First time renting - help with my G&E please :o(

fanatabulous87

I moved into a 2 bedroom mid-terrace with my dad at the beginning of September 2012. It is the first time I have rented anywhere.
I have switched from Scottish Power to EON as this is who we were with at the old house but from 20th October to 10th December (month and halfish) I received a bill for the gas and electricity of £240.00!! If I can explain what we have/use then I hope someone will be able to tell me if this is normal and if not, what are my options?
EON put me on their standard tariff, we have a combi boiler with no timer and no thermostat. When we use any hot water (even just rinsing a dish) the boiler fires up and we have to have the heating on constant during these cold months as there is no timer so the radiators just tend to heat up when they need to maintain temperature. We also have an electric oven but a gas hob. We have an electric fire but with the heating on we don't use it very often.
The bill said the electricity was £100.00 and the gas £140.00.
I know that we could try the simple options of turning off the radiators, switching off the heating completely etc. but I still think the bill is quite big and we shouldn't have to do this when we are still living the same way we did at the old house but at double the price! I'm obviously a bit worried as once I pay this bill we may get another in a month's time for the same amount and it isn't what we have budgeted for at all.
I just don't know what to do with regards to tariffs etc. on the basis I have never done this before - is it really just as simple as ringing up and asking them to put us on the cheapest tariff - and if so, what if there cheapest tariff is still really high and we don't find this out until we get our next bill?
I hope someone can help and thank you in advance xx

t0rt0ise

When you moved in did you read the meters and open an account with whoever supplied the property? If so, are the meter readings on the bill you have received the same as you supplied them with? If you didn't then you may well be paying for the previous tenant's fuel.

In order to get on the cheapest tarrif now you could use something like uswitch to point you in the right direction.

flexrider

as above said chceck if its a estimate bill (E) on the bill of usage means u have not supplied the energy meter details check them to bill usage usally say if your meter says for example 928733 and your meter says 870290 then your eneergy supply company have over charged u

If its below the meter reading then they may have undercharged you meaning a massive bill coming up in the possible months

just give em the right metre readings and u be fine

Scottish_Power

Hi fanatabulous87 Did you give meter readings when you switched? If not part of the high bill could have been caused by underestimated transfer readings and a catch-up bill. If you need help please e-mail [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] Thanks David

macman

If you have a combi, then when you open a hot tap the system responds to the demand for heat by switching the boiler's entire output from the CH to hot water (i.e. it will produce no heat when it is producing hot water). So something is clearly amiss with the boiler, possibly a fault divertor valve.
You should be able to switch off the CH side for the warmer months at the boiler-make and model?
A CH system without either a timer or a room 'stat is absurd-speak to your landlord and ask them to install a digital programmer-not an expensive item.
Get off Standard tariff-it's the most expensive.

NXV839

Standard Tariffs are always more expensive because you are not tied to a contract for a set period of time. I'd do a quick price comparison online and see who is the cheapest provider in your area then call that company and ask to be put on their cheapest tariff, which will normally be fixed for at least a year. It's generally worth being tied in because its cheaper than the standard tariff.

macman

Better to use a comp site followed by a cashback site-then you keep the commission.

Wywth

Give the newbie a break macman - at least he's not still suggesting calling the new supplier to haggle for some 'sweeteners' like he was yesterday. :rotfl:

Who knows, eventually he might even read the MSE article on getting the best gas & electric deal?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity