📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

ScottishPower

Hi,
I recently received a bill for £137 when normally we pay £56 per month. After phoning ScottishPower, they claim the reason for the hike is due to us underpaying.

They say we now owe £447 but do we have to pay this as it was their mistake and if so, what's the minimum we can pay per month?

thanks.

Comments

  • Also, on a bill we received two months ago, we owed £120 and now we owe £447. How has this happened?
  • brewerdave
    brewerdave Posts: 9,099
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Forumite
    Estimated readings not actual on previous bill so they are "catching up" !!
  • erdd2
    erdd2 Posts: 1,070 Forumite
    JackLUFC wrote: »
    Hi,
    I recently received a bill for £137 when normally we pay £56 per month. After phoning ScottishPower, they claim the reason for the hike is due to us underpaying.

    They say we now owe £447 but do we have to pay this as it was their mistake and if so, what's the minimum we can pay per month?

    thanks.

    How is it SPs mistake? Do you send in estimates? When was the last time you had your account/payments reviewed?

    You can check your account/usage/etc by registering on their website

    https://www.scottishpower.com
  • Premier_2
    Premier_2 Posts: 15,141
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    JackLUFC wrote: »
    Hi,
    I recently received a bill for £137 when normally we pay £56 per month. After phoning ScottishPower, they claim the reason for the hike is due to us underpaying.

    They say we now owe £447 but do we have to pay this as it was their mistake and if so, what's the minimum we can pay per month?

    thanks.

    You seem very confused so let me try and explain.

    A bill is produced rooughly every 90 days (or sometimes more frequently if you supply meter readings) and relates to the amount of energy you have consumed. That is what you owe.

    Suppliers, and many customers, prefer to have monthly payments that speread out the cost evenly over the year. This is typically collected by the supplier by Direct Debit.

    It appears that you were previously paying just £56 per month, but were consuming much more than this. Your monthly payment is reviewed at regular intervals to ensure it covers your ongoing usage. As yours did not, then you were advised that an increase was required, not only to cover your ongoing usage but to repay the accrued debt due to previous underpayments.

    This amount is £137 per month, the minimum, maximum total amount you will be expected to pay every month until further notice.
    (You may be able to revise this slightly by negotiation if you can come up with a valid reason/explanation to do so)
    JackLUFC wrote: »
    Also, on a bill we received two months ago, we owed £120 and now we owe £447. How has this happened?

    ... presumably because you have used energy over that time and you havn't paid for what you have used ;)
    What actually probably happened is a new bill has been produced based on recent meter readings.
    "Now to trolling as a concept. .... Personally, I've always found it a little sad that people choose to spend such a large proportion of their lives in this way but they do, and we have to deal with it." - MSE Forum Manager 6th July 2010
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 355.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 255K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 456.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 248.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 606.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 179.1K Life & Family
  • 263.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards
Quick Search

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.