Moved from Scottish power to Ovo Energy

massivewire

In October we moved from pre-paid electric from Scottish power and pre-paid gas with British Gas to having both utilities pre-paid with OVO Energy who estimated they could save us £850 per year, on transfer they installed smart meters to both supplies.

We had been on supply with Scottish power for 10 years and as we pre-paid over that time there was no outstanding debt on the account.

Pretty soon after transfer, Scottish Power sent us a final bill for £74.90. We spoke to them and were told that it would be an estimation as they would not have the final meter readings from OVO yet and that if we waited around 6 weeks they would get the readings and that would sort the balance out, as it was pre-paid we would not owe them anything.

Lowe and behold, this morning we get a letter from a debt collection agency called 'Fredrickson International Limited' trying to recover the outstanding balance and just for a bit of fun they have added a late payment fee taking the balance to £88.08

I am looking for some advice as to how to deal with this please if anyone has any previous experience.

CashStrapped

Have you contacted Scottish Power? Raised a complaint?

You also need to look at the opening reading that OVO used, is it estimated or an actual reading taken by yourself?

Using that reading, see if it matches the closing reading on your final Scottish Power bill. They should have sent you plenty of warnings before getting a debt collection company involved. Sometimes they just use it as a threat.

So, in summary.

1) Speak to Scottish power, you may want to record the call on speaker phone.

2)Raise a complaint, explain the story thus far, but get a final bill using the correct meter reading.

3) Pay it, and ask for confirmation in writing the bill has been paid.

Try to be patient and calm on the phone, the person on the phone is just an employee and getting angry with them will just get their back up.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

was the actual transfer the same day as the meter change, or had you switched from SP to Ovo maybe a couple of weeks earlier?

When you say pre paid, do you mean monthly DD?

CashStrapped

If above, the meter person usually leaves a card with the final reading of the old meter and the new reading on the new meter, if it was not all zeros.

massivewire

10 Days between the swap of energy supply and the new meters going in.

Scottish power had been paid up to the meter being swapped however as we were still just short of £10 in credit on the meter when the new one went in.

massivewire

I have spoken to Scottish power this afternoon, told me that they will investigate and come back to me. Last time they said that they didn't just passed the account to a debt collection company.

I don't have any confidence that they will do as they say.

massivewire

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

was the actual transfer the same day as the meter change, or had you switched from SP to Ovo maybe a couple of weeks earlier?

When you say pre paid, do you mean monthly DD?

No, we used to go to the shop a top up a card, come home and put that in the meter to top up. If the balance got to 0 then the electricity went off so all electricity has been paid for before we used it.

CashStrapped

So how are Scottish Power disputing a bill when it was a prepayment meter which was in credit? Where are they/how are they calculating the amount they think is due.

It should not be hard to prove that you either did or did not owe something.

I would write a formal letter headed complaint, clearly catalogue the problem, and the resolution you want. I would make it clear that you are very unimpressed that they escalated the matter without warning so quickly.

If they do not respond in the allotted time, then go to the ombudsman.

massivewire

Exactly my point, 3 times we have been in contact and asked them those same questions and all we keep getting is they will look into it, they don't and then escalate to debt collection like we have never been in touch.

I think it could be a scam just to get a last few quid, how many other people who can't be bothered or don't have the nouse to be dealing with them just pay up without question? I find dealing with these faceless organisations so stressful and time-consuming.

I will do as you suggest and see how I get on. Thanks

System

No way can you save £850 a year switching from one high priced standard/variable prepayment meter tariff to any other prepay standard/variable.Ovo rates are nothing special , cheaper only by a small amount than any other of the big six.Scot Power prepay is a little higher than most but no way £850 a year, maybe £85 a year saving, the call centre advisor has got the decimal point wrong . You get Ovos crazy complex Secure Liberty smart meter in exchange which will drive you mad if the smart credit function fails, as it surely will , and you have to input a 40 digit number manually on their pokey little keyboard on the meter under the stairs with a torch.
I suppose you could be a ten bedroomed mansion with all electric underfloor heating, but then you would` nt be stupid enough to be on any standard/variable tariff prepayment meters
You can be in debit on prepayment meters if you don`t top up weekly .The standing charges of £2 a week can build up

massivewire

I will see at the end of the year, since moving over we have saved around £40pm so far and who they operate has made life so much easier. Through the summer our gas consumption drops to almost nothing so the savings will increase by a lump again.

We had been with Scottish power & BG for 10 years and had never changed Tariff or provider so unsure if that has produced extra savings.

Wasn't going to bother changing due to all the hassle it was going to be but was persuaded, all has gone well other than the issue with Scottish Power