Ovo Energy Switching Problems

brewerdave

Hengus wrote: »

There is a flaw in this arrangement which has become all too apparent with my switch to Ovo. If the losing supplier issues a Final Bill before the opening meter reads appear on the gaining supplier's web page then it is difficult for a customer to check that all parties have their proverbial 'ducks in a row'. I assume that the new and old suppliers have to agree the meter reads so how is it possible for the losing supplier to issue a final bill before the moderation process has been completed?

I agree - this message from OVO does seem to be at odds with what actually happened. In fact, I received my first statement from OVO the morning after this message -short two weeks there!!.
This shows the correct (agreed) start figures for both utilities.

HOWEVER, it has raised another point about OVO statements -they asked for meter reads ~ 24th May -which are shown in addition to changeover reads -but the value of the statement is calculated on 31st May by using OVO estimates at 31st May!! Really cannot see the logic in that:rotfl:

jem16

brewerdave wrote: »

HOWEVER, it has raised another point about OVO statements -they asked for meter reads ~ 24th May -which are shown in addition to changeover reads -but the value of the statement is calculated on 31st May by using OVO estimates at 31st May!! Really cannot see the logic in that:rotfl:

There isn't any logic at all.

Now that you know your statement date appears to be the 31st (or earlier for shorter months), give a reading the day before.

Doug7

I too severely regret switching to ovo. Switched December 13 and still now in june 14 ovo haven't switched my gas correctly. I have been supplying meter readings by phone each month. Now ovo say I have an imperial meter of 4 digits and not a metric of 5 digits. I have had this metric meter for 13 years, previous supplier confirmed the e d account 5 digit reading but ovo say o no. Have sent photo of meter and last bill from previous provider. I have spoken at length to nearly all the staff. Each one promises to sort it out then apparent, y flees the country. Have spent around £380 in gas so far, ovo say its £9500. Apparently I am heating the entire south coast. My advice : stay well clear of these pathetic bunch of clueless individuals

jamesperrett

Doug7 - Ovo had a similar confusion over our gas meter when we were with them - although in our case we were paying too little for nearly 18 months.

Eddy2014

I lodged a complaint after my account was closed down and new one set up without informing me which resulted in me receiving 2 sets of bills I also was held on on the phone for 50mins despite being advised max time was 14 mins. I received a letter asking me to contact them within 10 days or the complaint would be closed. I contacted them but was advised their was no action they could take so they closed the complaint. The adviser refused to put me through to a supervisor or pass it on to anyone else he just repeated complaint closed. I have now contacted ofgem and will look at another provider. I suspect by refusing to acknowledge complaints they hope to keep their negative stats down.

Be aware of NPower if things go wrong.
Eddy
OOP meant to post this in the NPower thread,well seen am a newbie !

adamf76

I regret switching from EDF to OVO energy. We are often told switching is now a simple process, but this switch has been complicated, long winded and expensive!

Firstly on the week of the switch, both EDF and OVO took a monthly DD payment. I contacted them and EDF said they would take this into account when they sorted the final bill and OVO said they take a month in advance. However as I wasn't expecting to pay double it obviously left us with less money in our bank account than we were expecting.

The Electricity switch took place fairly quickly but the gas has taken much with EDF saying they they were waiting for the meter reading that I had provided to OVO. When the meter reading did come through my actual meter reading had been ignored and replaced by a much higher estimation (which 6 weeks on is still higher than the than it reads now). EDF then produced a final bill based on this reading that said we owed them a further £223 (on top of the extra DD). I disputed this and they said that they would investigate and then produce a new final bill, however they then took it as DD payment anyway - they have promised to refund this but I've not received back yet.

I have contacted OVO several times regarding this and have found they never reply to emails, so you are better to call them. They have also started using estimated meter readings rather than the actual ones provided!

There seems to be a real problem with communication between the old supplier and new supplier and independent validator, which takes a long time and then ignores the information provided by the customer anyway. Whenever I have contacted either OVO or EDF they have been quick to blame the other or the independent validator.

On a separate note I wish energy companies could just provide decent prices so we didn't have to go through this whole hassle every couple of years!

JJ_Egan

Ovo have replied to my emails .
With my switch-over also from EDF the meter readings i supplied have been used .
My EDF account was relatively straightforward elec closed gas closed at a later date as is the norm . I had entered weekly meter readings approaching the changeover so final bill was accurate .

One gets the impression that at the end of an existing super deal like EDF fixed tariff with multiple users swapping suppliers the changeover system gets overloaded .

dickavis

Two things occur to me when reading these posts. First, when the two companies concerned disagree about final/starting meter readings, I always side with the company whose meter readings agree with my own (never, ever rely on an estimated reading when switching). The company you're switching from is probably delaying things so that they can keep your money in their bank account for longer in order to get just a little more interest. Remember, it may only be a few pounds to you, but a few pounds multiplied by 10,000 customers adds up to a fair wedge. Second, while the two companies are wrangling over what the readings should be and which of them is actually supplying your fuel, why would you be paying both of them. As soon as I've given the new company my meter readings and can see online that the new DD has been set up, I cancel the old one. If they (in my current situation that would be EDF) want to argue about when the switch happened I can tell them to take what I owe (after they've proved they're right) from what they will be refunding me. Pay two DDs to separate companies for the same thing, what a ridiculus idea. I've switched a few times over recent years, and I don't tolerate any mucking about.

2010

The small, new companies seem to want your DD payment upfront as soon as you switch whereas the big 6 don`t.
If you cancel a DD your current supplier will immediately put you on their standard rate.

dickavis

The small, new companies seem to want your DD payment upfront as soon as you switch whereas the big 6 don`t.
If you cancel a DD your current supplier will immediately put you on their standard rate.

If you've given them your meter readings and you've paid a DD to your new company, the old tariff can be what it likes. As far as I'm concerned the old company can't charge me for anything after that time. I've taken that attitude every time I've switched and I've never had a problem. All you need to do is to insist that you won't pay the old company a penny that relates to either gas or electricity used after the meter readings. Being assertive isn't difficult.