Huge Electric Bill

Auntymog

I am wondering if anyone has been in the same situation as us. We are a small business who had a new electric meter installed about 5 years ago. After the first few estimated bills we informed the company that the bill wasn't high enough.
They have read the meter at least 5 times between now and then but we have continually received estimated readings. They have now realised and sent us a bill for over £23,000
While I realise we have used the electric, surely they must admit some fault and give us some sort of discount?
Any advice would be gratefully received
Thank you

Premier_2

You owe the money for what you have used.

You should have followed the supplier complaint procedure if you had a complaint.

Any discount would be purely a gesture of goodwill by the supplier.
You've already had the benefit of what essentially is a 5 year interest free loan.
Surely you made provision within your management accounts to pay this bill that you realised was one day going to arrive.

savemoney

Could you not have given them your meter readings then they could amend the bill?

Auntymog

Thank you for your advice Premier
I'm not disputing the fact that we owe the money or saying that we can't pay it - I am simply asking if anyone has been in this situation before and what the outcome was so I can deal with a large company and get the best result for my business.

Auntymog

Savemoney - Great Avatar!

savemoney

Thanks are you a Depeche mode fan?

Have you asked whether you can pay by instalments might not be ideal amount per month but its better than paying all one lump sum

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but I would have told them meter readings and put something a side just in case

Auntymog wrote: »

Savemoney - Great Avatar!

dogshome

Hi Auntymog - I'm afraid that as a Business Customer, you don't have the protection of the rules that suppliers must comply with when dealing with Domestic customers.

That said assuming you have been paying the Estimated Bills, to have built up a debt of £23k over 5 years, (£4,600 a year ), in excess of those bills shows you are a serious consumer and begs the question as to the prices you are paying for your power.

Commercial power is usually supplied at fixed prices for a fixed term on 'Contract'.
These can be a minefield for the unwary - If you are not on contract phone your present supplier and the rest of the Big6 with your annual consumption figures and see what they offer - Do not agree to anything over the phone and make it clear you will only accept any deal when you have had the terms in writing, and when you get them pay particular attention to the End of Contract period and notices you have to give.

So far as your present debt is concerned, if you are having difficulty with immediate payement write to your present supplier complaining about the 5 years of Estimated readings, but making sensible offer to pay it off over a period, and enclosing a cheque for the first installment.
By doing this you will probably stop the supplier going into wolverine collection mode and demanding immediate payment, but if they do they will have hard time convincing a Court to issue a Distress Warrent

spiro

As a business customer you are not given the extra protection that domestic customers get.

Even as a domestic customer, every time you got a estimated bill you should have provided an actul reading and asked for the bill to be updated.

As you have already admitted you knew you were under paying so you should have put the underpayment money aside for when the catch up bill arrived.

Sorry but thats the reality of it.

Auntymog

Thanks again for the advice
I have been offered a 12 month payment plan, and now they are offering me a discount for full payment so I am happier.
We are in a contract and I will be reviewing it soon (maybe thats why we were offered a discount?)

savemoney - I'm a HUGE DM fan, have been for more years than I would like to admit to!
I will be reading the meter every time the bill comes through from now on!

savemoney

Me too since 1982 got there new dvd out next week ordered it from Amazon Blue-ray for good price

Seen them many times latest Dec 09 Manchester arena

Auntymog wrote: »

savemoney - I'm a HUGE DM fan, have been for more years than I would like to admit to!
I will be reading the meter every time the bill comes through from now on!