First Utility

longers1

Hi

Using the energy saving club on here, i switched to First Utility last May. I live in a block of flats and have never given a meter reading as it is a lot of hassle to get (reasons i won't go into) but they have been charging me about 45pounds a month. As far as i know, they have never got it themselves so they must guesstimate how much i use (I would imagine not much, there are two of us, we watch TV in the evenings and cook but during the day most things are switched off).

This month, when asked for my meter reading, i finally managed to get the exact reading. They responded with my monthly bill of 262pounds - obviously over 200pounds more than i was expecting!

I haven't called them up yet as i like to know all the facts but does this mean they initially guessed it to be too low. I have no idea how they initially got my reading - if they guessed what it was, either they have been massively undercharging me or the initial guesstimate they came up with was much too low to what the actual read was.

Has this happened to anyone else?
Does any one know how i should proceed?

Any help appreciated
Thanks

[Deleted User]

1) You don't read your meter...
2) If read reviews of First Utility you would never have switched there...
3) You have not even contacted them but hey-ho a bunch of strangers on the web will sort it out...

How do you expect a trouble free life with no nasty surprises?

I am at a loss...

longers1

jeepjunkie wrote: »

1) You don't read your meter...
2) If read reviews of First Utility you would never have switched there...
3) You have not even contacted them but hey-ho a bunch of strangers on the web will sort it out...

How do you expect a trouble free life with no nasty surprises?

I am at a loss...

Hi Jeepjunkie
Unfortunately there are some complications with your points above, which i won't bore you with.
However, I have come on here for help.
Thank you though for your kind response

macman

The fact remains that unless you make the effort to verify the readings then you will never know. Classic case of a big catch-up bill following a sequence of estimated bills. The supplier is only obliged to read every two years. You should be reading and submitting quarterly.
You are now paying both the ongoing usage and ther arrears. Once the arrears have cleared, the DD should fall back. But what made you think that you could heat and hot water any property for just £45pm? Thats' what burns power, not watching TV.
PS: it's clearly shown on your bills if the readings are agent, customer, or estimated.

longers1

macman wrote: »

The fact remains that unless you make the effort to verify the readings then you will never know. Classic case of a big catch-up bill following a sequence of estimated bills. The supplier is only obliged to read every two years. You should be reading and submitting quarterly.
You are now paying both the ongoing usage and ther arrears. Once the arrears have cleared, the DD should back. But what made you think that you could heat and hot water any property for just £45pm? Thats' what burns power, not watching TV.
PS: it's clearly shown on your bills if the readings are agent, customer, or estimated.

Thank you for a reasonable response.
I have never paid much more than that so assumed it was standard. I asked around at work and people didn't pay that much more.
My main issue was whether i could argue that they only ever guesstimated my first bill when i switched to first utility last may. No one has checked as far as i know

macman

There is no 'standard' spend, it depends on property and lifestyle. The UK average is now north of £1,250 per year for dual fuel, and if you are electric only then that will of course be much higher-at least twice what you were paying.
Your first bill will show on it whether it was estimated or not (closing reading). But the opening reading (if that's what you mean) will not have been estimated-this will have been checked against the previous supplier's closing read and agreed between them. So you have no grounds for disputing this bill unless you have evidence that it was incorrect. In the absence of your own reads, you clearly don't. And disputing it 9 months later is futile.
You are supposed to supply your own reads when opening and closing accounts, so all this can be easily avoided in future by doing so, and by checking your bills against actuals.

matelodave

As said above most people's energy bill, both gas & electric, is about £1250 a year. If you are all electric then you should be paying about the same or possibly more, as heating by electricity costs more than by gas.

You can't compare your electric bill which includes heating and hot water with someone else's electric bill if they are heating their house & hot water with gas.

I'd suggest that anyone who is paying less than £80 to £100 a month for their energy should check very carefully if they are paying enough.

No one can accurately guess how much you are using so if you don't give the supplier regular readings you won't get bills that accurately reflect your consumption.

It's down to you to take charge, not hope that it will sort itself out. If you don't read your meter and check your bills, then expect to get a big surprise when the meter does eventually get read.

dogshome

Hmmm - Flat in a block & difficulty getting meter reads ?
Though longers1 hasn't said so, I guess that the meter is located along with all the other meters in Service room, to which residents have no direct access and readings come by way of a caretaker.

longers 1 really must face up to the 'Management' to check that the meter that is being read on his behalf, really is the meter for his flat
1) Does the number on the meter coincide the meter No. on his bills ?
2) Even if it does, he needs to check it's really his by SWITCHING OFF everything in the flat and checking that meter has stopped moveing, then as a Belt & Braces check have a friend in the flat with a mobile phone switch the kettle on and off whilst longers1 observes the meter, which should move in synch. with the kettle switching - If it doesn't it needs reporting to the supplier

longers1

Thank you for all of this. Will be on top of it in future.

I occasionally post on here, just to ask for help.
Obviously that's upsets some people like the jeep guy but don't understand the point of responding with a reply that's essentially saying 'you're a moron!'

To the helpful people, thank you. It IS appreciated