Previous occupant bills underestimated caused by bills to soar?

talulahbeige_2 · 4 July 2012 at 12:40PM

Did you take a meter reading when you took over the property?

Cardew · 4 July 2012 at 12:44PM

myright wrote: »

so do you think we're lumbered with it?

also how do u suggest we pay it off? their giving me 12 months. I dont want a meter. Are there better methods? with eon

You might be able to persuade the Utility company to reduce the amount owing as a goodwill gesture.

Also most utility companies will agree for such a debt to be paid back over, say, 12 months; paying by direct debit.

There is no doubt you have been 'shafted' and we are not unsympathetic, but practical options are few.

P.S.
If on a water meter, have you checked that position?

RWM38 · 4 July 2012 at 1:55PM

myright wrote: »

thanks ^ but the problem is, that estimated is way below what it should have been , as they were estimating based on some of the rubish inacurate reading the previous owners had given a long time back. Desite us not even using the electrcity ets, its come to over 1 grand in debt to them now. Plus what we use currently which is practially nothing.

From what you say it sounds as if you failed to give the opening meter reading, but have been giving regular meter readings since then. If your regular meter readings show say £80 per month usage, but in the first month or two you were billed much more due to an estimated opening meter reading, then you can use your regular meter readings as evidence of your normal usage (perhaps combined with the industry standard usages for your household size and composition), and put the onus back on to the utility company to prove that the debt is owed.

jalexa · 4 July 2012 at 1:59PM

myright wrote: »

Desite us not even using the electrcity ets, its come to over 1 grand in debt to them now. Plus what we use currently which is practially nothing.

Something does not seem right. You have been liable for 5 months and sometime during that 5 months you have provided actual readings but the "estimated" consumption from your date of entry to the date of your actual read is "over 1 grand"?????

The advice I gave earlier "the current occupier needs to either agree a reading with the supplier or accept the suppliers estimate - for the date of entry - which can be reasonably proved by documentary means" was slightly simplified. You can also refuse to agree and/or accept the suppliers estimate of the reading on the date of entry and raise a formal complaint on that issue, potentially leading to an Energy Ombudsman referral.

When you complain the ball is then with the supplier to make a reasoned justification of the date of entry estimate that may have to be justified to the Energy Ombudsman. On the face of it, IMO, "over 1 grand" for a few months supply cannot be a reasonable estimate.

A reasonable estimate from the supplier should use previous actual consumption or failing that typical consumption for the type of house. At the same time you need to realise your "not even being in the house and not using much electricity or gas" argument is irrelevant to previous consumption.

So basically I am saying stop 'kitten':Dfooting around with the supplier (really MSE, how childish?) and move to a formal complaint in writing by Recorded Delivery or by email and make sure you get a 'hard-copy' response and not get tricked into a telephone call.

myright · 4 July 2012 at 2:16PM

thank you for the top responses ^^

Basically, thhe problem is.... we have provided the actual readings for the past few months as advised by agent in eon.

The problem is that, the previous owner has been charged only by estimates. He only had provided the energy supplier with 3 readings in the whole of last year. (which i believe should have been incorrect).

Anyway, there was an initial dispute (which we wont get into, as its probably irrelevant to this situation).

When I provided them with actual readings. The actual readings were WAY higher than what I was getting billed for (the estimates). That added an additional £700 to what I owe for the 5 months. Noway did any of us use that.

Our past 2 months readings we provided shows that we only used £40 on avergae for gas and elec. So £700 +£500 for months is way off!

RWM38 · 4 July 2012 at 2:42PM

Regardless of what E.on's estimates were for the previous occupiers, or even their estimate at the start of your occupation, it is up to them to prove the debt, so if your average usage is £40 per month then they cannot justify an estimated £700 + £500 usage in the first month or two before you gave your first actual meter reading. I would put in a formal letter of complaint to them, force them to justify their figures, and if the matter is not resolved then complain to Ofgem.

myright · 4 July 2012 at 3:28PM

thanks RWM38. so are you saying I might have a realistic chance?

chanz4 · 4 July 2012 at 4:50PM

ask them to read the meter for them selves, then give them your opening read again. Some occupiers give reads to lower their bills on purpose

pinkteapot · 4 July 2012 at 4:53PM

In the future, whenever you move into a place, read the meters on the first day you move in (and snap a picture of them in case you need it later). When you phone the supplier to set up an account, give them the ACTUAL opening meter readings (so they don't use their own estimate). This will avoid a similar situation arising at any future property you live in.