Scottish Power Rip Off

Clarkeyboy

We moved into our new house Aug 13th last year - dual gas/elec supplied by Scottish Power. on the day of moving in provided meter reading. Changed to NPower. It took until Oct 31st for the changeover to happen. We were then sent a closing bill from Scottish Power for over £700 for that 2.5 Month period which equates to around £280 pcm in late summer months when the heating off most of the time. With NPower through Jan and Feb this year, we have paid an average of £119 pcm.
I expect fluctuations due to oil price, political situations, budgets etc but DOUBLE that of NPower is crazy.
I have contacted Scottish Power who have told me that it is what it is based upon the meter readings.
I have contacted the Energy Ombudsman who are investigating the level of the cost that Scottish Power are charging me.
ANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND ADVICE APPRECIATED - Thank you

daveyjp

Without any actual details about the bill such as contract you were on, units used, cost per unit, standing charge etc how do you expect anyone to give a considered response?

zagfles

So what were the meter readings? Do they match the SP bills? Did you take a meter reading on the switchover to NP or was it an estimate?

Cardew

Many people find that they are paying for the previous occupant's gas/electricity because they didn't read their meters on occupation and personally inform the energy company(SP in your case) of those readings.

If you did inform SP of those meter readings, then it will be very easy to see if the bill is incorrect.

Post details of the £700 bill here and we can check it for you.

Clarkeyboy

Thank you for your input. It was based upon metered readings. The usage of units through the 2.5 months with Scottish Power period are lower than those through 2.5 months of Scottish Power - yet the cost is over twice the amount.
I guess the question I am asking is if over double the cost is reasonable?
I will post the details of the bills and contracts - again thank you for your input thus far.

Cardew

Clarkeyboy wrote: »

With NPower through Jan and Feb this year, we have paid an average of £119 pcm.

The average of £119 for only 2 months is meaningless unless it was based on actual readings.

It was based upon metered readings.

All bills are based on meter readings. The question is 'were the start readings correct? as read by you and given to SP.

matelodave

Hopefully you've still got your own record of the original meter reading and it's the same as the opening reading on the SP bill. Likewise the closing SP reading should be the same as the opening read with NPower so you know exactly how many SP kwh you've used and that should be the number of kwh that you are being asked to pay for.

It's then a very easy calculation to multiply the number of kwh by the cost per kwh, add the standing charge for the number of days that they supplied you and you'll know if the bill is correct.

You would have probably been on their standard variable tariff which is the most expensive. You can't necessarily blame SP for the amount of time that it took to effect the change over as it's up to NPower to progress the change. When did you initiate the request.

Do you read your meters regularly to know how much you use every month. As others have said, a bit more info is required rather than just a rant about a big bill.

StopIt

What was the meter readings when you entered the property?


What were the meter readings given to your current supplier when you switched?


Take the difference between the two, multiply by the Scottish Power SVR Tariff rates and you'll get what you need to pay. If the meter readings do not square with your readings (Please say you took a reading when you moved in), tell SP for a corrected bill.


Part of moving house is the fun of sorting the energy out. I always take a reading the day I move in, then give the readings to the current provider as part of the switch process (I always switch energy when agreeing the move with the letting agent!) I then take any bills from before the move to the Letting Agent (If you bought the house in your case, take bills from before you taken ownership).


If the bill is high because it's SP's SVR, but with correct meter readings, then I'm afraid you'll need to pay it. Again, you haven't actually shown enough detail to see what the issue is.