the middle of summer, there would appear to be plenty of scope for reduction.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi Ruby38,

Looks like you have been given some really good info already on here :T

It does sound like a case of paying an underestimated bill, then E.ON have received your accurate readings and an up to date bill is produced, this is what is called a catch up bill.

I would take Premiers advice and speak to E.ON and request to pay back the balance over the same amount of time that this has built up.

Make sure your account is now billed up to accurate meter readings, also check that you are on the best tariff for your needs, ask E.ON for your usage and put the details into a comparison site to see how we do.

E.ON will use the customers reading to produce bills, so you can always put these online or call up with them.

If you need any more info, just let me know.

Helena:)

Ruby38

Andy_WSM wrote: »

Did you give them accurate readings at the time and did they put them on the system?

An "estimate" is only a best guess. Without actual readings from you - or a meter reader if they were able to gain access what else can they do?

Andy: Yes I did give them accurate readings in June - had to in order to change to another product. That's why I'm wondering why nothing was mentioned to me then. I accept, in hindsight, that I should have given readings inbetween.

Ruby38

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena wrote: »

Hi Ruby38,

Looks like you have been given some really good info already on here :T

It does sound like a case of paying an underestimated bill, then E.ON have received your accurate readings and an up to date bill is produced, this is what is called a catch up bill.

I would take Premiers advice and speak to E.ON and request to pay back the balance over the same amount of time that this has built up.

Make sure your account is now billed up to accurate meter readings, also check that you are on the best tariff for your needs, ask E.ON for your usage and put the details into a comparison site to see how we do.

E.ON will use the customers reading to produce bills, so you can always put these online or call up with them.

If you need any more info, just let me know.

Helena:)

Thanks, Helena. I'll call them and put that to them. To be fair, the chap I spoke to was trying to work things out for me and went off and spoke to someone but at the time I was absolutely horrified at the amount that has built up. I have given correct readings, in June and at the time of writing my first post.

Ruby38

Premier wrote: »

Wow, that's a big rise. :eek:

You should be able to negotiate with the supplier that the debt that now exists should be repaid over the period it originally built up ... so perhaps about 7 months. Plus of course, they need to addjust the monthly cost to refkect what you are actually using.

Perhaps they have done this, but that would mean you are using £150 of lecky a month!!! :eek:
That might be about right for an all electric property in the middle of winter, but in the middle of summer, there would appear to be plenty of scope for reduction.

Thanks, Premier. I'm going to phone tomorrow and do what you good people on here have suggested. Thanks.

Ruby38

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and advise. What seemed overwhelming and worrying at the time has now made me feel a lot more positive about dealing with. Not a lot of money to some.... but a lot to others. You're all good people. Thanks, again.

Ruby38

tomhann187 wrote: »

No real advice but just to sympathise - I'm in exactly the same position. Move in a year ago, was told £60pcm was enough for gas and electric and then get my bill and it's £700 in debit! WHAT!

Nothing I can do unfortunately. Just a massive underpayment and over-use on my behalf. Have to bite the bullet and spread the payments. I spoke to a lovely guy who was really understanding and has let me pay it back over 12 months.

Thanks for your sympathy, and sorry to hear you've got your own issues. I'll definitely phone tomorrow and plead for some space to pay! :T