FAO: Malc - Eon Representative

jh11

Thanks @ Cardrew... I have added further information below your message.

also sorry it wasn't ecnomy, it was because I was paying monthly and being being billed that way rather than being billed quarterly I think...something along those lines, so Im hoping they haven't added an extra cost as my account now says billed quarterly???

thanks

Cardew

Wow!

Firstly it appears you have a third person dispute with your letting agent over the start reading of 32120. Even if wrong, if that was given to E-on, and you didn't check the meter yourself, E-on have no option but to use that reading.

It does of course mean that the previous occupant paid less that he should.

The initial low DD payment set by utility companies is an industry wide problem. If they gave you a realistic DD payment, you would get a much lower quote from another utility company. All call centre staff are on commission, and frankly they will set their initial DD low enough to lure in a customer, and hence get their commission.

To repeat what I said earlier, your consumption for almost a year, and bill of £1,272 is certainly not excessive for an all electric flat; and if the start meter reading was wrong, and you have paid for an additional couple of thousand kWh, you consumption is good.

no fore warning just a bill increase in May from 40- 168 (how did they even estimate this if no-one took any meter readings)?

The bill would have told you in advance that they were increasing the DD. They must do this under the DD Guarantee.

It is inconceivable that they would have raised the DD from £40 to £168 unless they had a meter reading.

I can understand you getting upset at the different versions you are getting from the Call Centre. However E-on have an opening and closing meter reading and have billed you accordingly.

It is normal procedure for a letting agent to give the Utility company the meter reading at the start and end of a contract - your fault was not to check yourself at the start of the contract. If the letting agent admitted that he had made up the opening reading, he would have to try and reclaim some money from the previous occupant, and I doubt that person would pay.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi jh11

Sorry for the late reply, only just noticed your post. I'm also sorry you've had conflicting information from our Call Centres.

With changes of occupancy, we regularly receive meter readings from agents/landlords and we'll use these to bill accounts.

Changing opening/closing readings will usually have a knock on effect for either the previous occupant or the new occupier. For this reason, we'll ask for supporting evidence before agreeing to change readings. Often, the agreement of the agent/landlord will do. Depends on the individual circumstances.

I agree with Cardew, £40 per month for an all electric property does seem very low. Looks as though this led to a debit balance building up on your account by the time of the payment review in April. The increasing debit balance will have been shown on your bills.

I suspect part of the revised figure of £168 per month was to clear the debit balance over a set period. This increase will also have been advised on your bills.

Given the low Direct Debit from the start of the account until the review, I would ask for a payment arrangement to spread the remaining balance over a similar period.

Hope this is of interest jh11 and sorry again for the late reply.

Malc