Final bill

Lexipedia

Hello,

So I was being supplied electricity by SSE Airtricity for approx 10 months via bi-monthly direct debit payments. If I'm being honest I rarely remembered to send any meter readings in time so they were going off an average usage amount for the majority of the time I spent with them. I had to cancel the account as I was moving out in September past. I waited a few weeks between moving out and cancelling the account as I was hoping I would be able to just transfer the account over to the new house but I didn't find one in time and I was sent a bill of 107.93 during this time so I decided just to cancel the account to avoid any more billing for electricity I wasn't using.

I rang up to cancel the account with my meter reading from the day I left and that was fine. I got an email a couple of days later claiming that my account was now 25.87 in credit. I presumed I was still going to be charged the 107 which I could not afford at that time due to paying a deposit and first months rent plus uni fees, so I contacted customer services to arrange a payment plan. I was reassured that there were no outstanding direct debits on my account and because the meter reading I provided was lower than what I was being charged I was actually owed 133.80. I told her that I had an email saying it was going to be taken from my account the next day and again she reassured me that the account had been settled and sorted out refunding the 133.80 for me which could take 5-10 days. I was pretty over the moon as I went from owing money to actually getting some money instead.

Low and behold the next day I recieved a notification from my bank that I did not have enough funds to make a payment on my account, I rang and they confirmed it was SSE airtricity trying to take the payment and said there was nothing that could be done at this stage, I would have to contact them and ask that they remburse me for the bank charges I will be receiving, around 20-40 pounds. I also recieved an email from. SSE airtricity themselves adding an extra 6 pounds charge onto the direct debit. So it's become a bit of a nightmare. What are the odds of me getting this sorted out and getting the bank fees reimbursed? I was trying to avoid all of this by contacting them in the first place to arrange a payment plan so annoyed that the infomation I was given is incorrect. Will SSE have a record of the webchat between myself and the agent who told me that I didn't have any outstanding direct debits? I presume it was just a mistake on their end, I don't mind paying the bill if I owe it, just don't want to pay the additional charges for something I tried to avoid.

Thank you for taking the time to read through my post!

Lexipedia

It would appear after going through my account online that between May and Sept we only used a total of 25.50 of electricity but had actually been charged 98.65 and 107.93 for each 2 month period. It says on my account bill reversal for these two amounts leaving me in credit of 206.58. If I take away the final bill and early disconnection fee totaling 72.78 that leaves me in credit of 133.80 like I was told by customer services. My account is showing me as being in credit of 25.87, which makes sense if you consider that I hadn't yet paid the 107.93 bill. So it is clear that the account has been settled and that I was in credit of 25.87 I don't understand why they still tried to charge me for the previous bill that they had since reversed, surely the direct debit should have been cancelled on their end?

System

Without seeing the bills it would be impossible for anybody to provide you with considered advice. I suggest you contact Citizens Advice and ask to see an energy adviser. Take copies of recent statements etc with you. It is possible, and I am guessing here, that as you failed to notify the supplier that you were moving out that they have charged you for energy and standing charges up to the date of your notification. You may need to provide the supplier with legal confirmation that you were not responsible for the property from a given date.

With respect, you need to think carefully about your strategy on bill payments. A ‘head in the sand’ approach could well end up costing you more as, sadly, you have found out.

Robin9

Lexipedia wrote: »

..................... I was hoping I would be able to just transfer the account over to the new house ....................................

It doesn't work that way. You can't transfer your account

You give readings for your old property to your supplier and you get a final bill.

You contact the existing supplier for the new property, give them readings and you become their customer. You are then free to switch - giving them your anticipated consumption in kwh - the supplier will have historic records for the property. Do not say I used xxxx kwh or my DD was £yy at the property I just left.


PS and do get into the habit of reading your meter at least monthly - it will help if things go pear-shaped.

System

Robin9 wrote: »

It doesn't work that way. You can't transfer your account

.

It can work that way but it needs the support/agreement of the supplier. For example, I moved home in late July and I am still on my previously agreed tariff and my account credit was retained. Yes, I had to contact the Deemed Supplier and switch back to my old supplier. The actual transfer took place two days after I moved in. A Final Bill for my old property was raised and the amount due deducted from the credit balance. My supplier is Octopus.

First Utility also offer house move tariff protection provide a switchback is initiated within 30 days of the house move.

Lexipedia

I was actually told on the phone when I initially rang to cancel that I should hold off and they would just transfer the account over to the new house.

Yes I am working on that. My current house had a pay as you go meter which is obviously easier to keep track of.

Thanks for your reply.

Lexipedia

Hengus wrote: »

Without seeing the bills it would be impossible for anybody to provide you with considered advice. I suggest you contact Citizens Advice and ask to see an energy adviser. Take copies of recent statements etc with you. It is possible, and I am guessing here, that as you failed to notify the supplier that you were moving out that they have charged you for energy and standing charges up to the date of your notification. You may need to provide the supplier with legal confirmation that you were not responsible for the property from a given date.

With respect, you need to think carefully about your strategy on bill payments. A ‘head in the sand’ approach could well end up costing you more as, sadly, you have found out.

My apologies, I thought the information I provided was enough. I should have mentioned actually that I did contact SSE a week before I moved out to inform them that I was moving and ask what the proceedings were, I was advised on the phone to hold off cancelled the account until I moved house and they would transfer the account for me. I was unaware that I would still be charged past this point, which is something I should have clarified at the time. I only became aware when I recieved the notification via email before the charge was taken.

Not to come across as defensive, as you took the time to read my post and offer advice which I appreciate! But I am usually very organised with bills, I have few direct debits and a documented budget planner and I always ensure I have enough money to cover for anything coming out of my account well in advance. However, this was a financially difficult month and I had not anticipated this to be taken out of my account, when I was noticed I contacted the provider to inform them and make a payment plan but they misinformed me leading to the bank charges. I definitely should be more organised with meter readings which is something I'm working on.