We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
🔔 You've got till Monday to apply to become an MSE Forum Ambassador

Scottish Power Over Charging?

Hey,

I am a young and new to electricity companies and their tricky ways. I moved into a two bed flat last year and started a new account with Scottish Power. When I just moved in there was an old bill left from the old tenants, I opened it to be nosey and see how much they were paying for their electricity and it was around 60-70 pound for three months. BELTER I thought thinking the electricity is cheap enough. I set up a direct debit of £21 a month as they said direct debit would be cheaper than getting a physical bill every three months.

The year went on and I checked to see how things were going every once and a while. There was periods I was £15 over. By the May I was roughly £60 over, which I was ok with paying once tenancy was up.

Yet in May they asked for a metre reading. I gave them the most up to date metre reading and get back saying we are £1250 pounds in debit to them. When on the phone to them they said they never received a metre reading from this house for a few years. This all happened end of May and it is now August. I got the odd message on their app saying they are dealing with my complaint. On the phone it seemed like they had no idea what was going on, was put on hold alot and was even hung up on a fair few times - literally think they saw the problem and had no idea how to deal with it so just hung up. They were changing the amount I owed them constantly then erased everything and now just say I owe them roughly £800.

The last tenants were only paying £70 every three months now Scottish Power are trying to say I should have been paying £90 a month for the energy use?? Is that fair that Im paying more than the old tenant because they weren't assed to give a metre reading? Any advice or anyone with similar stories? I'm a 21 year old graduate - broke beyond belief and have no real clue on what I should do.

Thanks

Comments

  • Ms_Chocaholic
    Ms_Chocaholic Posts: 12,697 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Did you give SP an opening meter reading when you opened an account with them?

    What tariff are you on?
    Thrifty Till 50 Then Spend Till the End
    You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,538 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You cannot compare your lifestyle with that of the previous tenants - for all you know they may have been on holiday for most of the time.
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • I don't think I did give them a metre reading when moving in. They don't seem to have a metre reading on the house since 2016 and I moved in 2017.
  • Considering the previous tennants were also students - met them when viewing the house - I'm pretty sure they were in the flat as much as I was.
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 33,847 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You now have learned an expensive lesson, there was one person who could have saved you from being screwed over and that was you. Simply reading the meter on moving in would have saved all this aggro. Because you did not do that you will likely be paying part of the previous tenants use. The previous tenants bills were low because they would have been based on estimates. Now that you have submitted an actual read the account is being brought up to date. You need to submit meter readings monthly to get an accurate picture of how much you are using and to avoid estimated bills.
  • So I should have just moved out never giving a metre reading? Plus I did not know the last tenants weren't giving metre readings. For all I knew the £70 a month was an accurate bill. When setting up the direct debit I was recommended £21 a month direct debit by the website, unknowing me thinking it would cover the costs as their bill was the 70.

    Now the cheapest tariff I am recommended is 170 a month - significant rise compared to how much they recommended when I first moved in obviously.
  • Hi,


    it's meter not metre (that's length).


    The £170 will be to cover your potential usage in future and to collect what is owed.


    When you had a nosey at the old bill did you notice if estimated (E) or actual (A)?


    Take regular meter readings weekly or at least once a month to keep an eye on usage.
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,056 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    So I should have just moved out never giving a metre reading? Plus I did not know the last tenants weren't giving metre readings. For all I knew the £70 a month was an accurate bill. When setting up the direct debit I was recommended £21 a month direct debit by the website, unknowing me thinking it would cover the costs as their bill was the 70.

    Now the cheapest tariff I am recommended is 170 a month - significant rise compared to how much they recommended when I first moved in obviously.


    £21 a month for an all-electric 2 bed flat is completely unrealistic. I suspect the website that that 'recommended' that sum 'thought' that you had gas central heating. Around £100 a month would be a more realistic figure - if you are careful with heating!



    If they haven't 'had a meter reading for years' you are clearly paying for some of the previous occupant's consumption. However you have no way of proving that because you didn't supply a meter reading when you moved in.


    When you gave your details to Scottish Power as a new tenant, did they not ask for a meter reading?
  • Hasbeen
    Hasbeen Posts: 4,404 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 8 August 2024 at 12:41PM
    Hi,


    it's meter not metre (that's length).


    The £170 will be to cover your potential usage in future and to collect what is owed.


    When you had a nosey at the old bill did you notice if estimated (E) or actual (A)?


    Take regular meter readings weekly or at least once a month to keep an eye on usage.


    "I'm a 21 year old graduate - broke beyond belief and have no real clue".

    Sorry but OP is already planning to move out?

    I just fear for the future of the country.

    As stated the next place you move into GIVE a meter reading, take photo of it date stamped. And ensure the utility company receive it, also give actual readings every month. Do not rely on estimates! You will get there in the big world outside LOl:)
    The world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good. Napoleon
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 29 August 2018 at 7:22PM
    OP, how did you manage to open an account with SP on taking up the tenancy without giving a meter reading?
    The supplier only has to read every 2 years, intermediate reads are your responsibility. All your bills would have been shown as estimated, and it's normal to check the billing reads against actuals to avoid a huge catch up bill.
    The £70 bill may well have been accurate, but, if you moved in in the autumn, then it was presumably for summer usage, when the heating is off and usage is minimal.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 241.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 618.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.9K Life & Family
  • 254.7K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.