Well done Atlantic

ukdickie31

I started this post and I am glad people have taken the time to read it and some have commented.

The point I was trying to make was that, yes, there was a mistake, but Atlantic did something positive about it and I was happy with the outcome.

In life, when things go wrong, but they are put right, it's nice to say "Thank you" or acknowledge the fact that someone has done something a little extra to make up for the mistake.

Again, I say

"Sometimes we moan, but we don't thank people when something is done well."

hubballi

"In life, when things go wrong, but they are put right, it's nice to say "Thank you" or acknowledge the fact that someone has done something a little extra to make up for the mistake."





I agree.

Mercenary

I recently checked our usage against the upcoming bills online and found that we were underpaying our electricity ( gas was ok), so I phoned Atlantic, got straight through (oh, the novelty of that after BG ) and asked for my D/D to be increased to £45 per month.
The helpful guy there checked our usage over the past few months (we switched in Oct 06) worked out his sums and agreed the new amount I had suggested was correct and amended the D/D with effect from the Feb payment.
He also checked the gas usage and payment and said that the current D/D was fine, but it could actually go down a little if I wanted, as our gas usage would be less in the summer.

The confirmation letters arrived a couple of days later....and the new D/Ds have gone out correctly this month.

Fabulous Customer Service :T

BTW hubballi....I was paying £28 per month for electricity so we were underpaying for 3 months and had already got an £80 debit balance which would have got worse if I'd not checked our usage and increased payments asap. Our gas is £40 per month.
If you have been paying only £23 per month, no wonder you have had your payments increased hugely as you would have been seriously underpaying all that time and amassing a large debit balance that you now legitimately owe for used power.

hubballi

I have just spoken to the very friendly customer services (which I can't fault) and they say my usage alone is £58 a month +£175.00 in arreas. They are still looking into it but you must agree, for a 2 bed semi victorian with just my wife and I (who work all week) no kids and no expensive appliances, low energy bulbs, low energy plug on fridge freezer, its very expensive. Can't you understand why we are queering it?



Please ignore my previous rant, I don't mean to diss Atalantic as they are a good company but something is wrong here.

I have no problem with paying the arreas, its the usage I can't understand.

espresso

I would suggest that for your own peace of mind that you start recording weekly meter readings, so that you can see for yourself exactly how many kWh you are using. If you are all electric and the £58 is an average over the year, it would be a total of £696, which does not sound too bad when compared to the average. Your total cost will be higher if you are all electric.

hubballi

No, we have Gas central heating as well as gas cooking hobs. The oven is fan assisted electric. We had a very old microwave which just packed up and a rapid boil kettle that also just packed up. We have started to boil water via gas on the stove as it should be cheaper.

Ethel_IIII

hubballi wrote:

No, we have Gas central heating as well as gas cooking hobs. The oven is fan assisted electric. We had a very old microwave which just packed up and a rapid boil kettle that also just packed up. We have started to boil water via gas on the stove as it should be cheaper.

My situation sounds very similar to yours. My partner and I live together (no kids - yet!!) in a smallish 3-bedroom semi, we both work all week although I occasionally get a day off in the week. Our oven is the same as yours. When it's very cold we have been boosting the v.small bedroom radiator with an electric heater for 2 hours before bed and 2 hours before getting up. We have an electric tumble dryer but we try to avoid using it, drying our clothes on a clothes horse instead. We use the tumble dryer about once a fortnight I would say.

Because of the probs I've been having with my electric bills (detailed in another thread!!) I've been monitoring our usage quite a lot.

Over the last two (cold) weeks we've averaged usage of 12 Kwh units a day. Over the last 4 months it averages only 9 kwh a day, but that included a fortnight away on holiday. If I were to go with an overall average of 10 units a day, using Atlantic's new (increased) unit charge of 9.46p, that would be a monthly amount of about £28-£29. On top of this there is a small standing charge of about £3 a month and then VAT, which would be around £35.00 a month, which exactly what our direct debit is.

So, can you identify where you are using more electric, can you track your usage on a daily or weekly basis, and is your unit price a competitive one?

Edited to add: On the subject of Atlantic's customer service, yes they are very helpful and efficient. A refreshing change.

hubballi

I just can't get any sense out of them. I spoke to an advisor who asked me for my new Gas meter reading, seriel number,old index and new index numbers etc. This was a real mess about as it was right in the bottom of a dark cupboard. Suffice to say when another adviser rang me a week later she had no recolection of these numbers and I had to give them all again. I am still waiting to hear from them but I won't hold my breath. Everytime I speak to them they seem to be making figures up as they go along, changing them and moving the goalposts. Very confusing and frustrating. I am not giving in though as there is no way my electricity usage is £58 a month. My wife and I in a 2 bed semi, Gas heating and both at work all week. Hardly use anything.

espresso

hubballi wrote:

I just can't get any sense out of them...............

Have you sorted out your problem yet? See here for their published customer charter.

:cool: