Surely this deserves a prize for idiocy

brianposter

We’ve worked out you’ve used more electricity this
period than in the same period last year. This is based
on an estimated reading for this bill. Up 70%.

On my electricity bill from SSE.

Carrot007

Fair enough.


I would say you are worse for not submitting monthy reading and getting an estimated bill though.


Maybe consider a smart meter if you cannot do such a thing. You are the reason the government mandated them (much to the disgust of the energy companies).

brianposter

Carrot007 wrote: »

Fair enough.


I would say you are worse for not submitting monthy reading and getting an estimated bill though.


Maybe consider a smart meter if you cannot do such a thing. You are the reason the government mandated them (much to the disgust of the energy companies).

As I pay by standing order the estimated bill can be ignored.

Doesn"t a smart meter require some sort of mobile coverage to be effective ?

matelodave

If you pay by direct debit and you dont check your bills or meter readings then there's a better than even chance that you'll end up with a stonking great bill when your meter does finally get read.

the vast majority of the problems that most of the posters have on this forum are due to estimated bills, meters that haven't been read and direct debits that are too low. Mainly because they are too bone idle to read their meters and make sure that their bills and statements are correct,

As Carrot says, it's down to you to put a bit of effort in to ensure that you don't become another one rather than having a whinge about estimates.

waamo

I'm confused. What is the prize awarded for? The statement from sse or not reading a meter?

Andy_WSM

brianposter wrote: »

As I pay by standing order the estimated bill can be ignored.

As you pay by standing order then there's even more reason to submit a regular reading and not get an estimated bill.


You're not under the mistaken belief that you pay a fixed amount per month with no regard for your actual consumption, are you? We've seen that on here before. Never ends well.

ShatteredDad

I find it completely bizarre that people (fail to ) manage their accounts in this way. The amount of people that just cannot grasp how their energy account works is crazy. I've seen it for years and years and in my opinion it has actually contributed to the higher prices. The amount of money that companies lose because they can't obtain a meter reading for years in some instances, you are talking about millions of pounds in lost consumption.

It 'appears' to have have increased by 70% because your account has probably gone without an actual reading for so long that now they have managed to obtain one your latest bill will include a lot pof previously unbilled consumption.

The best thing about this scenario is it can be avoided by giving a meter reading not every month but as infrequent as once a year depending on how much your supplier knows about your consumption. Every quarter would be ideal but even once every six months would be more than enough.

People need to start taking ownership of their affairs IMO. I don't mean to be rude, but it's the same old thing time and time and time again and we don't learn.

Smodlet

I think those you refer to fail to manage their accounts, ShatteredDad. I can't understand why people don't want to know how much energy they use, if only so they can attempt to use less for the sake of the planet if they really don't care about their bills.

How would it be if, for instance, once you got to the petrol pump you were declined any fuel until you had paid for the gas you had burned but not paid for? Maybe pre-payment meters would be more to the point than these (imho) idiotic "smart" meters. If that did not get the point across, I don't know what would. Suggestions on a post card.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

brianposter wrote: »

As I pay by standing order the estimated bill can be ignored.

Rubbish!!!


Just because you pay £xx per month doesn't mean you can use and waste as much as you want and you don't have to pay for your actual usage, it'll catch up on you, especially if estimated bills are under estimated.


Provide monthly readings to get accurate bills.

lindens

Yes i agree - YOU do deserve the prize for idiocy - by leaving months and months go past without reading your own meter which is on your own property, thus ensuring the FIXED monthly direct debit (not standing order) is therefore accurate.
Instead - i know, I will pay an entirely random figure to the energy company every month as neither of us actually know how much energy i am using.

Raxiel

So, to translate SSE's email in a non-hostile, no name-calling way:


Most of the customers we have with a similar usage profile to you have used more energy this period than in the same period last year. Because we don't have actual readings, we are assuming your usage has increased by a similar amount. To avoid hitting you with a massive catch-up bill later, we're increasing your Direct Debit now to cover the assumed past shortfall and expected future usage, with an aim to hitting a £0 balance at the end of the tariff term.


As others have said; give them up to date meter readings and ask for a new bill/recalculated payment. It might go back to what it was, or if SSE are right and you've used more it could go up. Without knowing if the 'period' includes what was allegedly called spring this year it's hard to say.