EON - massive overcharge on electricity! :-/

irish.sean_2

we have just moved .
gave end reading and got told we owe £1100 which has beed crried over the year .
we only had estimated readings due to working away etc.
but the bills got paid by direct debit which did go up about 14 mths ago due to increase in prices etc but we were not advised at the new direct debit was enough to pay what was used . hence now got this bill

i had to agree a new payment of £90 month on top of what my new service is.
i cant afford this extra but what is annoying that i was not notified of this underpayment on my behalf.
what can we do ?

Andy_WSM

irish.sean wrote: »

what can we do ?

Likely nothing if you've used the energy.

Were you providing regular readings? If not, how can they have known they were undercharging you?

irish.sean_2

Bills only estimated by them quarterly as i was working away when readings done.
but me been stupid didn't check the quarterly bills as we thought that it was covered by the monthly direct debits as previous years with no issues, which clearly was not .
e- on said because the estimated bills should of been more ,so when i gave the final reading we had a cumulative amount that had carried on each quarter.

Andy_WSM

irish.sean wrote: »

Bills only estimated by them quarterly as i was working away when readings done.
but me been stupid didn't check the quarterly bills as we thought that it was covered by the monthly direct debits as previous years with no issues, which clearly was not .
e- on said because the estimated bills should of been more ,so when i gave the final reading we had a cumulative amount that had carried on each quarter.

Well it's not Eon's fault if they couldn't get access to read your meter and you didn't provide them with readings. How could they have notified you that you were underpaying if they couldn't get meter readings?!

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi irish.sean,

Hope you don't mind but need to ask a few questions

If mainly estimated, I suspect we've sent a catch up bill now we've received actual readings.

Did you give us readings when you moved in?

Have our meter readers attempted to read the meter? Is the meter inside or outside?

Although our meter readers try to read meters a couple of times a year, it's always best to let us have readings on a more regular basis. This keeps things accurate.

Without meter readings, we rely on estimates based on the usage history we have for the property. This can lead to inaccuracies particularly when circumstances change or people move in/move out.

There's several ways to send us readings including online via our website, through our phone app, by email or by phone. Readings can be sent through our Facebook and twitter channels too.

If the opening and final meter readings are accurate, it looks as though the energy has been used and we'll be looking for payment.

Each bill we send you, does advise if it's based on actual or estimated reads at the top.

Talk to us if you're struggling with this. We'll be happy to look at setting up a payment arrangement to spread the balance over a more manageable period.

Sorry for all the questions irish.sean. Trying to build up a picture of what might have happened.

Amy

irish.sean_2

thanks for your help Amy,
My problem was that eon had readings but my argument is that when ever the amount for the quarter bills came in then eon would up the direct debit to cover that cost... no problem BUT for the last 12 months my direct debit was less than the actual amount needed to pay the quarter bill.
so when we went to move and i gave them the reading and got the bill i couldn't believe that no one had contacted me before about this...

i know i should of kept check but with working away etc we thought it was getting covered monthly by the direct debit...

i have spoken to eon and a arrangement was set up but is very high as i still have to pay our new house bill . Got told had to pay this amount as it has to be done over 12 months... hence finding it hard on top oof current bill

thanks

Nada666

I don't understand why working away is a problem. Who was at the property? Why is there anything to pay other than a standing charge? Who did you arrange to caretake?

Or is it that you just did not bother to spend sixty seconds when at the property to check things? You only need to check once every six months or so if you do not want to bother to keep an eye every month. If there is a thousand pounds to pay on top of that covered by the debits then someone must be staying at the property. If you did not trust them to keep an eye on the bills and inform you then it is up to you to do so when you visit or arrange for someone else to do it.