What to do Re Gas & elec debt & switching and getting my head round reducing & fixing

pretzelnut

I'm currently with scottish Gas for both my electric and gas.

We;ve been paying massive bills and it wasnt until the recent increase news that i decided to investigate further.

Gas (25/08/10 - to now)
Reading on move in: 12552
reading now: 14400
(not sure of the exact KWh- that sum confuses me)

Electric (25/08/10 to now)
reading on move in: 24133
reading now: 29613

(I did a reading 5 days ago and we have used 92 units, but we are in house move mode, and everything is switched on washing cleaning drying etc etc)

(yes I had my eye off the ball but I'm not going to get into that right now)

Anyway we were put on a standard tariff. I absolutely dont remember them mentioning any tariff on the phone, so I never questioned it would be the most expensive.

Our DD have been going up and up and up, so far we are paying £99 a month for gas and £68 a month for electric.

Anyway, I missed a whole 3 DD's as my head was a mess and I rang them to sort it out hence the incresed DD, but each month they even higher. Which is understandable. We can afford to pay it, paying it is not the issue here. I'm just trying to finally get my head around everything.

My last electric bill was estimated on the 12th May as we were on holiday, but it's currently sitting at about 1400 units more than the estimated reading from that date. And at that bill said we were £86.92 in debt.

My last gas bill was a true reading and we are £350 in debt.

I checked online and sort of worked out to the best I could what we actually use each month now, and wheter or not the current DD was paying back the debt. I'm not sure it is, as I'm still £300 in debt with the gas and aproximately another £300 for electric including the new reading and previous £80 debt. Although my sums may not be correct.

I'm worried this debt will never get paid off as it doesnt seem to be decreasing at all.

With the correct readings today, we are NO better off than I was 5 months ago after ringing to sort out the missed payment, in fact we are in more debt now.

I signed up to the energy smart, thinking it would help monitor our useage further, then realised they want monthly readings and it says only pay for what you use, how does that work if you have a debt. Is my 1st reading on energy smart going to result in me having to pay £600+. As i've tried to input my current meter reading but as its 1400 units it just says, this reading is too high are you sure you have the correct figure.

To add to the mix we have to move house in 2 weeks, we found out yesterday, and obvioulsy want to sort out a decent energy supplier, which a decent fixed tariff. To get us off to the right start asap.

We'll be moving into a house with a water tank, whot water boost button, not in with boiler but in the kitchen, back bolier, electric shower, gas fire, electic cooker and raditors with an actual dial thermostat that we can set the correct temp rather than using the dials on the actual radiator.

I cant afford to pay off £600 straight away in one swoop (3 months at a massive push), so are we stuck with scottish gas.

We dont have a lot of things on at all, kids are all in bed by 7, then its just the Tv and my lappy, and only have the fire on at present when the kids get out of the bath so they dont catch a chill, the heating has been off for a while now.

We are stumped as to what we can reduce further, as it seems we have very little to reduce although I know there will be something we can get rid of once we move - like the tumble dryer, as we'll have a garden and washing line.

So can anyone help with my figures and who will be cheaper when we move, and if we stay with scottish power how long it will take to clear this debt. I'm desperate to see the end. I try and use those comparision sites but I'm baffled.

If i've missed anything out, please ask i'll try and add as much as I can.

(when we move it will be from scotland to england if that opens anymore doors)

Premier_2

As you are moving in 2 weeks, there is little point changing taiffs now.

When you move house, you will have whatever supplier currently supplies that new property (and then you can change if you want)

When you leave the existing house, you will need to give meter readings and a forwarding address for them to send the final bill. (Don't even consider falsifying the meter readings or not giving the address - they will find out eventually and catch up with you)

You will get a final bill from the supplier which you should negotiate a re-payment on. You could even advise them of this when you give the final meter readings, but I suspect they will say wait for the bill to arrive (unless they roughly calculate it whilst you are on the phone)

Work with them and set a a repayment plan you can afford.

pretzelnut

Thanks.

It never crossed my mind that we would leave this supplier and take on the new one at the new address.

I wouldnt dare falsify readings. As I said I want to get this debt paid back asap, but at its current rate it doesnt seem to be going down.

How do i work out my yearly consumtion so its accurate, as it stands we have 306 days usage, but that takes into account the harsh long winter.

So that I can get a rough idea of what our new useage will be. I know it will be slightly different in the new house but not much.

Premier_2

You don't need to know your annual consumption for the existing house - you will get the bill for what you actually used

I wouldn't be tempted to use that figure (if you had it) in your new property as it will almost certainly be different. Different house, different construction, different insulation, different size (maybe), different heating, different climate/exposure, etc.
I would suggest you monitor carefully your consumption at the new property. Think about using imeasure.org to help you keep track.

pretzelnut

Premier wrote: »

You don't need to know your annual consumption for the existing house - you will get the bill for what you actually used

I wouldn't be tempted to use that figure (if you had it) in your new property as it will almost certainly be different. Different house, different construction, different insulation, different size (maybe), different heating, different climate/exposure, etc.
I would suggest you monitor carefully your consumption at the new property. Think about using imeasure.org to help you keep track.

We own the house and have lived in it before, and will be moving back into it, so I know what we are in for etc etc.

Definately warmer as it has double glazing for a start and a front door that doesnt let a gail through the house. And it's south facing so gets all the sun. Insulated loft etc.

I think we are just going to have to keep a very close eye on what we use and start a daily spread sheet, as I would like to try and get in credit over the next 4-5 months so winter increases arent so much of a hit and so we dont end up in this debt situation again.