Energy Misselling successes

Gerry1

Your account should show you whether you have an E7 tariff.  If you're on single rate and the Rate 02 register isn't increasing then it's probably of only academic interest.  If the meter is set up for E7 the default display may denote the register that is currently in use.

12 flashes per minute is 720W, which is high, about three times what might be expected.  Time to start switching circuits off to find the culprit.

Exploring the menu options on the meter may show the actual power being drawn at any instant; if not, the red LED is good enough.  An online search for the exact type of E470 meter may bring up the instructions or a video.

MarinaPilar

Power has just been switched off for the next 8-9 hours. Readings about 5 mins ago:

MarinaPilar

Yes I’m going to ignore Rate 2 unless it changes, which it hasn’t so far. I am required to enter the two readings separately on the Avro website however.

Tomorrow I will begin experiments with circuits and red flashes.

divingbboy

I have a situation with Utility Warehouse with which I'm currently dealing: signed up a year ago on the basis of their 'Energy Boost' offer, which gives you a £100 credit on your account 12 months after you sign up. Long story short: UW hadn't been forthcoming in providing me with new fixed tariff details, and I ended up arranging to switch to Octopus. About a week later, a chap from UW's retentions team (or whatever UW call it in-house) calls me to ask me not to leave. He then reminds me about the £100 Energy Boost payment and says that if I leave before the end of March, I won't be entitled to receive it. So, in good faith (and partly to give UW a chance to send me new fixed tariff details), I agree to cancel the switch. Then I receive the new fixed tariff details and called UW yesterday to clarify a couple of things, including when I could expect to receive the Energy Boost payment. After being put on hold and much tooin-and-froing, UW's customer services told me in no uncertain terms that there was nothing relating to the Energy Boost payment on my account, that I wasn't entitled to it because my original switch to UW last year wasn't completed in time, and that I wouldn't be getting anything. Needless to say, I immediately made sure that the switch to Octopus was put back on track, but I fully intend to pursue the complaint further. I also have phone and broadband with UW and am seeking to terminate these services without penalty, too (they expire in October). Frankly, I want nothing more to do with a company that would provide false information to induce someone to stay with them.

MarinaPilar

Meter read this morning after close down last night:

Gerry1

That's good, the meter isn't rogue (at least, not last night).

TinaC123

My energy supplier OVO has made several mistakes in my fixed rate contract, will this make the contract void?? Since signing up with OVO they have been terrible! I didn't receive my first bill for electricity and gas until I had lived in my new home for 3 months! by then the bill was over 500 pounds in debit! they agreed a monthly direct direct which we thought would help clear the debt and also pay for the energy we were now using. We are now over 1,000 in debt and our monthly DD is now double, but still the bill is very high. We do not have the heating on during the day and are very aware not to leave certain things on ie lights, showers running a long time...Where do we stand? as we want to leave OVO....

MattMattMattUK

TinaC123 said:

My energy supplier OVO has made several mistakes in my fixed rate contract, will this make the contract 

No.

TinaC123 said:

Since signing up with OVO they have been terrible! I didn't receive my first bill for electricity and gas until I had lived in my new home for 3 months! 

That is not unusual. Do you have a smart meter that works correctly, did you submit meter reads?

TinaC123 said:

by then the bill was over 500 pounds in debit! they agreed a monthly direct direct which we thought would help clear the debt and also pay for the energy we were now using. We are now over 1,000 in debt and our monthly DD is now double, but still the bill is very high. 

It sounds as if your energy usage when you signed up was stated incorrectly, either by yourself, or you used a comparison site and went with one of their generic figures. You need to establish what your annual usage is, then the Direct Debit needs to be set at 1/12th of that figure, plus an additional amount for debt repayment.

TinaC123 said:

We do not have the heating on during the day and are very aware not to leave certain things on ie lights, showers running a long time...

Modern LED lights use little electricity, it is things that generate heat that use the most, ovens, heaters, water heating etc. if done on electricity. If you have dual fuel then it is slightly more complicated, but you would need to establish the split. 

TinaC123 said:

Where do we stand? as we want to leave OVO....

You can pay the exit fee if there is one and leave at any time, or you can wait until the end of the fix and then leave, but first you will need to pay off the debt or they will block the transfer. 

The main thing is to understand your energy usage and work out how much you should be paying. 

Are your bills estimates, or accurate, your read, smart read, our read etc?
What is your annual usage in kWh for electricity and gas if you have it?
What region do you live in as prices vary by region?
What is the total debt?

dunstonh

Care:  very old thread revived.  Do not reply to old posts by mistake.

My energy supplier OVO has made several mistakes in my fixed rate contract, will this make the contract void??

no

We do not have the heating on during the day and are very aware not to leave certain things on ie lights, showers running a long time.

lights are not particularly high usage items unless you are using inefficient bulbs.
Showers themselves are not high users of energy unless you have a shower unit that heats the water.  if the hot water comes from the boiler or tank, then that wont be the cause.

Where do we stand? 

Very simple.  You pay for what you use.  No more, no less. 

usually in cases like this it is down to one or more of the following:
1 - using estimates instead of actual readings
2 - not understanding your own energy use and therefore not understanding what it is actually costing you
3 - not paying enough under monthly direct debit 
4 - failing to give a reading when moving into property.

as we want to leave OVO....

Pay the bill to bring it to zero and transfer to another supplier.

However, first, you are better off looking at your actual use.  We can help you understand it if you have problems but we need detail.    First of all confirm you have been giving regular meter readings and not relying on estimates.  Secondaly give us a sample of your readings covering the period.  That will help us see what you are using.

Gerry1

Did you register with OVO and send opening meter readings as soon as you took possession?