Scottish Power Electric Bill, Over £1k!!!!

ChrisHarding143

Hi,

I have a problem with ScottishPower. I lived in a small 1 bedroom flat by myself from Oct 09- Sept-10, and I didn't get any bills whilst I was there. When I moved into the property, the Landlord did not mention anything about the bills, he just said I was responsible for the council tax, and looking back, I probably should have asked him then, but nevermind.
When it came to about 4 weeks from me moving out, a bill finally arrived, for the sum of £950-ish (not entirely sure). I was obviously gobsmacked, that after nearly a year they had finally sent me a bill, and a bill that no where near reflects my usage. So I contacted Scottish Power, and I remember giving them some meter readings of sorts but before anything could be sorted out I was in the middle of a stressful move from my flat to another one. I did make sure to send a letter to Scottish Power with my new forwarding address, also left one for my landlord. I moved to my new place, and didn't hear from Scottish Power until a year later of moving into my new flat.
I didn't hear from Scottish Power though, it was a debt collection company Buchanan Wells & Clark requesting payment for Scottish Power for over £1500!! I was annoyed to say the least, so I have contacted Scottish Power and opened a complaint with them, not expecting the complaint to go far, because who are they going to side with? Themselves.
Scottish Power have now sent me a final account bill of £1112.42 for the time I was at the property, after trying to bill me from 0ctober 2009 to january 2011. They have offered me a 18 month payment plan of £61 pounds a month, which to be honest if far to high for me, I earn a pitiful income as I am on apprentice wage and get paid £95 a week.
Also, this bill is an Estimated Bill, and its nearly £200 more than the bill I remember getting just before I moved. Surely there is something wrong here? Scottish Power want my tenancy agreement or meter reading, both of which I do not have, its been more than a year since I lived there, and I have no contact details for the landlord.
This has been a really bad experience for me, and to be honest I am not happy at the way I've been treated. Is there anything I can do to get this stupidly infalted bill reduced?? There is no way 1 person can use that much electricity in a small 1 bedroom flat, especially as I am careful with wasting energy, I lived in my parents 8 bedroom house with my 5 brothers and sisters and we had a pre pay meter, and we never got through more than £10 a week!

If anybody has any advice, or previous experience I would really appreciate some help, thank you for taking the time to read this very long post.

macman

So if you didn't register with the supplier or pursue any bills for a year, what did you think would happen? Did you think the energy was free?
Unless you have both the opening and closing readings for the period of your tenancy, you can't dispute the bill. If you do have them, then you can calculate what the correct billing should be. Without them you'll have to negotiate on an estimated bill.
£10 a week will not power and heat a 1 bedroomed all-electric flat.

ChrisHarding143

No, I didn't expect free energy, I was under the impression that the energy bills were included in the monthly rent. And I can assure you, £10 a week is more than enough on a pay as you go meter to heat and power a 1 bedroom flat, me and my partner do it just fine, you just have to be very careful with what you use.

macman

ChrisHarding143 wrote: »

No, I didn't expect free energy, I was under the impression that the energy bills were included in the monthly rent. And I can assure you, £10 a week is more than enough on a pay as you go meter to heat and power a 1 bedroom flat, me and my partner do it just fine, you just have to be very careful with what you use.

Why would you think that, unless it was specified in your STA?
If you thought that, you may also be receiving a bill from the water utility co as well in due course.
But, as stated, without the meter readings no one can know for sure, you'll simply have to negotiate.

ChrisHarding143

It was my first flat, my first time living on my own, so I put it down to naivete. Surely these energy companies cannot be allowed to fleece me, anyway, I will look around and see if anybody can give some actual advice.

System

The advice is learn from your mistake.

When you took out the tenancy agreement, you should have read the paperwork to check what you were responsible for paying.

You should have taken meter readings for all utilities to the property (Gas, Electric, Water where appropriate)

The fact that it was your first home is no defence, you must have known that utility bills need to be paid by someone, and you should have checked who was paying at your flat (Obviously noone was).

However, what you can do is discuss this with your landlord and check if the landlord has readings for when the previous tenant moved out and when you moved in.
Check the bills to see when actual meter readings were taken, then show proof to Scottish Power of the date you moved in. It should be possible for them to calculate an estimated meter reading for the date you moved in and then bill you for what you have used.

Any usage prior to when you moved in should be billed to either the previous tenant or the landlord.

macman

ChrisHarding143 wrote: »

It was my first flat, my first time living on my own, so I put it down to naivete. Surely these energy companies cannot be allowed to fleece me, anyway, I will look around and see if anybody can give some actual advice.

They are not necessarily fleecing you. Without opening and closing readings -which are your responsibility, not theirs, no one knows what the actual bill should be. SP are not psychic.
You have been given plenty of advice, it's just that you don't want to accept what you have been told.

Scottish_Power

Hi ChrisHarding143,

If you want to e-mail me your details to [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] I will ensure that the estimated bill reflects any actual readings we have obtained and that the bill is for the correct period.

Kind regards

Graeme @ ScottishPower

good_advice

Hi Chris, we all learn through our mistakes and most learn as we go along. I learn something new everyday.
Regard your bill, I think you have now learnt to check and re check....

With rented properties I do not think you get to choose which tariff you are on. It is usually the landlord. Due to this you may not have been on the cheapest tariff.

The amount we pay for heating also depends on how insulated the flats are.

I think you should just pay the £1112.42 and be more aware of the bills in the future.

Caz3121

Is the bill for gas and electricity or was the flat all electric?

irnbru_2

ChrisHarding143 wrote: »

Themselves.
Scottish Power have now sent me a final account bill of £1112.42 for the time I was at the property, after trying to bill me from 0ctober 2009 to january 2011.

Is the reading for October 2009 an estimated one?