Moved to new flat. Electricity company charged £230 for two months.

Frount0101

To give a bit of background - I moved into this place a few months ago, and admittedly, I should have looked into utilities a lot sooner than I have. I recently changed suppliers to Eon for £21pm.

About a week later, I received a letter from "First Utility" with a payment reminder of £230. I have never received anything from them before, to be honest I have never heard of them. The letters where also addressed to me somehow even though I have nothing to do with them?

I wrote back to them to ask them for further details and a breakdown of the charges. They have sent me back a breakdown for billing from 8th Sep - 7th Oct. The letter states it is an estimated bill based on "my" usage over the past 12 months with an annual estimate of £686. Basically, there is no way I have used £230 worth of electricity, and is obviously based on the previous tenants usage.

I don't know how to deal with this. I have only just found out where the electricity meter is in the building from the property management company. I could give them the current reading, but I don't know if the previous tenant ever provided them with any for First Utility to deal with this properly.

Would I be right to write back to them requesting when and what meter readings they have gotten previously? Or explain the situation? I don't trust these companies very much, hence me being dubious.

Need some advice on how to move forward with this =/

CashStrapped

This may be a classic case of not reading a meter when coming into a new property.

Ok.....

1) When you moved in, did you take a meter reading? Did the landlord/agent record the meter reading?

2) When you move in, you already have a deemed contract with the existing supplier. You must create an account with them first, giving opening meter readings. Only then can you switch to a new supplier!

Did you do either of these things?

Problems arise when:

1) The previous tenant does not give a closing reading.

2) You then move in, and do not give an opening reading.

3) The energy company has to then somehow work out who should pay what and estimates what you owe.

4) There is no evidence to prove what you may or may not have used.

This is why recording the meter reading as soon as you move in is very important.

Furthermore, did you switch supplier before creating an account with the existing supplier?

If so, your switch was invalid and you may have being paying the wrong supplier.

Frount0101

1) When you moved in, did you take a meter reading? Did the landlord/agent record the meter reading?

I didnt know where the meter was until this week. So no. I dont know about the landlord/agent. I can enquire?

2) When you move in, you already have a deemed contract with the existing supplier. You must create an account with them first, giving opening meter readings. Only then can you switch to a new supplier!

I haven't created a new account, but it looks like they have done this automatically as they have sent the letters in my name with an account number. Nobody requested opening meter readings. I just received this huge estimated bill.

Furthermore, did you switch supplier before creating an account with the existing supplier?

Like I say, it is possible that First Utility automatically created a new account as they are sending correspondence in my name with an account number. So if that was the case, no. But it could be either situation right now.

Should I write to first utility explaining the situation, and enquire about the account situation? Obviously, I want to take control of this before they consider taking this further.

CashStrapped

1) Depending on how diligent the landlord/agent was. They may have noted down the meter readings as part of the check in/out when you moved in. A good landlord/agent would do this normally. If they have, it is a vital bit of info which will determine what you have used to date. So, do ask.

2)It sounds like you made an erroneous transfer. To switch provider you need to have a provider to switch from. If a new provider accepted you as a customer without you having an account with an existing provider, they made an error and should not have accepted you. But the mistake was yours in making a switch.

However, it seems like they realised this and have given your details to your actual [original] supplier, who have then created an estimated bill for the period they think you were with them.

Is the Oct 7 [the date they billed you to], the date you initiated the false switch to the new provider. If this is so, it fits my theory.

Did you ever get any "to occupier" letters from First Utility?

So what you need to do.

1) Find out if your agent/landlord recoded a meter reading just before you moved in.

2) If not, challenge the bill from first utility. To do this you should prove the date you moved in. Look at what KWH usage they are estimating for the period. A working person, who lives alone may use 6-10kwh per day (without heating). Then do the calculation based on the tariff they were charging you on (normally a standard rate). You can then compare this against the figure they have charged you.

Finally, a lesson learnt for the future. Always take a reading of all meters in a property the day you moved in.

Is there a water meter? Don't forget that one.

Frount0101

1) Depending on how diligent the landlord/agent was. They may have noted down the meter readings as part of the check in/out when you moved in. A good landlord/agent would do this normally. If they have, it is a vital bit of info which will determine what you have used to date. So, do ask.

Okay I will do that.

Is the Oct 7 [the date they billed you to], the date you initiated the false switch to the new provider. If this is so, it fits my theory.

Just looking back at the emails, the welcome email was on the 10th, so that was likely the date I initiated the switch. So sounds most likely that your theory is correct.

Did you ever get any "to occupier" letters from First Utility?

I have yes. Just looking at them, they are for 8th Sep - 7th Oct, to "Mr Owner Occupier", with a different account number. The amount was for £370. They then sent a cancelled bill for the same amount, so I take it that was when the Eon switch kicked in.

EDIT: Just realised those dates are the same as the new current bill, but a less amount. So now I am more confused.

1) Find out if your agent/landlord recoded a meter reading just before you moved in.

2) If not, challenge the bill from first utility. To do this you should prove the date you moved in. Look at what KWH usage they are estimating for the period. A working person, who lives alone may use 6-10kwh per day (without heating). Then do the calculation based on the tariff they were charging you on (normally a standard rate). You can then compare this against the figure they have charged you.

Thank you, I will action this tomorrow!

Is there a water meter? Don't forget that one.

Just sorted this one. The latest bill they sent is for a period which only has a few days difference from the date I moved in, and for the period they are charging. So that looks all good to me and I am in contact with United Utilities to setup a direct debit.

Thanks for your advice, I will keep you updated!

anotheruser

Ask them if the previous tenant gave a final meter reading.

If not, say you found the moving in reads and set them a few digits before the current reads. The other person will be charged.

Boardering on fraud perhaps but hey... money saving and everything.

geoffken

Not bordering on fraud.
IT IS FRAUD!!!!
Let us hope the agents do not have a dated photo of ending meter readings or else you may well find yourself in court.
MSE I condone but not theft/fraud.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Frount0101 wrote: »

To give a bit of background - I moved into this place a few months ago, and admittedly, I should have looked into utilities a lot sooner than I have. I recently changed suppliers to Eon for £21pm.

Frount0101 wrote: »

I have yes. Just looking at them, they are for 8th Sep - 7th Oct, to "Mr Owner Occupier", with a different account number. The amount was for £370. They then sent a cancelled bill for the same amount, so I take it that was when the Eon switch kicked in.

Hello Frount0101 and welcome to the Forums.

Thought I'd pop on with a bit of information from our end. As you switched to us, we'll have sent our opening meter readings to your old supplier. They'll use the same readings to close their account and issue a final bill. This makes sure the same electricity is only charged once. I'd check these final readings are the same as our opening readings.

You say you've only just found your meter. In this case, I suspect we've used an estimated reading based on the previous usage history for the property. This information will have been sent to us as part of the change of supply process.

I'd take regular meter readings for a time. Try to build up a picture of how much you're using. If you believe our opening readings are wrong, you can challenge them through an industry wide process known as an Agreed Readings Dispute (ARD). This is where the two suppliers re-agree opening/starting readings between them. An ARD can only be used to re-agree electricity readings where the difference is greater than 250 kWh.

To start an ARD, you'll need to give us two sets of meter readings 7 days apart. Provided the old supplier agrees and the proposed new start/end readings are above the 250 kWh threshold, both suppliers will re-bill to these. Depending on which way it goes, it'll either lower or increase our opening bill and do the same thing with your old supplier's final bill. Do what's best for you.

Is your meter in a communal area with meters for the other flats? If it is, I'd check the serial number on the meter itself matches the one on your bills. In these situations, meters can become mixed up and, if it has, we could be billing you for usage at another flat. Hopefully, this isn't the case but it's just something to be aware of. If the number is different, we've a specialist crossed meter team who'll put this right and sort out the billing.

Hope this give you a steer Frount010. You know where I am if you need any more information. Happy to help.

Malc