Massive bill despite having Prepayment meter

niccid10

When we moved into our home a couple of years ago there was a prepayment meter in. We decided we would leave it in. We had no debt with our previous address and swifty moved to scottish Power within a couple of weeks.!
We regularly top up our gas meter. We use it for heating, cooking and hot water and with 4 children we do use quite a bit.!
Anyway we recently decided to switch supplier and have received a final large bill.!
Now they say this is normal. But how can I get a bill when I pay for my fuel upfront?
Any advice

niccid10

Can I quickly add that there was no debt on the meter when we moved in. Also been receiving regular statements and non have had any debt on them.

CashStrapped

You do not say how much the bill is.

When you moved in I assume you rang the new supplier and got a new key linked to your name?

Scottish Power (if you are still with them) charge for a meter swap as far as I am aware. Maybe they added the fees for the meter change to the account and it shows up as a "debt" but in reality it is a fee for changing the meter.

Have you asked them in writing or on the phone for a breakdown of what the debit is composed of an how it accrued?

If it does turn out to be a meter fee you would have been better off switching to a company like E.on or EDF who do not normally charge.

dogshome

There have been a few instances of the supplier to a PAYGO meter having system c*ck ups, whereby their records list the meter as a credit meter
Consequently a large phantom debt builds up on the account.

There is a national Data Base for Gas meters, give them a ring on 0870 608 1524 to check what type of meter is recorded as being in your home

[Deleted User]

Did you look on the correct debt screen on the gas meter. Its not obvious where this is as the first screen will show credit and debt relating to standing charges and credit build up. Screens 26 and 27 ( with card inserted ) are where debt, and weekly repay rate is seen. Scottish Power don`t charge for a prepayment meter to be fitted unless its by warrant but they will charge a hefty £200 for prepay removal.
If you have nt been crediting the meter then the standing charges can build up over time at approx £2 a week , this will show on the first screen as "owed " or debt.
Maybe Scot Power are just well behind on knowing your exact payments at the PayPoint and they will update later when they get new info.

Turnip_Edd

Hello all ;<) ** apologies for Threddhijak**

My daughter recently received a 'pay or else!' letter from arvato (debt chasing) for Scottish Power.

Long & Short... Rented council house, pre pay meter for whole time in house, they want c.£2,500 'overdue balance'!!

... she rang the agency and was informed:-

"... oh but yes, you can accrue a debt/under payment... what with the different tariffs and all that..."

Is this the load of BA**S I think it is.. ????

They have 'put on hold' for 10days and we are to supply tenancy agreement showing the move in/out date at the address.

Is this the 'phantom' billing I read above....

Turnip_Edd

Wolf3

If their requesting a copy of the tenancy agreement, then i would presume the debt belonged to the previous tenant?? This is probably why the prepayment meters were installed.

If this isnt the case, i would check the final and opening meter readings match, or if Scottish power are billing on Total reads and the other supplier are billing on the vend readings

[Deleted User]

Wolf3 wrote: »

If their requesting a copy of the tenancy agreement, then i would presume the debt belonged to the previous tenant?? This is probably why the prepayment meters were installed.

If this isnt the case, i would check the final and opening meter readings match, or if Scottish power are billing on Total reads and the other supplier are billing on the vend readings

Good point,the electric prepayment meter end reading can be billed on its "total" reading since the meter was installed, that reading is on screen "G" or it can be billed on the reading which shows the amount of Kwhs the present customer has used in his/her tenancy which is seen on screen "H " on the meter. The two readings could be completely different.They are only the same reading when there has only been one occupier only with the prepayment meter since it was installed. Suppliers often get these two readings mixed .Some suppliers want us to read screen "H " ( scot power , edf) others like BG seem to be happy with screen "G "

Turnip_Edd

... a trip to Citizens beckons.... They argued BG down from [enter any fanciful amount££] to about £27 the last time my daughter was threatened with court.

I did post on here about it... Previous tenant did a runner and my daughter kept getting 'replacement' gas pre-pay cards in the name of this 'skipper'... you could not make it up!!

How do the gas/elecs not 'click' that a tenant called 'Chelsea' is NOT the ex tenant called 'Monica'..??*

*names changed to protect the impoverished....


Turnip_Edd