SSE Overcharge after buying premises

Georgeshaw

Hi I would be interested to hear if anyone else has had my experience. I bought a property which I did not use for the first seven months. Stupidly I did not inform SSE the energy co supplying electricity. 6 months later I got 6 bills, one for each month but despite the building being empty the bills increased in line with darkest/coldest winter months. I wrote to SSE and over the last year I have refused to pay their bills while I tried to get them to accept they were wrong. They refuse, saying that their data collection systems cannot be wrong. I recently found that the data collection had been disconnected between July and December 2017 so asked them how they had collected the data used to bill me during that period. They would not tell me but insisted that the bills were calculated using contemporaneous data, which would be impossible because the data collection system was disconnected. On a separate issue they refuse to replace the meter I inherited which is a high capacity half hourly meter suitable for large supermarkets and companies having a base load in excess on 100kw. My business is small with nowhere near that. Has anyone had similar experiences or any suggestions how I could get this sorted? I’ve tried the Ombudsman but he simply accepted that SSE’s systems must be correct.

JJ_Egan

As its a business and you have failed with the ombudsman choices are .
One pay the bill .
Two take proper business legal advice .

I take it from day one you took no meter readings .

Georgeshaw

Thanks JJ. You are correct in that I did not take meter readings. I couldn’t find how to get a reading and SSE would not help. I think at one point they said the meter could not be read on site!!
I am sure you are correct and I have paid the bill under protest and without admitting liability for the claimed electricity usage. I will need to talk to a lawyer but the difficulty is getting the best and most experienced in this field. And there is always the problem with legal costs where the sum recoverable(possibly £2000) could be swallowed up. I was hoping that my post would perhaps uncover someone who had already had a similar experience. As a matter of interest now that the bill is paid I tried to change supplier today but no one is interested because the meter is such a high capacity. SSE refuse to change it so catch 22?

Robin9

Georgeshaw wrote: »

I tried to change supplier today but no one is interested because the meter is such a high capacity. SSE refuse to change it so catch 22?

Have you tried the commercial suppliers - Gazprom, Total G&P ?

JJ_Egan

Georgeshaw wrote: »

s uncover someone who had already had a similar experience. As a matter of interest now that the bill is paid I tried to change supplier today but no one is interested because the meter is such a high capacity. SSE refuse to change it so catch 22?

Problem is that this is a Consumer forum .

Georgeshaw

Hi Robin9
I only tried E.On but given their refusal to consider my request I assumed that I was in deep trouble with no supplier being interested. I’ll try some others although Gazprom is a Russian company I think and possibly best avoided at the moment. Thanks

Georgeshaw

Hi JJ
Not sure what you are meaning.This is the first time I have used a forum such as this. Is it only for personal issues and does not include small business problems? If that is the case clearly I am in the wrong place. Can you suggest any forum where I might get some advice and suggestions. I don’t want to let SSE get off with something which is so clearly overcharging. Thanks

JJ_Egan

All i am saying is that Business rules and terms and conditions are different to consumer regulations .
Actual knowledge re business may be lacking on this forum .

Robin9

Don't forget you need their business/commercial side not domestic.

Are you now up and running - do you know what your consumption actually is ?

Having swopped business suppliers a few times my advice is to talk to the suppliers direct and not to use a broker.

House_Martin

What make and model is the meter ?. Is the display blank ? It should be able to be manually read.
Its not uncommon for smart business meters to lose the smart function so suppliers have to send a meter reader round.
These meters have a complex series of readings, maybe as many as 12 but they should have register I.Ds. They may show a letter which is a code or register I.D where you can find the one which means total kilo watt hours.You may be able to get the info online.eg "s " on some meters is the total kwh
eg SSE website about how to read their meters they show the Elster A1140 with the total import kwh reading on the third screen after the display of 88888888 using the yellow push buttons
Elster meters are very popular for medium size businesses
If you can get the total Kwh reading you can then get an accurate weekly idea of your usage and if SSE are anywhere near correct.
Standing charges and tariffs for business meters out of contract will most likely be on a real rip off rate so its important to get a new contract in place.
SSE should be able to find the end reading of the outgoing tenant. That will have to do as your start reading then if you can locate your current total kwh you can get a true figure of what you owe.Add their weekly standing charges and vat

G_Links

I have similar issues with SSE. The standard and heating bills went up to several thousands quids during last hot summer months, which i disputed. I am now given an option if i want to get the meters inspected but i will have to fork out 80 quids for this. Does anyone have similar experience and can anyone provide any suggestions. thanks