Huge electricity bill out of the blue!

Margot66

I have been with Sainsbury's Energy (i.e. British Gas) for over two years and have typically been paying £200+ per month via direct debit. In January, I noticed the direct debit jumped up to £1,427 which was a massive shock. I rang SE and they said it was due to too many estimated readings so they have to catch up on what I should have been paying. I argued that the year on year energy use was completely different so something must be wrong. When I asked the customer service rep what I should do, she suggested I move to my gas provider!!!
So I did just that only to have SE produce a final bill in excess of £3,000!!! I rang again and asked them to come and assess my meter as there must be a problem with it, but they wouldn't as I am in the process of changing my supplier. So I contact nPower (my gas supplier) and they told me to take meter readings for 5 days in a row to see what might be the problem so I have done so and am awaiting to hear back from them. However, SE are still holding this 'unpaid bill' over me which I don't believe to be fair. Has anyone got any suggestions how I can best proceed?

JJ_Egan

You supplied frequent meter readings to Sainsburys ??

zagfles

Is it gas or electric, or both? If over £200 a month doesn't cover your energy use and leaves a £3k shortfall then you either have a very big house or you're seriously wasting energy, eg heating on with windows open or using electric fan heaters all the time etc. Or your meter's faulty.

You need to give the readings. Did they get the start reading wrong, for instance.

nPower

Margot66 wrote: »

I have been with Sainsbury's Energy (i.e. British Gas) for over two years and have typically been paying £200+ per month via direct debit. In January, I noticed the direct debit jumped up to £1,427 which was a massive shock. I rang SE and they said it was due to too many estimated readings so they have to catch up on what I should have been paying. I argued that the year on year energy use was completely different so something must be wrong. When I asked the customer service rep what I should do, she suggested I move to my gas provider!!!
So I did just that only to have SE produce a final bill in excess of £3,000!!! I rang again and asked them to come and assess my meter as there must be a problem with it, but they wouldn't as I am in the process of changing my supplier. So I contact nPower (my gas supplier) and they told me to take meter readings for 5 days in a row to see what might be the problem so I have done so and am awaiting to hear back from them. However, SE are still holding this 'unpaid bill' over me which I don't believe to be fair. Has anyone got any suggestions how I can best proceed?

Hi Margot66

We'll be happy to look into this with you if you can email us at the address shown on our page.

Thanks

Jade

Margot66

Hello Jade

I cannot find where exactly I can make an enquiry on the website - could you help me please?
Many thanks,

Margot

Margot66

Sadly I don't live in a huge house nor have I been wasting energy so I'm guessing the meter is the issue.

grumpycrab

I guess you should email npower at helpandsupport@npower.com
They will need your name, adddress and account number as a minimum.

Smodlet

Margot66 wrote: »

I have been with Sainsbury's Energy (i.e. British Gas) for over two years and have typically been paying £200+ per month via direct debit. In January, I noticed the direct debit jumped up to £1,427 which was a massive shock. I rang SE and they said it was due to too many estimated readings so they have to catch up on what I should have been paying. I argued that the year on year energy use was completely different so something must be wrong. When I asked the customer service rep what I should do, she suggested I move to my gas provider!!!
So I did just that only to have SE produce a final bill in excess of £3,000!!! I rang again and asked them to come and assess my meter as there must be a problem with it, but they wouldn't as I am in the process of changing my supplier. So I contact nPower (my gas supplier) and they told me to take meter readings for 5 days in a row to see what might be the problem so I have done so and am awaiting to hear back from them. However, SE are still holding this 'unpaid bill' over me which I don't believe to be fair. Has anyone got any suggestions how I can best proceed?

JJ_Egan wrote: »

You supplied frequent meter readings to Sainsburys ??

Does it sound as if the OP has supplied frequent (any?) meter readings? If they have, something has gone seriously awry.

JJ_Egan

<Does it sound as if the OP has supplied frequent (any?) meter readings? If they have, something has gone seriously awry.>

No but if they have its evidence that's why i asked .

I would not be so rude as to suggest that they where completely ignorant of their need to supply readings .