Atlantic Gas & Electricity + VAT

tb10er · 7 February 2012 at 1:41PM

Just checked my bill against the prices quoted on their website and found that the unit price they were charging me plus VAT was indentical to their published rate inc. VAT.

I checked my maths just in case. I then rang them up. Got the operator confused as "I don't have access to the published prices". Put on hold. Eventually spoke to somone in e-billing. On hold again several times. Explained the situation and she agreed with my findings. Had I found a scam whereby they charge me twice for VAT?

She eventually rang back to say that the price shown on their web-site was discounted. So I asked, "where does it say that". She mumbled on a bit about discounts without answering anything - training to be an MP perhaps?

I said that the published website rates were unclear. Her reply, "our website is to undergo an update". Something else mumbled, then "Ofcomm have told suppliers to be clearer". Funny, I thought that ruling had come out some time ago.

Hopefully, whoever reads this will check the rates published are correct before taking them at face value. And me, well Atlantic have lost my custom:mad:

jalexa · 7 February 2012 at 2:00PM

tb10er wrote: »

Had I found a scam whereby they charge me twice for VAT?

C*ck-up not c*nspiracy IMO.

The best test is to check your tariff against the prices held by a Consumer Focus accredited comparison website.

How did you make your tariff choice originally?

tb10er · 7 February 2012 at 2:25PM

Jalexa

You wrote "The best test is to check your tariff against the prices held by a Consumer Focus accredited comparison website"

I checked on Uswitch and the rates there are ex VAT which, when added, equals the rate I am paying plus VAT.

I used Moneysupermarket.com to switch by the way.

flyingjock1 · 9 February 2012 at 3:23PM

on the atlantic bills the unit prices shown are without vat. then the va is added at 5% to give the total bill. dont know if this might explain it but just before xmas last year atlantic rejigged their website and removed a tariff which had internet listed in the title and replaced it with the basc domestic standard for example. this new tariff has slightly different unit prices than the old INTERNET one. the prices on the website are what is available for NEW customers. what might be happening in your case is that you have been with atlantic for a while and still on the old historic INTERNET service plan. the rates for that are not available direct on the website but should be available to the advisers under historical information if you give them a call. this happens a lot with energy companies. the website lists currently available tariffs whilst the customer is on a historical one which may or may not be beneficial for them.