SSE refusing to take payment before price increase

diesel_dog

My wife called SSE to pay the difference from the meter estimation to actual readings before the increase. Was told she can't pay it in full at this stage and that they would only allow an increase in the monthly DD's. This meaning the additional cost of approx £150 is going fall in with there price increase even though it was used before. I want to pay it in full now to avoid paying more.

Surely that can't be correct? I'm waiting for a call back from one of the Managers as it seems the only way we can settle up is to change providers.

Anyone else heard of this?

matelodave

No, all you've got to do is give them a meter reading on the day of the increase and any used before that reading will be charged at the old rate and any after at the new one. You don't have to panic and try and get it paid up beforehand.

If you don't give them a reading they will guess at how much you would have used at the old rate and only charged the new rate on what they've estimated.

It's always better to read you meter regularly and send the readings through thus avoiding a big debit.

macman

Why don't you just submit an online meter reading a few days before the increase is due to take effect next month?
You should be able to pay and credit your account any time you like (just do it by a BACS transfer if you wish), but that won't affect the dates at which you will be billed on the new higher unit rate.

st999

Why don't you just submit an online meter reading a few days before the increase is due to take effect next month?

That is what I did when my tariff changed, I also added a few 1000s of kWh.

The only problem with that is they increased my DD for a few months as my usage seemed to have increased, then when the readings caught up they reduced the DD.

You still end up paying less though. I saved over £100.

PollySouthend

st999 wrote: »

That is what I did when my tariff changed, I also added a few 1000s of kWh.

The only problem with that is they increased my DD for a few months as my usage seemed to have increased, then when the readings caught up they reduced the DD.

You still end up paying less though. I saved over £100.

fraud?????

Quentin

Would get caught if the meter reader called before the meter had caught up with this easy to detect wheeze.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

PollySouthend wrote: »

fraud?????

Yep.

I'm surprised energy co's aren't hotter on this. Anyone half competent at data analysis would be able to spot accounts with the following criteria:

Meter reads submitted between price rise announcements and price rise implementation

Consumption above normal account parameters.


SSE could perform the analysis this week, send out meter readers ASAP, there would undoubtedly be a few who have inflated their consumption. Prosecute accordingly.

Or, the whole procedure would cost too many man hours, and just let people get away with it, that seems to be de rigueur in the industry these days

st999

Is it fraud if the energy companies do it?

How many people come on here complaining about hugely inflated estimated readings?

Is that fraud?

I've in the past had readings that were estimated by over 5,000 kWh for my gas just before the price went down.

Is that fraud?

I did of course get it corrected but should I have informed the police and had them charged with fraud?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Estimated readings are just that, estimates. They can be, and are expected to be, altered with an accurate reading.

An accurate reading is you declaring you have used something, when you haven't. You will therefore obtain money by deception.

st999

Would you correct them if it was they who over estimated your usage before the price went up?

superbigal36

It is also quite easy to misread a meter. 3s and 5s look very similar.
Prosecute for fraud I think not.