ridiculous bills with UW

riigs10

Hi all, I have done a search but not found anything that will help me too much.

This doesn't directly affect me, it's my parents house so I don't have all the details but anyway...

We moved into a bungalow in 2007 (it had been stood empty for around 2 years). It was built in the late 80's so is fairly modern in terms of insulation etc, we had new double glazing fitted within the first year of living there.

The electricity and gas was supplied by UW, and the bills coming from them were ridiculous. It seems that the bills have been mounting up and are now in around 3k of areas. Around 6 months ago they came and fitted pre payment gas and electricity meters. But the bills are still ridiculous, Can easily go through £60 a week in electricity.

The bungalow isn't large, 3 bedroom single story, living/diner, kitchen, hallway, bathroom utility.

My dad's complained several times, he actually discovered we were on an old plan that had been phased out, however we were left on it (now swapped). The case has been to the ombudsman but nothing came of it. He tried to switch suppliers but due to the debt he cannot switch and he is locked in with UW until it is paid, I believe they are taking small monthly payments towards the debt.

My parents are always at home, run a business from there, but its one laptop one phone one fax / printer, not a large electrical drain. (could they be on business tariff as IIRC it is lower rate?). There is a new gas combi boiler being installed soon to try and reduce the gas bills, but they are paying, and have been for years allot of money for what they use.

Is there anything they can do? my dad has been checking the readings etc and contacted the ombudsman to no avail. I'm moving out soon and would like to try and get them some help for it, even if its just to swap away from UW onto a cheaper rate.

ps. a personal loan to pay off debt and swap is not an option. Also I believe they shouldn't have to pay that much back as its ridiculous charges.

Sagz_2

Are you sure the £60 a week is actual useage and is not partly made up with re-paying a debt?

riigs10

there is around £10 going back to UW for the debt, however £50 is still high per week, And if its been charged too high for the past 3 years then the debt is wrong.

since the pre-pay meter was installed they have kept all the receipts, I will find out later what date it was installed and how much they have spent so far

12bdebt3

I don't know how £60 a week of electricity could be used in a bungalow! I have lots of things on for most of the day in my house. My girlfriend works late afternoon/evening shifts and weekends and I work during the daytime, so there is always a light or the TV or something on. My electricity usage over the past 2 months is £60. A new combi-boiler was fitted into my house in june/july (before I moved in) this has apparently dropped the bills a lot. The gas is nearly half the price it was. Also your parents need to watch out for price hikes as most energy providers are increasing prices. British Gas has gone up 7%, another big provider has gone up by 9% as well I think.