Atlantic are trying to rip me off

hubballi

I don't believe it, their charges are getting worse. We both live in a semi victorian 2 bed house. No unusually high electricity appliances. After giving estimates over the last 4 years to Atlantic, my monthly direct debit averaged around £23. Pretty good. I have since been told (which I am suspicious of) that I have been underpaying as I gave an inacurate reading which was a digit short (why didn't they spot this when I gave it to them on the phone). They have then calculated I owe £43 a month, a vast increase. It gets worse as the statement I got today ( and I haven't given them a new reading yet) estimates £90 a month is needed to pay what I owe.

This is ridiculous as there is no way on earth we have used or are using that much. When I email them they seem selective when they want to reply, stating that they haven't been getting them. The statements they send are very complex. I don't understand them (and I am not thick by any means).

Is there an outside body who can help me look into this incase I am being ripped off and blinded by figures. They could look at all my statements and see if I am missing something.

tripled

hubballi wrote:

I don't believe it, their charges are getting worse. We both live in a semi victorian 2 bed house. No unusually high electricity appliances. After giving estimates over the last 4 years to Atlantic, my monthly direct debit averaged around £23.

Estimates of what? Is your heating gas or electric? How many people live in the property?

Presumably if you have been underpaying for years, your direct debit will be increased to the correct amount to cover your usage. You will then need to pay back arrears on top. Don't forget that over the last 4 years electricity prices have doubled as well.

Cardew

The normal reason for huge jumps in DD is that you have built up a debit balance which Atlantic are getting you to pay back over some months; as well as paying for your normal consumption.

If you post details of your bills on here someone will help you.

Include readings and dates; estimated or meter reader/yourself. kWh used and prices per kWh.

What do you use for heating and hot water? Gas, electricity, oil?

If you don't use electricity for heating the size of your house is not a factor.

espresso

You can provide your readings by ringing their meterline on 0800 1073205. This will generate an new invoice showing the state of your account to date. If your e-mails are a garbled as your posts here, I'm not surprised that you have still not sorted this long standing problem out. Their computer may have generated this £90 DD figure but if you know your consumption from past bills and your current outstanding debt, you can calculate a sensible DD figure for yourself, which they will agree to. If you can't work the figures out, post your latest statement on here.