Southern Electric Prepayment meter issue

306chris

Can someone just check that this is right for me.

Basically we moved in March 08 and had a direct debit meter. It was our first house and we had no idea and ended up racking a huge debt of £840 odd.

We had a prepayment meter installed and over time we paid the debt off and cleared it early last year.

Today they have decided to add another £230 onto the debt and their reason was that when you clear the account they then review it and see if any other debts need adding on.

To be it seems like a pretty poor way of working especially as last summer (after we had paid the debt off) I was working and could have paid the amount owing. I just can’t believe that it takes so long to get their accounts in order. I’m really annoyed as it just seems to be another little thing trying to make things harder at a time when it’s getting worse and worse

Wywth

306chris wrote: »

Can someone just check that this is right for me.

Basically we moved in March 08 and had a direct debit meter. It was our first house and we had no idea and ended up racking a huge debt of £840 odd.

We had a prepayment meter installed and over time we paid the debt off and cleared it early last year.

Today they have decided to add another £230 onto the debt and their reason was that when you clear the account they then review it and see if any other debts need adding on.

To be it seems like a pretty poor way of working especially as last summer (after we had paid the debt off) I was working and could have paid the amount owing. I just can’t believe that it takes so long to get their accounts in order. I’m really annoyed as it just seems to be another little thing trying to make things harder at a time when it’s getting worse and worse

Do you owe the supplier £230? If so, for what?
You are entitled to be informed of the basis of any alleged debt.

306chris

Wywth wrote: »

Do you owe the supplier £230? If so, for what?
You are entitled to be informed of the basis of any alleged debt.

They are saying that once we agreed to pay the 840 owed through a meter we then used £230 of gas until it was installed. Bearing in mind that this is four years ago I havent go a clue of meter readings from that time period. In all honesty they could turn round and say we owe x,y or z and I wouldn't know.

I dont know anybody who would keep their meter readings and all bills for four years.

They say they wrote to us on the 6th but nothing has turned up from them yet.

Wywth

306chris wrote: »

They are saying that once we agreed to pay the 840 owed through a meter we then used £230 of gas until it was installed. Bearing in mind that this is four years ago I havent go a clue of meter readings from that time period. In all honesty they could turn round and say we owe x,y or z and I wouldn't know.

I dont know anybody who would keep their meter readings and all bills for four years.

They say they wrote to us on the 6th but nothing has turned up from them yet.

They will have the necessary meter readings.

They should have billed you within 12 months else you can ask them why they feel their 12 month backbilling rule would not apply.
(SSE don't actually subscribe to the usual 12 month backbilling policy the other 5 big suppliers do, but they have their own policy that at least meets this)

If you were billed, that would have been the time to argue about it if you didn't agree. As you say, 4 years later, I doubt you have any evidence to argue otherwise.

Joyful

At a guess you were billed and they just forgot to add the exchange bill to your meter. This is not covered under the backbilling rules but perhaps you could get something taken off for their error. Give them a call and see.