SSE to lower Gas prices tomorrow

Cardew

Cagey wrote: »

Glad to see you noted the few posts I have made on this site. I don`t think I had scathing criticism of these suppliers I just responded to requests for thoughts on them.
I do not wish to spend time trying to find out how much I may be losing out on whether my bill is due in April or June as I am just happy that my bill was kept as low as possible for as long as possible & it would serve me no benifit to try to change supplier now.

Not Scathing?

Just be happy you are no longer with SP the worst run ,most incompitant company in history.

Sounds if they(Southern Electric) are still up to their old tricks but even allowing for the principle of the thing I would consider the switch as BG are the costliest supplier with the poorest customer service.

Scottish Power are & have always been a shambles since privitisation.

However this further quote of yours explains a lot.

As a customer , shareholder & ex employee of S&S I hope it never happens as S&S are a well run efficient company

I just wonder what company this thread is about;) and how dare anyone criticise them - especially someone who is not a customer! although I am a shareholder as well as you are!!

P.S. Got my Share Dividend this morning(did you?) hope this thread doesn't damage the share price!!

oldwiring

I have sent a critcal, but hopefully constructive email to the co this evening

oldwiring

FWIW I post the main emails that have passed between me and Spthern Electricity. I hope you feel I have done as much as is possible.

COMPLAINT
I have to say that I am most disgusted at the reply you have been instructedto send me and I would ask respectfully that my reply to your email be sent immediately to the directors for a personal response from them and not via your department

the reason for my compliant is as follows

When the January 2007 price rises took place my bills issued in February for the quarter November 2006 to February 2007 were part charged at the old rate and [art at the new. Now that prices are reduced from March (electricity) and April (gas) the bills that cover the period straddling the dates of reduction will be charged wholly at the old and higher rates.
In my considered opinion that is totally unfair. I am therefore considering making a formal complaint to the regulatory authorities.

I await the directors' response before embarking on this, something that disappoints me given the level of service I have previously experienced.


Thank you for the information you passed on on behalf of Tony Keeling.
Whilst I appreciate that the systems Scottish and Southern employ have limitations, I believe that the reason is nothing but an excuse and a weak one at that. The system does permit adjusting entries to be made to accounts. One was made to the account dated 20/11/06 on my electricity account 55917 82113 in respect of a miscalculation of tier 1 charges made earlier.
I would respectfully suggest that the company should be capable of extracting the data of the amount charged at the 1/1/07 rates, the number of days charged at that rate on the bill, the number of days actually due at that rate, and from that information calculating a refund to the customer. If it is not possible to include the refund in the current bill, it could be included in the next one.

Action like that would restore the good reputation of the company, which has been tarnished by its hiding behind a technicality.

Kindly pass this on to your superior.


Thank you for your further email.

Whilst we appreciate that there was an opportunity to create manual adjustments on accounts, the Company took the decision that the cost and time involved in doing so would not be practical or economical. I am sorry that you are disappointed with the way we have implemented our price reduction but this was the decision taken at the highest level. When another price reduction occurs we will, of course, take into consideration the suggestions you have made about the way this could be carried out

Cardew

You have done your best. I suspect there is no point in complaining to Energywatch as they told warned you that they would be [STRIKE]ripping you off [/STRIKE]implimenting the reductions to their maximum advantage.

[Deleted User]

Cardew wrote: »

Customers will have seen that prices for existing users are to drop on 01 April and take that at face value. What they will not appreciate is for some existing users all gas/electricity they use up to 30th June, or even later, will be charged at the old higher rate.They won't find that out(even if they notice) until after then.!)

Hello Cardew - I'm afraid I don't follor this reasoning. If prices go down on 01 April, surely the new lower rates wiil be applied from then. I do not understand why my rates may not change until 30 June or later. I must be one of thise customers you mention who doesn't see a scam!

Cardew

[quote=[Deleted User];4947267]Hello Cardew - I'm afraid I don't follor this reasoning. If prices go down on 01 April, surely the new lower rates wiil be applied from then. I do not understand why my rates may not change until 30 June or later. I must be one of thise customers you mention who doesn't see a scam![/QUOTE]

The scam is that whilst the prices go down on 01 April, customers won't get that price reduction until after they have their next bill.

Examples:

Customer A got his bill with the meter reading on 4th April. He will pay at the old higher rate until 4th April and the reduced rate from April 4th.

Customer B gets his bill with the meter reading on 20th May. He will pay at the old higher rate until 20th May and the reduced rate from 20th May

Customer C gets his bill with the meter reading on 30th June. He will pay at the old higher rate until 30th June and the reduced rate from 30th June.

So Customer A will be getting his Gas/Electricity at the cheaper rate for nearly 3 months longer than Customer C.

Almost no existing customer will get the price reduction on 01 April.

[Deleted User]

Thank you for your reply. However, when I was with BG, they always estimated my gas usage upto the date of the price change and pro-rata the amount I need to pay. I haven't been with SSE for long and this would be my first price change with them - I expect them to pro-rata my bill as of 01 April. I have already made a note of my reading on that date. I will expect them to give me the new rates as of 01 April. If BG can do this, I'm sure they should too.

Cardew

[quote=[Deleted User];4948979]Thank you for your reply. However, when I was with BG, they always estimated my gas usage upto the date of the price change and pro-rata the amount I need to pay. I haven't been with SSE for long and this would be my first price change with them - I expect them to pro-rata my bill as of 01 April. I have already made a note of my reading on that date. I will expect them to give me the new rates as of 01 April. If BG can do this, I'm sure they should too.[/QUOTE]

Yes of course that would be the correct thing to do(as BG did - pro rata) and as SSE did when prices were rising(they wern't going to give you cheaper electricity at the old rate!!) However when prices are dropping!!!

Have you not read the above posts by oldwiring? He has been corresponding with SSE on this very issue and complaining.

It has gone to Director level and their response is:

I am sorry that you are disappointed with the way we have implemented our price reduction but this was the decision taken at the highest level.

Whilst you(justifiably) expect them to give you the new rates as of 01 April it would appear that expectation will not be met.

There is amother thread about this where someone has already had his bill and got charged at the higher rate for his consumption after 01 April.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=430691

oldwiring

lindabea. hi! Post #44 gives the co's reply. that contsins their reason fornot applying the reduction umtil the fisrt bill after the change dates. incidentally difrent for the two facilities

GaryS

I have just come off the phone to SSE.
Both my Gas and Electric bills had been charged at the higher rates from March 1st and April 1st up to the date of the bill - 12th April.

They have now amended the bills to reflect the new lower charges from the dates specified, a saving of over £75.00.

** Saving includes approx £25.00 for estimated bills, so £50.00 lower with new prices.