EON - new Build - watch the tariff!

baggysails

We took over a new build in the spring. We were informed that the supplier for gas & electric was EON and that first meter readings had been passed on to them.

We assumed three things:
1 - Eon would have the courtesy to introduce themselves
2 - We would be put onto the lowest POSSIBLE tariff
3 - If this would not be the case they would contact us to offer advice/options.

The first contact we received from EON was dated 20 Sept confirming the tariff.

It transpires that the tariff they had allocated was a dual fuel, non DD, non contract - indeed, the lowest tariff in that category - but not the lowest they have.

We then received a bill dated 23 Sept - we nearly fell over!

We contacted EON querying the tariff and asking why they had not contacted us before this to say that we were on a high tariff and to offer a more competitive one. We also made a goodwill payment of 2/3 the amount of the bill.

We have formally disputed the tariff.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and how did you resolve it satisfactorily?

P.S - we are now signed up to Martin's Cheap Energy Notifacations :T

vuvuzela

baggysails wrote: »

We took over a new build in the spring. We were informed that the supplier for gas & electric was EON and that first meter readings had been passed on to them.

We assumed three things:
1 - Eon would have the courtesy to introduce themselves
2 - We would be put onto the lowest POSSIBLE tariff
3 - If this would not be the case they would contact us to offer advice/options.

The first contact we received from EON was dated 20 Sept confirming the tariff.

It transpires that the tariff they had allocated was a dual fuel, non DD, non contract - indeed, the lowest tariff in that category - but not the lowest they have.

We then received a bill dated 23 Sept - we nearly fell over!

We contacted EON querying the tariff and asking why they had not contacted us before this to say that we were on a high tariff and to offer a more competitive one. We also made a goodwill payment of 2/3 the amount of the bill.

We have formally disputed the tariff.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and how did you resolve it satisfactorily?

P.S - we are now signed up to Martin's Cheap Energy Notifacations :T

When you take over a property, you are in a deemed contract with the current supplier. Why did you not contact them on the day you moved in, with the meter readings, to check the accuracy of the ones that had been given by the housebuilders ? You would then have found out which contract you were on and could have easily changed it should you have found a more suitable one...
It's up to you to find the best supplier and tariff for your needs - yes Eon should have got in touch with you to let you know what the tariff was but you do need to take some responsibility for ignoring it for 6 months.
What sort of 'formal dispute' have you raised ?

baggysails

This is the first time we've been on a forum like this looking for advice really - sad to find a troll on our first - and last - visit!

'Please be nice to all MoneySavers. That’s the forum motto. Remember, the prime aim is to help provide info and resources. If you don’t like someone, their situation, their question or feel they’re intruding on ‘your board’ then please bite the bullet and think of the bigger issue. A Guardian article once "doffed its cap" to this forum as being the one place where consumers can collect together and fight back. Our job is to help keep it that way.'

Good bye.

FullForce

We had the exact same problem

I assumed the following three things with our new house:

1. A £200 "golden hello" per fuel
2. 6 months totally free energy
3. If this would not be the case they would contact us to offer advice/options

So when we got our first bill within less than 3 months, we did actually fall over! :eek:

Our dispute is now with the ombudsman as the supplier simply told us they were unable to address our complaint, and allowed us this option despite only 2 weeks having passed since raising the complaint.

In the meantime, we've had debt collectors and everything knocking at our door, harassing us and embarrassing us in front of our new neighbours. :mad:

Anyway, as the amount owed was less than £200, we've managed to switch suppliers. :j

Good luck, baggysails, and don't let any money grabbing bar stewards grind you down.

Biggles

You sat there throughout the summer without knowing what tariff you were on and without thinking of discussing it with them?

That does seem a little careless, to say the least.

lstar337

baggysails wrote: »

We assumed three things:

2 - We would be put onto the lowest POSSIBLE tariff

Lol.

Sorry, but why would you assume that?

Another 'lets do nothing and hope it'll all be fine' situation. Hopefully you have learned a valuable lesson.

Hedgehog99

The cheaper tariffs may tie you in to a period of time or exit fees, so they did you a favour by starting you off on the standard-but-"exit-able" tariff. I know there are a thousand other things to sort out when moving, but your energy supplier & tariff should be one of the early things.

redux

I don't see how they could have started you on a direct debit tariff without any direct debit details.

Pagett

lstar337 wrote: »

Lol.

Sorry, but why would you assume that?

...

Perhaps because in October 2012, our Prime Minister, David Cameron " insisted energy firms will be compelled to give customers "the lowest tariff" as he sought to clear up confusion over energy policy.

The exact details of how this will be achieved, in next month's Energy Bill, have yet to be decided."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19986929

Well we are now 2 years on, and still waiting, presumably. :eek:

If he wants any chance of being re-elected next year, I think he should get a move on and deliver the promises he has made in this period of administration.

lstar337

Pagett wrote: »

Perhaps because in October 2012, our Prime Minister, David Cameron " insisted energy firms will be compelled to give customers "the lowest tariff" as he sought to clear up confusion over energy policy.

The exact details of how this will be achieved, in next month's Energy Bill, have yet to be decided."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19986929

Well we are now 2 years on, and still waiting, presumably. :eek:

If he wants any chance of being re-elected next year, I think he should get a move on and deliver the promises he has made in this period of administration.

Showing registered customers that there are lower tariffs available (they still don't move you without asking btw) is one thing, moving tariffs off their own back is something different.

There is a whole business devoted to helping people find the cheapest tariff to be on, what would be the point if you were simply put on to the lowest tariff from the start?

Why defend such silly actions by the OP?

Pagett

lstar337 wrote: »

Showing registered customers that there are lower tariffs available (they still don't move you without asking btw) is one thing, moving tariffs off their own back is something different.

There is a whole business devoted to helping people find the cheapest tariff to be on, what would be the point if you were simply put on to the lowest tariff from the start?

Why defend such silly actions by the OP?

I'm simply reminding us all what our Prime Minister promised us all when he was put under pressure by the opposition during PMQ's

David Cameron has insisted energy firms will be compelled to give customers "the lowest tariff" as he sought to clear up confusion over energy policy....

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron made a surprise announcement promising to legislate "so that energy companies have to give the lowest tariff to their customers".

Not just offer, ... but give, compelled even..

General Election time is fast approaching.
Please don't forget when deciding where to place your X.