jack

jackshelac

Help! I'm at my wits end. I recently paid my electric bill then 2 days later received anther bill for over £200. They had re-billed me going back to 2009 and the account shows 'charges reversed' every quarter. I spent about 3 hours talking to 4 different people on monday and nobody could give me an explanation. I rung again today and was told it's to do with the meter! Are there solicitors which specialise in utilities? I will definitely not pay this. What do I do now? Any advise gratefully received. Thanks

devilsadvocate88

Just to let you know mate that it often helps to include a bit more detail. What meter readings have they used to come to this amount? what period does this cover exactly, and what payments have you made during this period?

Just something for people to go on because there could be numerous reasons for your predicament.

spiro

Agree with devilsadvocate88, we need more details. When a supplier cancels/rebills you they reverse everything and then 'replay it' with the correct information.

Is it that you have an E7 meter and they have discovered the day and night readings are the wrong way round and they are now correcting that? Was the original bill an estimate and the new bill an actual reading?

If a supplier bills a customer and then finds an error they can correct this.

jackshelac

I have e7 and complained about the meter running over into peak rate ie 8.45am. They installed a new meter jan'11 and this was running over time and was reset nov '11. I was originally being billed for day rate on the e7 which was sorted. I always provide actual readings every quarter and the meter was read by a meter reader about 3 weeks ago. If they have made a mistake they haven't explained to me what the mistake was and I only get to talk to call centre operatives who go off to see their supervisor but come back with 'oh it's to do with the meter'! I live in a one bed flat and yearly consumption was 8000kwh so if the meter's wrong I don't think it's reading short!

jackshelac

Looking at the meter read history it only goes back to jan2011 when the new one was installed, but the readings are correct and have not been the wrong way round. The accounts go back to feb 2010 and in the balance column on 24th jan 2012 (9 days ago) it reads zero. The entry for 25th jan (last entry) it says charges reversed credits £256 balance £256. Next line up 'charges reversed' credits £1175 balance 1431. Then next line up says 'electricity charges' 1644 debit, nothing in credit column and -212 in balance. Doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever.

HappyMJ

Would you like to scan the bill and post it on here deleting any reference to your name address and meter reference numbers? It is difficult to interpret without seeing it. It could be anything.

jackshelac

sorry haven't got a scanner. But covered it in previous post. First column says charges reversed or electriciy charges, second column is headed debit, next one credit and the last balance. The person in charge of my complaint hasn't rung me, and when I phoned today it was a flustered call centre person who couldn't help. It's BG by the way. When I asked about 5% drop in prices was told it doesn't apply to my tariff. Which looking back through old bills the day rate has increased by 42% since 2009 and e7 went up by 32% last august. Would like to switch but if they say I owe them money wont' be able to.

Premier_2

jackshelac wrote: »

Help! I'm at my wits end. I recently paid my electric bill then 2 days later received anther bill for over £200. They had re-billed me going back to 2009 and the account shows 'charges reversed' every quarter. I spent about 3 hours talking to 4 different people on monday and nobody could give me an explanation. I rung again today and was told it's to do with the meter! Are there solicitors which specialise in utilities? I will definitely not pay this. What do I do now? Any advise gratefully received. Thanks

You don't need a solicitor.

Simply follow the suppliers compaint procedure if you do not understand the bill and they have failed to explain it to you

You'll find the procedure on the suppliers website, bill or can ask them for the details

HappyMJ

jackshelac wrote: »

sorry haven't got a scanner. But covered it in previous post. First column says charges reversed or electriciy charges, second column is headed debit, next one credit and the last balance. The person in charge of my complaint hasn't rung me, and when I phoned today it was a flustered call centre person who couldn't help. It's BG by the way. When I asked about 5% drop in prices was told it doesn't apply to my tariff. Which looking back through old bills the day rate has increased by 42% since 2009 and e7 went up by 32% last august. Would like to switch but if they say I owe them money wont' be able to.

If you compare and switch today they may let you switch away with the debt as it hasn't been outstanding for that long.

jackshelac

read the bit about waiting 6 weeks to contact ombudsman but missed step 2. Thanks everyone for your help.