Any problems with Scottish Power?

tobykim

But if you know they come out to read it from time to time, and you know your husband won't be home, why wouldn't you move the entertainment unit. Why would you have an entertainment unit in front of your meter reader in the first place?

Unfortunately we don't all live in large houses we have to put up with what we can afford. The only place in the living room for the TV is in front of the meter there is nowhere else, I also don't know when they will be calling so can't ask my husband to stay in permanently just in case. I do not have the money to have my meter moved and the reason we went on the online tariff was so that when the meter needed to be read, we could move it in our own time and it would save me from trying to do it on my own.
I only asked the simple question as to why the meter readers still called when your bill had already been generated, I didn't know I would have to pull my house apart

witchypoo

tobykim wrote: »

We changed to the online tariff a while ago and are now on the energy saver 4 tariff however although I get an email for the meter readings and submit them and get an online bill about a fortnight later someone comes to read the meter, does this happen for everyone,

To answer your question, yesterday the welcome pack arrived for my new account and in the smallprint it does say that meter readers will need to gain access when they call. I guess it's just their way of keeping the readings honest since they will be checked at random points.

eira

Still having problems with Scottish Power- re the tariffs/billing and getting any response that makes sense. having re-paid the money owed due to them under billing me, they proposed a DD which included the debt repayment plus extra for price rises. After several e-mails finally got them to conceed that was a mistake. They then owed me money which they said they would keep for the higher winter bills. Another few e-mails and they said I'd get the money back. I didn't so this month they nnow owe me £1.50. But the DD has dropped from £200 to £117 but they actually took £100 this month. So I'm going to try monthly readings online and see where that goes. I still seem to be on an old capped tariff which is v cheap so I don't want to rock the boat especially if there are price rises. I think it depends on who answers the e-mails/phone calls quite honestly. With some companies I've resorted to the 'are you thinking of leaving,' option on the phone system. These staff seem more clued up and I have had good results from doing this----sometimes

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Terrylw1

tobykim wrote: »

Unfortunately we don't all live in large houses we have to put up with what we can afford. The only place in the living room for the TV is in front of the meter there is nowhere else, I also don't know when they will be calling so can't ask my husband to stay in permanently just in case. I do not have the money to have my meter moved and the reason we went on the online tariff was so that when the meter needed to be read, we could move it in our own time and it would save me from trying to do it on my own.
I only asked the simple question as to why the meter readers still called when your bill had already been generated, I didn't know I would have to pull my house apart

The meter is legally owned by the Meter Operator and they have a right to see it. I get your point and I have seen some pretty inconvenient places for them, but aside of moving your appliances or paying for a meter move there is little that can be done.

I remember seeing 1 that had been placed under a sink unit and the Meter Operator didn't wnt to pay for it to be moved despite it being potentially lethal. It wasn't too diffcult to explain their liability in court since they (the dsitributor side of their business) chose to put the supply when a sink had be put in already!

Online tariffs are no different from any other when it comes to readings. There are legal oligations over safety when it comes to meters which are enforced by Ofgem and the DTI.

If the Supplier is choosing to send people out each time, thats their cost. It's pointless unless they suspect you are submitting incorrect readings.

Terrylw1

eira wrote: »

Still having problems with Scottish Power- re the tariffs/billing and getting any response that makes sense. having re-paid the money owed due to them under billing me, they proposed a DD which included the debt repayment plus extra for price rises. After several e-mails finally got them to conceed that was a mistake. They then owed me money which they said they would keep for the higher winter bills. Another few e-mails and they said I'd get the money back. I didn't so this month they nnow owe me £1.50. But the DD has dropped from £200 to £117 but they actually took £100 this month. So I'm going to try monthly readings online and see where that goes. I still seem to be on an old capped tariff which is v cheap so I don't want to rock the boat especially if there are price rises. I think it depends on who answers the e-mails/phone calls quite honestly. With some companies I've resorted to the 'are you thinking of leaving,' option on the phone system. These staff seem more clued up and I have had good results from doing this----sometimes

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Well, if you hit the "I'm leaving" option you will get through to a team of anxious on commission sales people who will be very happy to help you. Otherwise you are getting through to the standard customer service people who may not be very well trained in the sales element.

I've heard the "we are keeping your money for winter" issue loads. At the end of the day, thats only helpful if they are adjusting your DD scheme inline with the credit you hold. Otherwise you just pay it back in the DD. Suppliers will always try to persuade you to leave it with them as it's in their interests.

Suppliers have to follow a recommended code of conduct from Ofgem in regard to sensible debt management. So, they have to avoid placing their customers in debt. This means that they will lean towards holding onto your money but if shout loud enough, you will get it back. They just try to persuade people who are bad at managing money since they may go out and spend it and then be calling about problems with paying their DD when it goes up.

eira

Thanks. Have tried to get my money back but the amount charged varies and then so does the potential over/underpay. Have now decided to submit monthly meter readings-but that part of the site in my case doesn't work !E mails/phone calls get nowhere but might try the 'I'm leaving'-now seem to be on a cheap tariff

BBC

Scottish Power are rubbish. I informed them to change my tariff and they said I had to cancel my direct debit and start again set up new direct debit details etc.
I did all that and then went on holiday when I got back they hadn't even set up the change of tariff had not taken any money and let it accumulate to over 200 pounds. Then they said I had to pay it straight away.
I asked why they had not set up the change and they didn't have any answers.
The customer service has been a joke. Complained to CEO and got a measly 20quid knocked off. Rubbish:mad:

muffinhead

I have to agree with you BBC, Scottish Power for me offer great prices (the cheapest for my area) but when it comes to calling their customer service you go around the houses being transferred to many different departments everytime you want something done; one department for direct debits, another for tariff change, another for address change, another to update your account details, etc, etc - yet none seem to communicate with each other.

But when you don't need to call their call centre they are great :rolleyes:.

John_3:16

As yet i have had no problem with SP. The call center has always answered anything I need to ask and even has looked at me taking a capped deal out with the possible price ries in the new year.

gallous_boy

Hi All, im going to start work with "save on your bills" .com next week, so who ever wants a guaranted cheaper deal can PM me now with a contact no. ill reply back next wed. and best of all it will be hassle free.