EON want to charge me £114 a month (dual fuel) is this right??

sunnyday88

Hi All,

I'm quite new to sorting my own bills out - as I have generally moved into places where other people's names have been on the energy bill! We have been with EON since we moved in, on the basic EnergyPlan for dual fuel and our housemate just moved out so it's just me and the OH now. Our house is old but I am VERY stingy with the heating (our old housemate worked from home so it was on all the time). Because of this history with EON, with our new account they want to charge us £114 a month on DD. I wasn't on DD before, I did my meter readings quarterly and the most we ever paid was £213 I think. Although with EON, if you do DD you get 8% off - if you pay promptly, and online you also get a small percentage off.

I don't think we can fix as not sure we will be in the flat for the whole of next year, but I don't know whether to pay the DD, then do meter readings myself and get them to change it to something more accurate before they charge me the earth, or whether to do meter readings quarterly so it's accurate and I'm paying for what I've used. Advice please??

**Juice**

I'm with EON, paying quarterly by DD and I give meter readings online every month - over summer our bills were around £150 per quarter (there are only two of us, 3 bed semi, both working full time and we tend to spend cold evenings in the living room with the fire on rather than the heating). I expect this will be more next quarter from having heating on etc. I also collect Tesco points as part of it!

sunnyday88

See, that seems more acceptable - this would end up being £342 per quarter! and we are in a 2 bed flat (first floor). Wish we had a fire!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi sunnyday

Always best to have accurate bills. Providing meter readings regularly will help us bill correctly and prevent any nasty surprises. For instance, if we've under-estimated and then send a catch up bill.

One way of keeping a check yourself is through the Real Time Billing facility on our website. You'll need to register with the website first but after that you can put readings online at regular intervals.

If you're in the billing window (14 days either side of the bill date), the readings will automatically generate a bill. At all other times, you'll just be able to see the balance those readings would produce.

This will help you make sure your monthly payments are covering the ongoing usage.

You're spot on about the current payment arrangement being based on past usage at the property. Moving forward, as your usage changes due to the changed circumstances, your monthly payments can be adjusted to better reflect these changes. Providing regular readings as above will definitely help with this.

Registering with our website will also give you access to our online tariffs which are more competitive than the standard Energy Plan you're currently on. These do, though, have cancellation fees which may or may not be acceptable.

Best thing to do is pop some usage figures which you think better reflect your new situation on to the comparison sites. This will list all the tariffs open to you both with us and the other suppliers.

Hope this is useful sunnyday. Give me a shout if you need any more details as always happy to help.

Malc

backfoot

Hi sunnyday88,

I think Malc has given an excellent response and you will benefit from changing Supplier/tariff by using a compariosn websiite.

Be aware that if you change tariff with Eon you are likely to be affected by their punitive DD policy which will require you to pay enough to acheive a zero balance on your account by spring.

This can cause your winter consumption to be recovered over a very short period rather than the normal 1/12th basis.If you have huge cash reserves not earning interest,it may not be a problem but if you are on a tight budget,I would recommend an alternative Supplier.

grizzly1911

backfoot wrote: »

Hi sunnyday88,

I think Malc has given an excellent response and you will benefit from changing Supplier/tariff by using a compariosn websiite.

This can cause your winter consumption to be recovered over a very short period rather than the normal 1/12th basis.If you have huge cash reserves not earning interest,it may not be a problem but if you are on a tight budget,I would recommend an alternative Supplier.

+1

Shop around I am sure you can do better even if you use you historic usuage figures. No reason you couldn't put a flexed lower amount into the comparison site which will drive the new DDR figure with an alternative supplier If you get it wrong they will soon recover it.

Monthly DDR will get you the cheapest deals (yes I abhor them to, don't see why you should be penalised if you pay promptly on qtrly. bill).

Even if they start off high I am sure all companies will adjust them if you can show a reasoned argument and evidence of lower use. They always have for me anyway.

grizzly1911

**Juice** wrote: »

I'm with EON, paying quarterly by DD and I give meter readings online every month - over summer our bills were around £150 per quarter (there are only two of us, 3 bed semi, both working full time and we tend to spend cold evenings in the living room with the fire on rather than the heating). I expect this will be more next quarter from having heating on etc. I also collect Tesco points as part of it!

Look elsewhere, find a cheaper tariff (surpprised if you can't), pocket the cash:) spend it where you want at better prices:):)