Co-Op Energy! Bill Problems

Jake_B_2

Advice greatly received!!!

Having rung CoOp Energy last week to give them my meter reading (i only rang because their website was down), i was told that my account is £570 in debit.
I have been paying a direct debit each month for the last 3 years which the co-op estimated when i switched to them at that time. Since switching to them i have received no paper bills or requests for payment.
Now that i have rung and given them my accurate meter readings, they tell me that the direct debit hasnt been covering the usage each month, for the last 3 years!!! And so i now owe £570.
They havent told me about it until i rang them up myself.
They say they dont require all the money now, but I am now in a position where i cant switch to a different supplier until i pay off the full amount.
I know they have had problems with their internal system and so admit that they havent been sending bills out.
Has anyone else had this issue? And do i have any other choice other than to pay them the full £570 and leave, or stay with them and increase my direct debit in an attempt to cover the difference.

Thanks.
Jake

victor2

Unfortunately that's the curse of relying on estimated readings. When was the last actual reading (either by you or a meter reader) given? No bills in 3 years? Are you on an on-line only account, so would only get bills or notifications by email?
CoOp Energy don't have a very good reputation, but all you can do is come up with a payment plan to clear the bill as soon as possible if you want to switch to another supplier.

Jake_B_2

I have just taken accurate readings on Jan 22nd following an email request. But cant find that they have requested them before - i am sure i have given them before though.
They also said that after 6 months the direct debit would be reviewed but it looks like it never was and the account just kept falling short and creeping up each month. It would only have been an extra £16 per month which is clearly manageable - instead its now nearly £600 in debit!

Robin9

Do you manage your account online? If so download your bills and see what they say.

Jake_B_2

Online account yes. It all works out that i do owe them, its just that i wasnt told and it was only when i rang them for something else that they told me.

Robin9

But that's the way online accounts work - it relies on you looking -

same applies for online banking

Jake_B_2

Well its not is it really......if i go overdrawn i get notified.

The_Biff

I believe that your meter has to be read by the supplier once per year. Check this with the regulator.

davidgmmafan

Do you get any kind of automated reciept email when you give a reading? If you can prove you gave accurate readings and they have ignored them then back billing may apply. How much were you paying? How much were you using?

Do the start readings look accurate?

danm

Pretty sure that in the T&C's with Co-Op you agree to provide them a monthly reading. I had a number of issues with them when i first joined, but since their system update and me scheduling a reminder every 3 weeks to put a reading online it has been fine .