Avoiding Future Worries.

redneckron

Advice please on what to do if sent unfair utility bills.
I've had a few problems in the past and would like advice on dealing with providers.
1) Few years ago was leaving property to move over 400 miles to live, we had pay by card meter and on removal day electric engineer came to switch off electricity, he checked the meter and said that we had £9.00 credit and the electric provider would send a cheque for this amount. About 10 months later we received a bill for £196.00, I knew this couldn't be right and contacted by phone, I was told that I had to pay for the rental of the meter for all the months we did not live there even although someone else was living there since we moved.I phone many times and sent letters but the outcome was we were going to be taken to court, my wife panicked and paid the bill. I believe we were owed money not owing money but they insisted and threatened court procedure.
2) We change gas provider and few months later received bill for £43.00 as a red final demand, I telephoned and was told not to worry as it was the old provider who owed the money not us, few weeks later were threatened court for not paying the bill, same answer on phone, this was extremely worrying especially for my disabled wife, we received five threatening letters and my wife paid up again. Why can companies get away with this theft from customers and what can I do if happens again in future.

JJ_Egan

Weekly meter readings .

matelodave

You really need to keep a closer eye on your consumption and bills. Check the bills when they come in against the meter and make sure you get them corrected - don't accept estimates. Check that your payments are covering your consumption and if they aren't then increase them.

You have the meter so you should be checking it and making sure that everything is in order. Spending five minutes a month to read it, send the readings through, getting any estimated bills corrected and keeping your own records will save you no end of grief in the future.

If you've got your own records, and they've mucked up the bills then you've got some evidence if you lose track of it then you can't easily challenge them.