Switching Engergy Supplier seems to be costing me dearly

tesuhoha

Hi

I am at present transferring from First Utility to Ovo to save money or so I thought. My tariff with First Utility came to an end on 31st March. I was paying £115 pm by direct debit. After that it would be their standard rate. Ovo are taking over my account today.

Last week I had a letter from First Utility saying that they were going to debit me with what I owed to them. Fair enough but on the last bill (with a meter reading) I was £10 approx in credit. They have not asked for meter readings but now have sent me their last estimated bill of £141 which is going to be debited on April 14. I have just read the meter and the gas is slightly more and the electricity slightly less. I'm not sure why this amount has jumped up so much when I was in credit.

In the meantime I have received a letter from Ovo (which I cannot now find anywhere) saying they are going to debit me £75 in April. A further letter today asks for meter readings which I have supplied.. However I will be paying over £200 in April for my energy supply.

I do not understand for a start why I have to pay both Ovo and First Utility in April. Also, is there any point giving First Utility my final meter reading when it won't change things very much.

Its not that I can't afford to pay the money but it was definitely not part of my budget plan.

macman

Ovo take their DD a month in advance.
Why would you not provide actual final readings?

OVO_Energy

Hi there Tesuhoha,

As Macman advised our customers pay a month in advance and the first direct debit will come out near the start supply date.

We will pass on your opening meter reading/s to your previous supplier but you can still give them to your old supplier if you wish

Let us know if you have any more questions!

All the best - Ovo

matelodave

If you've been give FU a regular monthly meter reading and you have been checking your billing/statements to ensure that it reflects your consumption (assuming that you can of course - I can't) then you should be able to work it out exactly. It's not advanced maths. However if they are taking the mickey by estimating a silly amount before they get notified of your final reading by OVO then tell them what it is. Some companies take several weeks before they send the meter reading to the old supplier which give them the opportunity to make some outrageous estimates. If they still take more than you owe then get it refunded by the bank under the direct debit guarantee and make them chase you for it.
All you have to do is take away your starting reading (ie when you joined) from your leaving reading. That will tell you how much you've used. Multiply it by the tariff, add the standing charges and that should tell you how much you should pay. Subtract what you've already paid them (add all your direct debits up) and that should tell you if you owe them or they owe you.

As said above, OVO take out their direct debit in advance - it's in their T&C's which I trust you read carefully before signing up with them.