E-on Bill of over £2k for 2months worth of electric!!

Heidis_mummy

So Friday I rang up to cancel my account with E-on as I have moved house, I gave them my final meter reading and the said the amount due was over £1000!!! Then I refused to pay it because that is ridiculous, seriously .... Then I checked the bill which was online a few days later and it now says I owe over £2000!!!! As if!!! I rang them to complain and said it cannot be possible, I live on my own with a newborn baby, yes we didnt have gas just electric but its summer so iv not had the heating on so what the hell is using that much electric because it isn't me!! I asked them to check the meter for me coz it could be faulty but they charge £96!! and now I don't have access to the property as I have moved, although I said they could speak to the estate agent to get access (its rented) but nope they wasn't interested - this was speaking to a manager in customer services. He said theres nothing they can do because that's how much it works out at from my last meter reading to this lot.... Argh im so angry and upset, i am not going to pay it as i don't owe that much its not possible and i couldn't afford it anyways but i don't want a bad credit history or debt collectors at my door... what do i do?!! help!!!

notbritishgas

Heidis_mummy wrote: »

So Friday I rang up to cancel my account with E-on as I have moved house, I gave them my final meter reading and the said the amount due was over £1000!!! Then I refused to pay it because that is ridiculous, seriously .... Then I checked the bill which was online a few days later and it now says I owe over £2000!!!! As if!!! I rang them to complain and said it cannot be possible, I live on my own with a newborn baby, yes we didnt have gas just electric but its summer so iv not had the heating on so what the hell is using that much electric because it isn't me!! I asked them to check the meter for me coz it could be faulty but they charge £96!! and now I don't have access to the property as I have moved, although I said they could speak to the estate agent to get access (its rented) but nope they wasn't interested - this was speaking to a manager in customer services. He said theres nothing they can do because that's how much it works out at from my last meter reading to this lot.... Argh im so angry and upset, i am not going to pay it as i don't owe that much its not possible and i couldn't afford it anyways but i don't want a bad credit history or debt collectors at my door... what do i do?!! help!!!

Was the last meter reading an estimate? When was the last actual reading before the final one?

Wywth

Could this be the result of what is known as a catch-up bill?

This occurs when previous billing was based on under-estimated meter readings ... and you did not check those estimates against the actual and advise the supplier of any significant difference.


Are you sure the final meter reading you provided was correct? It could be incorrect, especially if read from an older style, multi-dial meter.

molerat

Heidis_mummy wrote: »

So Friday I rang up to cancel my account with E-on as I have moved house, I gave them my final meter reading and the said the amount due was over £1000!!! Then I refused to pay it because that is ridiculous, seriously .... Then I checked the bill which was online a few days later and it now says I owe over £2000!!!! As if!!! I rang them to complain and said it cannot be possible, I live on my own with a newborn baby, yes we didnt have gas just electric but its summer so iv not had the heating on so what the hell is using that much electric because it isn't me!! I asked them to check the meter for me coz it could be faulty but they charge £96!! and now I don't have access to the property as I have moved, although I said they could speak to the estate agent to get access (its rented) but nope they wasn't interested - this was speaking to a manager in customer services. He said theres nothing they can do because that's how much it works out at from my last meter reading to this lot.... Argh im so angry and upset, i am not going to pay it as i don't owe that much its not possible and i couldn't afford it anyways but i don't want a bad credit history or debt collectors at my door... what do i do?!! help!!!

You either pay it or PROVE it incorrect. They have meter readings which as far as they are concerned is proof positive. As previous posters have said were the previous reads estimated, was the final read correct. It is UP TO YOU TO PROVE THEIR BILL IS INACCURATE or you will have debt collectors calling and your credit rating trashed.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Heidis mummy

That certainly sounds a lot for such a short period of time.

As others have said, were previous bills estimated? If so and we under-estimated, this might be a catch up bill now we've an accurate reading.

I know you've left the property but is it possible to ask the landlord/letting agent to check the current meter reading? See if it falls in line with the one you've given us.

Was there an outstanding balance on the account before the final bill was issued? If there was, the new bill will include this as well as charges for electricity up to the closing reading.

Once the amount outstanding has been confirmed, ask for a payment arrangement to spread the balance over a more manageable period.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.

Malc

Heidis_mummy

Hi Malc

thank you for your reply. I was only living in the property for 9 months and the first couple was estimated but I soon rang up to give correct meter readings. So even if it was a catch up bill - £2k in 9 months (plus payments ive made) is a hell of a lot when like I say its only me and my baby. The last meter readings are correct and I took a photo of it to make sure I had proof. My last meter reading was given by myself over the phone in March. I had a direct debit set up and from the last bill should've only owed £61 plus electricity used from March to 7th June. I don't mind paying what I owe over a payment plan as I cannot afford that much being a single mother paying rent and bills on my own...but I really believe it isn't that much. Please help! Im going to citizens advice tomorrow. Thanks, Laura

Molerat:you was no help whatsoever so please dont comment

molerat

Just telling it as it is. You can stamp your feet and say you are not going to pay it if you want. Despite Malc being very helpful, as he always is, EOn will do very little to help you. You need to be pro-active and prove your case or the worst case scenario will happen as has been seen on this forum many times before. You need to work out the actual bill yourself, does your reading tally with what EOn have down as the final reading, have all your DDs been credited to your account ?

stewie_griffin

What sort of electricity meter did you have? Was it a digital meter or one of the old fashioned dial meters. You say you took a photo of the readings when you moved out, can you post the photos on here.

Also can you provide more details about your final bill i.e. the readings in march to the readings in June and the unit prices etc.

dogshome

There seems to have been a screw up with the meter readings - You do have a photo record of the final one, but do you have a record of what it was when you moved in?

As already posted, if this is a meter with dials they are notorious for mis-reads, even by Meter Readers, but whatever type of meter it is, if you have not kept all the bills you must ask Eon for copies

Wywth

Heidis_mummy wrote: »

Hi Malc

thank you for your reply. I was only living in the property for 9 months and the first couple was estimated but I soon rang up to give correct meter readings. So even if it was a catch up bill - £2k in 9 months (plus payments ive made) is a hell of a lot when like I say its only me and my baby. The last meter readings are correct and I took a photo of it to make sure I had proof. My last meter reading was given by myself over the phone in March. I had a direct debit set up and from the last bill should've only owed £61 plus electricity used from March to 7th June. I don't mind paying what I owe over a payment plan as I cannot afford that much being a single mother paying rent and bills on my own...but I really believe it isn't that much. Please help! Im going to citizens advice tomorrow. Thanks, Laura

Molerat:you was no help whatsoever so please dont comment

What was your start meter reading 9 months ago.
What was the meter reading last Friday?
How much have you paid Eon so far? (i.e. total of your DD payments)

You may not like the advice you were given by molerate ... but it was sound.
If you don't want others to provide you advice, I suggest you don't post asking for it.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Heidis_mummy wrote: »

Hi Malc

thank you for your reply. I was only living in the property for 9 months and the first couple was estimated but I soon rang up to give correct meter readings. So even if it was a catch up bill - £2k in 9 months (plus payments ive made) is a hell of a lot when like I say its only me and my baby. The last meter readings are correct and I took a photo of it to make sure I had proof. My last meter reading was given by myself over the phone in March. I had a direct debit set up and from the last bill should've only owed £61 plus electricity used from March to 7th June. I don't mind paying what I owe over a payment plan as I cannot afford that much being a single mother paying rent and bills on my own...but I really believe it isn't that much. Please help! Im going to citizens advice tomorrow. Thanks, Laura

Molerat:you was no help whatsoever so please dont comment

Hi Laura

I see. Didn't realise you were only at the property for 9 months.

I'd do as Wywth suggests and look at the opening and closing meter readings. See how much electricity was used during the whole tenancy.

You say the closing reading was correct. What about the opening reading? Do you have a note of this when you moved in? If not, did the landlord/letting agent keep a record?

Drop an email to the address in my Profile if you would like me to take a look. Will be happy to do so. Any chance you can include the photo you mention as well?

Malc