Fu!

denverlancs

Hi all,
Long time reader, first time poster.

Thought it might be useful to see if anyone else has had this SPECIFIC same problem with First Utility ( I know there are loads of other threads - wish I'd read them first!)

I submit my reads to FU each month and was surprised to see when I submitted my reads Jul 2012 they minimised my reading for electricity (took the actual gas read verbatim).
Not a problem thought, we will have a lower bill this month and it will level out next month, at least I'm aware of it.
The surprise came when I then submitted my read at the end of Aug 12 and received my Elec bill which was HUUUUUGE....compared to what I normally get.
They had hiked the price (not a problem we all knew it was coming) but they included the amount from my previous bill within the price hike which heightened my bill by over £50.
I have rung them 3 times with no great success. I then passed it to the escalation team who told me my bill wuld be frozen whilst they looked into it ...only to discover that I received a bill today telling me they will be taking it all next week.

I've raised a complaint (and didn't get a complaint number) and have informaed that I am stopping my DD until it is resolved and I will pay my bills by cheque so I have control over he situation.

Has anyone else experienced this from FU during the recent price hike? Maybe I am on my own (not with their service as there are 1000's of us complaining). It could be very easy to miss unless you check. Deliberately lowering your meter reading one month to bill you at a higher rate the following month for energy you had already used.

dogshome

Complaining to the Escalation Team isn't the way to go.
Despite all the high tec in the industry, the only method of Complaining that is guaranteed to work is a snail-mail letter, headed Complaint in BIG & BOLD

This forces the supplier onto a legal track they must follow, and if they haven't resolved the problem within 8 weeks, it's off to the Ombudsman you go

molerat

If you are on a DD only tariff by cancelling you may be put on a dearer one.

Terrylw1

They can't do that, that's very dodgy.

For elec, when you submit a reading, they have to pass it to an agent known as the Data Collector. They validate this which can mean a pass or fail.

Deliberately lowering this doesn't just mean they get more profit of you, it also changes the volume of energy they purchase which can, if continually lowered, not only reduce their purchase value but cause this agent to provide inaccurate low projections.

Definitely raise this as a complaint. If they are proven to do this, you should consider referring it to Ofgem's Consumer Affairs Team for investigation.