£1100 Electricity bill

hspurs

Below is a copy of a letter I sent by recorded delivery to atlantic electric 2 weeks ago. I have not had a reply. So I rang them again today and a manager is looking into my bill and getting back to me tomorrow. Can anyone offer any advise.
Further to my phone calls to you on the 22nd 23rd and 29th of April regarding my worries over my electricity bill.
On the 22nd and 23rd of April I rang your helpline with concerns over the estimated bill I received that morning. I was told don’t worry its just the meter going round again and everything was ok. I even asked about someone coming to check the meter, but was told if nothing was found wrong with it I would be charged £30. So I did not bother with the meter check.
On the 29th April I received a new bill with my meter reading I had giving on the 23rd. When I looked at the bill it still seemed wrong. I rang you up and said you have the figures the wrong way round I give you.(ECONOMY 7)
Your helpline operator said he would look into this and ring me back later. Later that day he rang me back and to my amazement he said that they have been reading my meter the wrong way round for the last 2 years. And I now owe you £1100.
Please will you send me a complete breakdown of all my electricity bills since I joined you in 2002 and a explanation of how you have manage to get the readings so wrong. Also on checking my old bills your explanation of the readings been read the wrong way round for 2 years seem strange as you have had the meter read by your employers at least 6 times.
Something is very wrong with this bill. Please deal with this matter with the utmost urgency. My wife and I have been left very worried and distressed.

Swattie

Contact OfGem and ask them to help you.

Contact details are below.

Ofgem is the regulator for Britain’s gas and electricity industries. Its role is to promote choice and value for all customers.

Dealing with Complaints

If you have a complaint to make on your energy supplier, please contact energywatch on:

Consumer Helpline: 0845 906 0708
Fax: 020 7799 8341
Textphone for deaf or hearing impaired consumers: 0845 7581 401
Web address: https://www.energywatch.org.uk
Email enquiries: enquiries@energywatch.org.uk




You could also complain to Watchdog

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/contact/

If you wish to write to Watchdog, our address is:
BBC Watchdog, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS

If you wish to telephone Watchdog, our contact number is:

0870 010 7070

Average cost of call 8 pence
Mon-Fri 0800-1800 7.5 pence per minute
Mon-Fri 1800-0800 4 pence per minute
Weekend 1.5 pence per minute
Rates can vary between operators

roger56

Your letter seems sensible and reasonable.

Can you make yourself a list in date order of all readings and bill costs back to 2002?
It will help you compare and check readings are sensible.

Do you have a record of the original meter readings on joining in 2002 and the old supplier final bill with the meter readings on?
Do they agree with each other?

Read your meter now for a reference, write the figures down. Go here for help on reading:
http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/homeenergy/aboutyourbill/readyourmeter.asp?section=smallbusiness

If you can, try to compare yearly costs - this will give you an idea of your average costs and allow you to compare with the latest bill on then query the sudden increase with Atlantic using factual data.

Sorry its a lot of work, but it may well help you explain things further to Atlantic and get things sorted and reduce the worry.


edit: Energywatch are very helpful but they ask you to try and resolve things first (as you are trying to do). So give your letter and calls time to hopefully do the trick. It may be worth offering to pay an amount equal to what you expect the bill should be. That shows very strongly that you are being reasonable and works in your favour.
If things don't go well then turn to energywatch. Having the bill data suggested above available will help then to start understanding the problem.

hspurs

Thanks for the advice will let you know how I get on