Estimated Bills

Robert5988

As most of the Utility companies are raising their prices many of us will get bills that estimate consumption before and after the date of the price increase. It will pay to check your next bill if my experience is anything to go by.

I have 4 accounts with British Gas(2 x gas, 2 x elec). They increased their gas prices wef 02 January 2002. My previous meter readings were on 06 July 2001 and they read them again on 11 Jan 2002.

So I should have been charged for 179 days at the pre-increase rate and 9 days at the post-increase rate. BG estimated that I had consumed 50% in the 179 days and 50% in the 9 days and charged accordingly.

I have checked the bills of several friends and they are all massively in favour of BG.

As a matter of principle I took this example of ‘creative accounting’ up with BG and got refunds. Their line was that it was calculated by a computer!

Robert5988

chateau42,
I am afraid I do not understand your post - or the points you are making.

chateau42

Robert5988

Reading your post again I totally misunderstood your post, so have withdrawn my comments.  :) Apologies for my unusual lapse.

pak2

This is true, companies will estimate the meter reading on the day of price change.

and will probably be in their favor most times, but they do base it upon approved amounts. i.e the average person uses 9% of their annual gas during June.

I remember a customer i spoke to while at British Gas that spent 5 mins shouting at me, before asking me to change the meter reading to one that he had calculated. I then advised him that the bill would be 11p cheaper. The moral of the storey is that the cost of changing it may exceed the savings.

Yes before any one gets on their soap box, and protests that we shouldn't let them get away with it, and that it might just be a few pence but multiply that by the number of customers................. phoning them won't change anything just cost your time (and your phone bill)

Pak

erutter

I have allowed myself to be stung by estimated bills.
I know that I should have checked the meter, but when you are busy..........

I have just paid a gas bill more than twice my usual winter quarterly bill.
My gas has been estimated since November, so it looks like I have paid for half of last winter's gas at the new price.

Lesson one...If you receive an estimated bill, contact them with the correct reading and await a new bill before paying.

P.S. the meter is in front of the house and accessible to the meter reader.

I have just learnt a hard lesson that I knew but did not practice.

Robert5988

This is true, companies will estimate the meter reading on the day of price change.

and will probably be in their favor most times, but they do base it upon approved amounts. i.e the average person uses 9% of their annual gas during June.

I assume the 9% in June is for illustrative purposes only?

When there has been a 10+% increase and the calculation was so wildly inaccurate – as in my case – the sums involved could be several pounds.

Of course if you phoned in the correct reading – and you are dyslexic - it could work in your favour!!

EmmaH_2

I am with Scottish Power who operate an online billing system which involves you submitting your own meter readings, as often as you like to generate bills when you want them. A Scottish Power meter reader comes round occassionally to check you are giving the correct readings, however I noticed yesterday the reading they had submitted to Scottish Power was much higher than it actually is. Had I taken this on face value I would have paid an additional £22 on my bill - lesson learned: Always check your reading and never accept estimates.

HOWEVER! Scottish Power yesterday sent me a letter advising a price increase; so I am waiting until Martin advises the right time to switch and joining the mass migration!

Robert5988

EmmaH,
Had you accepted this higher reading you would have received this £22 worth of Electricity(or gas?) at the pre-increase price.

Enviomon2

All the more reason to swtich as fast as possible.