Huge electricity bill help needed...

HappyMJ

rule wrote: »

Hi

Thanks for the responses, I thought that I did take meter readings when I moved in and that I provided them by phone but they say that I didn't ...lesson learned to take meter readings every month ...
The landlord didn't provide me with a meter key though and eventually I had to buy one myself ...

If they don't have substantial evidence to what the actual meter reading was when I moved in how can the only charge based on an actual (final) - estimate .. it doesn't make sense as I am paying for a "we think" figure...

I just drafted an email and i'll post it to see what you guys think...i'll keep you updated.

Do you have any evidence proving the other way? They have evidence by the final meter readings on the previous customer to you.

If you don't wish to pay the bill then don't and allow UW to take you to court and allow a judge to decide the level of the bill. It is pointless having an email argument/debate with them.

Edit: Do you realize you have negative usage on the night usage on the email that you are sending. If you tell them to adjust the bill then that will turn into positive usage and your bill will be higher.

rule

>>Do you have any evidence proving >>the other way

not evidence of the start meter reading no but they are the ones requesting the payment so this has to work both ways..however I am 100% certain that I haven't used this much electricity for the reasons outlined and it doesn;t feel right to pay it! .

>>It is pointless having an email >>argument/debate with them.

I disagree I think that I need to try to reach an outcome and bring some facts under their attention .. Even if their final position is that I have to pay..in order to take this to the energy ombusdman

>>Edit: Do you realize you have >>negative usage on the night usage on the email that you are sending. If you tell them to adjust the bill then that will turn into positive usage and your bill will be higher.

I think that it will reduce 100kws from the day reading (which Pence per kilowatt is more -> 17.018) and add back + 100kws to night reading which in any case will be less around 4.2 .. so it will only be less for 17 gbp but it adds to the fact that not proper care and attention was given when it was calculated

Cardew

UW bill monthly on meter readings provided by the customer. The bills are normally on-line but can be paper bills. If they don't get a meter reading from you:

If we don't have a meter reading from you, we will estimate what we think your meter reading would be at the end of the month. We have to do this in order to produce a bill for you.

We estimate using information that we get from the energy industry central database. It is based on meter readings taken from your meter. We vary our estimates depending on the time of year.

You can give us meter readings at any time. For your bills to be as accurate as possible, we recommend that you give us a reading every month.

You should have got a bill each month. You should have had the total amount deducted by DD each month. Did that happen?

Correct me if I am wrong, but you apparently never provided monthly meter readings, didn't send in initial or end meter readings, never checked or challenged any estimated readings.

Again IMO to use in 6 months less than 4,000kWh in an all electric flat is well below average consumption. The average UK consumption for hot water alone is over 4,000kWh pa.

rule

>>You should have has the total amount deducted by DD each month. Did that happen?

Yes, the bill was based on estimates around 35 gbp a month

>>Correct me if I am wrong, but you apparently never provided monthly meter readings, didn't send in initial or end meter readings, never checked or challenged any estimated readings.


Didn't provide monthly meter readings you are correct..
I think i provided them initial ones but they say i didn't
I did provide them with end meter readings.

>>Again IMO to use in 6 months less than 4,000kWh in an all electric flat is well below average consumption. The average UK consumption for hot water alone is over 4,000kWh pa.

Not sure what the average is but
The total consumption will be much more than 4000kws in this case if we include te initial estimates that I was paying direct debit every month .
In addition i was NOT using much electricity in the house. so i am struggling to see how I made 700 gbp in 5 months seems impossible ..

jalexa

rule wrote: »

This is what I've drafted let me know what you think . e.g if anything worth adding etc

*If* it is the case that you did not receive monthly estimated bills according to the process helpfully highlighted by Cardew:D, I would make a much simpler complaint

1. you don't accept the estimate.

2. why no meter "inspector" calling cards left

3. why no "follow-up"

4. why no monthly estimated bills per the terms and conditions.

Thats ALL.


Sorry, your "biggie" is too detailed to get a result. IMO.

victor2

rule wrote: »

Why does not reference them if we take down they start figures and end figures it should do as this would be teh actual and the previous ones was estimates ! you should reestimate (subtract)

To be honest, it is difficult to even understand what you are trying to say in that sentence.
They will want paying for the difference between your starting readings (even if an estimate) and your final actual reading - less what you have already paid. It is no use commenting on your lifestyle, it doesn't have any relevance at all to the utility company.

BTW, it's huge, Hugh could get quite upset with his name being used to mean very large!

Cardew

Firstly the issue is not if the correct amount has been billed, but if that amount was based on the correct consumption.

From UW’s emails the start readings were 5796 day and 8241 night. The end readings were 8990 day and 8889 night - See:

1. the account was opened to meter readings of 5796 (day rate) and 8241 (night rate).

2. The account was subsequently closed on 30 October 2011 using meter readings of 8990 (day rate) and 8889 (night rate). The final invoice was issued to you earlier this month based on the aforementioned meter readings and this shows an outstanding balance of £456.79.

This gives a consumption of 3,194 day units and 648 night units.

This from your latest email makes no sense to me:

Final bill:
Meter reader's Day reading: 30-10-2011 6347
Meter reader's Day reading: 30-10-2011 8990
Units 2643
Kilowatt-hours 2643
Pence per kilowatt-hour 17.018
Meter reader's Night reading: 30-10-2011 9236
Meter reader's Night reading: 30-10-2011 8889

Same date? where did the 6347 and 9236 come from?

Cardew

jalexa wrote: »

*If* it is the case that you did not receive monthly estimated bills according to the process helpfully highlighted by Cardew, I would make a much simpler complaint

why no monthly estimated bills per the terms and conditions

.

From his post above, I deduce that the OP was getting monthly bills based on estimates:

Yes, the bill was based on estimates around 35 gbp a month

rule

Hi Cardew



I think 6347 and 9236 were the estimated final readings that they provided (that i paid for) then they readjusted them to 8990 and 8889 when they received the final readings.

Cardew

rule wrote: »

Hi Cardew



I think 6347 and 9236 were the estimated final readings that they provided (that i paid for) then they readjusted them to 8990 and 8889 when they received the final readings.

So this statement of yours is incorrect:

The total consumption will be much more than 4000kws in this case if we include te initial estimates that I was paying direct debit every month

You have been billed by UW for under 4,000kWh (3194 + 648 = 3842)