9 month energy bill at once

SUPPOSE

Advice pls. After moving the family into a rental property 9 months ago I spent a couple of days sorting out the bills and dd's etc. I presumed all was OK and running fine.

Yesterday I got a letter from Scottish Power, the previous tenants company, to say I needed to set up an account with them. After speaking with them they said they still supply the property. I checked my hard copy and email folders and I have no record of switching company, so somehow setting up the energy change has slipped the net when I was sorting everything out. I have no dd coming out of my account monthly for power.

This is the first communication I have had from them, which I think is crazy after so long. Issue is now that the estimated bill is now £900. Guy on the phone said he'd leave me to see if I could find meter readings from the time we moved in as he thought it was very high. I need to call them back later but can't locate readings from so long ago.

Any advice pls? and also do I have any wiggle room to get this bill reduced due to their tardiness. Though I accept that somehow this is an oversight on my part, as I'd have never stayed with SP as I know they're expensive, getting stuck with such a big bill when cash is tight is also difficult to swallow.

Appreciate your time and consideration.

Richie-from-the-Boro

SUPPOSE wrote: »

Advice pls. After moving the family into a rental property 9 months ago I spent a couple of days sorting out the bills and dd's etc. I presumed all was OK and running fine.

Yesterday I got a letter from Scottish Power, the previous tenants company, to say I needed to set up an account with them. After speaking with them they said they still supply the property. I checked my hard copy and email folders and I have no record of switching company, so somehow setting up the energy change has slipped the net when I was sorting everything out. I have no dd coming out of my account monthly for power.

This is the first communication I have had from them, which I think is crazy after so long. Issue is now that the estimated bill is now £900. Guy on the phone said he'd leave me to see if I could find meter readings from the time we moved in as he thought it was very high. I need to call them back later but can't locate readings from so long ago.

Any advice pls? and also do I have any wiggle room to get this bill reduced due to their tardiness. Though I accept that somehow this is an oversight on my part, as I'd have never stayed with SP as I know they're expensive, getting stuck with such a big bill when cash is tight is also difficult to swallow.

Appreciate your time and consideration.

The moment you moved in you were on a legal 'deemed' contract. You should have :

- recorded the meter readings then, and set up your own contract
- transferred to a cheaper tarrof & supplier
- continued to record and supply each months readings to your new supplier
- paid your annual consumption divided by 12 each month

You are responsible for staying in credit. You default 'deemed' contract is always, always their most expensive. It is this that allows the rest of we bill payers to have some advantage providing those like you pay a premium. Sorry if its not what you were hoping for - but tens of thousands a year like you fall into this trap. Best of luck.

molerat

They will have no idea that someone has moved into the property. It was up to you to contact them to set up an account. What opening readings are they using - the last tenant's closing or estimated ? The LL/LA may have actual readings, if they have you will have to hope they are correct. You have very little wiggle room.

Bark01

No you have no wiggle room, suppliers only have to bill you once every 12 months.

Its your own responsibility to sort this out.

If you supply regular readings for a few months so SP can track your consumption you may be able to argue that the opening read was wrong. £900 isn't really expensive for a 9 month energy supply that covers the whole of winter and some of summer. Bills are are a lot less during the summer.

You will have been billed on SP's deemed tariff for the last 9 months, a typical credit bill will be ~£1150 so £900 doesn't seem too much.

SUPPOSE

OK thanks all. Pretty much as I thought. I honestly thought I had dealt with all this upfront. Mebs I just did the research to change company and then some contact got lost in the ether. It was a crazy time so don't know if the fault was mine or elsewhere but too late to sort now. Cheers for the info.

Josephinefarrow

I've just had British Gas on the phone saying that even though I switched to Scottish power 2 years ago they have been supplying my electricity and want £500 I have contacted them several times to say I am paying Scottish power but now I owe them this money for their mistake.

Cardew

Josephinefarrow wrote: »

I've just had British Gas on the phone saying that even though I switched to Scottish power 2 years ago they have been supplying my electricity and want £500 I have contacted them several times to say I am paying Scottish power but now I owe them this money for their mistake.

Welcome to the forum.


Why is it BG's mistake? When you switch companies you only deal with the 'Gaining' company(Scottish Power(SP) in your case).


So it would appear to be the fault of SP and/or yourself. Unless SP had ensured the electricity account was transferred, BG will continue to supply electricity.


It would also appear that you haven't checked your bills from SP or you would have seen that you were only being billed for gas.

Josephinefarrow

Thank you cardew
For your informing input. I was and am being charged for electricity from Scottish power.
Also why has it taken many attempts on my part to resolve this issue,only to have British gas tell me this after 2 years

Cardew

Josephinefarrow wrote: »

Thank you cardew
For your informing input. I was and am being charged for electricity from Scottish power.
Also why has it taken many attempts on my part to resolve this issue,only to have British gas tell me this after 2 years

Have you been charged for electricity by Scottish Power for the whole 2 years? If so you obviously don't owe BG anything.


However the tone of your posts imply that you accept that you do owe BG £500! despite contacting BG several times 'to sort it out'.


As said previously, when you switched supplier it is Scottish Power's problem if things have gone wrong, and they should sort it out. It is not unusual for gas to be switched but not electricity(or vice versa) and this is often because 'The Computer' disputes meter readings.


Both BG and SP's accounting teams are in a mess; relying on computer systems that are not fit for purpose. However it is not clear from your posts the sequence of events and what advice you seek.

undaunted

You need to check who is actually registered as supplying the property.


EG https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/who-supplies-my-electricity-and-gas/




If it's British Gas then yes you'll owe them money but you'll also be entitled to reclaim payments made to Scottish Power.


If it's Scottish Power then you can obviously dispute British Gas' claim

Autumnella

SUPPOSE wrote: »

OK thanks all. Pretty much as I thought. I honestly thought I had dealt with all this upfront. Mebs I just did the research to change company and then some contact got lost in the ether. It was a crazy time so don't know if the fault was mine or elsewhere but too late to sort now. Cheers for the info.

Even if you do change supplier you still need to let the current supplier know you have moved in.
If you speak to Scottish Power they will probably allow you to pay in installments. Their cheaper deals aren't that bad so it may be worth setting up a direct debit and going on a cheaper tariff until the debt it paid. Even if there are exit fees you could then change after a year, or pay the fees if it's worthwhile.