Time to 'grow up' - the slippery slope to 30.

immoral_angeluk

ZTD wrote: »

Wait a minute,

You've paid them £60*6=£360
You've used £419+£360=£779 over six months, or £1558 on a yearly basis, or

Is that right?

Check your usage, make sure they have the same(ish) value as your meter, and calculate it through manually.

According to the bill, they've received £300 in payments, but yet I STILL owe them £419 (The bulk of which is gas, which is strange as I haven't used it as much as in previous years but I've NEVER paid this much..). I have no idea how or why. I've been giving them up to date meter readings since I joined them, and they've had 2 or 3 readings off me...

The only thing I can think is to possibly see if the landlord can come out to check the meter/boiler. I really can't understand how I've apparently used that much.

ZTD

They will have somewhere on the bill the meter reading you last provided to them and which they're using. Make sure that's accurate. Don't take it on trust that what you provided is what they've used.

Utility companies make the words "Useless assholes" seem like a compliment, not an insult.Take as little as possible on trust.

immoral_angeluk

ZTD wrote: »

They will have somewhere on the bill the meter reading you last provided to them and which they're using. Make sure that's accurate. Don't take it on trust that what you provided is what they've used.

Utility companies make the words "Useless assholes" seem like a compliment, not an insult.Take as little as possible on trust.

I wrote down the original meter reading when I joined and should be able to get the past readings given plus my current. Will double check before I call them and have a strop down the phone...

fallenwiccan

Picked up the keys and moved a boot full of kitchen stuff to our flat it hasn't quite sunk in yet still. So excited!

immoral_angeluk

Happy monday!
Today has been a good day overall.
The car had to go into the garage for some recall work (Least it was free..) which meant that I had to walk a mile into work this morning after dropping the car off.

I quite enjoyed it for a change and felt quite invigorated when I got into work. There's definitely something to be said for this exercising lark..

I've checked my meter readings when I switched and recent from which they've calculated my bill and they're all correct. I just can't see how I'm apparently used double my normal usage so can only think there's something up with the heating system as I've not used it a lot at all. On the weekends it's been on constant so it goes/on off (I have a cold house, but I've always done this..) but in the week it's on for 2 hours in the morning and 3 in the evening and after that it's totally off because I've always been wary of the cost. It hasn't been a particularly cold winter either so I don't understand how it can suddenly jump like that. I'm going to have to call them anyway to double check it's correct and ask if they'll lower it. My next call will then be to the housing association to see if someone can come out and check the system in case there's a fault causing it to use more gas (Where the main bulk of the cost was..).

What a nightmare. I really feel for those in fuel poverty who can't afford to heat/power their homes because of the cost of it. I really don't know how some people manage, especially where they're on meters. :eek:

Anyway, I've had my before/after school club fees in _pale_ so have done my final budgets for the month/week.

Food £60.00
Petrol £25.00
Social £10.00
Bills £1,599.68 (£594 of which is JUST childcare. God damn you easter!!)
Train fare £10.00 (For my course friday)
Dance £15.00 (Have £5 of this already in my purse..)
Airport parking £22.00 (Decided to book that this week)
holiday fund £68.16 (To make up what I spent and bring it back to where I started before having to pay for the damn fridge)

Totals out £1,804.84
Total in £1,787.43

Shortfall -£17.41

Will make up the last £17.41 shortfall next week. Whatever is surplus next week will be paid off the card I think to make up for buying the oven. Or I might pay off the 0% catalogue... oh I can't decide. I've got til June to pay off the 0%, so I should really pay it off the card which is still accruing interest shouldn't I?

My god this month has been so expensive it's untrue. But in happier news my last payment for the camera finance has gone out, so that's £51.50 saved, plus the sky package has reduced £10... just a shame that everything else has gone up by way more than this so I'm STILL worse off...:mad:

Counting down the days til holiday though. Starting to get really excited now. Going to have to budget some money soon to start buying some summery clothes to take away and things like swimming costumes etc. Yaaaaaay holidaaaay. :T


Ooh forgot to add that I spent £1.49 on breakfast from greggs seeing as I've done so well to walk over a mile into work. :rotfl: Sausage, cheese and bean melt plus a massive rock cake is a great way to undo all the good work you've done burning off calories.... oops.

immoral_angeluk

fallenwiccan wrote: »

Picked up the keys and moved a boot full of kitchen stuff to our flat it hasn't quite sunk in yet still. So excited!

Congrats I'm very jealous. I'm years off being able to even consider moving at this rate.

beanielou

Nothing exciting about owning your house IA~believe me!

vandanfc

Might we worth actively monitoring your gas meter IA. So take reading at the start and end of the day and at the start and end of the weekend, it may give you some idea how much is being used. Also have look at the prices they have charged you, has there been a sharp increase in the unit costs ?

immoral_angeluk

Evening all!
I've not had chance to call Npower or the landlord, which is annoying as I want to try and get on to them ASAP. Just so hard to during the day when I'm at work! I finish work earlier on Weds/Thursdays so will try and call them tomorrow.

Have updated my spending diary. I did grab some bargains in the peacocks sale again today for the kids. Managed to get two tops and two dresses for them for our holiday for £9 so couldn't resist. Also picked up a cd for my youngest in the charity shop for £1.99 as she doesn't have much music unlike her sister so thought it'd be nice for her.
Had my normal dance today which was £4, and while there I bought a dance top for the street team so we all coordinate and that was £2.

Have updated the budgets due to the extra spends (also had my halifax statement through and minimum payment was less than I expected..) and have £23.40 to make up next week.

We've had the date/booking slips through for our dance exams too. I'd forgotten how expensive it was :eek: for the girls' it's £46 and for mine it's £39 if I do the team AND solo dance. That's a hell of a lot of money. At the very least I have to do the team one now I've commited to it, and that's £21.50. I'm not 100% sure if my youngest wants to do hers, as she gets a bit shy and prone to refusing to do things. Will talk to her tomorrow and see if she wants to do it. Have to book them by the 14th April though.
That PLUS the MOT, PLUS signing up for the Race for life again this year (another £34.99).... ouch. _pale_

Think I'm going to stagger the exams and race for life for one lot each friday. That way I'll at least be able to pay something off the card each week. Well... hopefully! Bar anymore financial suprises...

choccyface2006

Hi,

I have an E.on app on my mobile where I can add meter readings any time I like to get an up to date balance of my account, maybe N Power have a similar app for your phone?

It might turn out to be a faulty meter but if it doesn't it could be a good way to keep an eye on usage.

Sarah