Starting Readings - Electricity

itsagiven

Hello all,

I recently moved into my property and it's been a nightmare with the electricity. I found out who the supplier was, and after telling them (Spark) about 10 times - they finally agreed that they were supplying my property. (They had been full on denying all knowledge of my property!!!)

Anyway, we told them what the meter reading was and told them that we would be changing. Octopus took over on the 26th which was the date Spark and Octopus agreed on, and then told us that the opening meter reading from Spark for changeover is 14500. I couldn't believe what I was reading...

The meter readings were as follows:
9th Aug - 13496
26th Aug - 13551

We used 55kwh in our period with Spark, but they want to charge us for 1000kwh usage... I don't have the money to be paying this multi-hundred pound bill.. Spark were fully aware of both meter readings, and we won't even hit their 14500 reading this year!

I told Octopus my wish to dispute, and they did notify me that they've done this (this was about two weeks ago). But I've just had Spark chasing me with the invoice again...

Where do I stand with this? The original email from Octopus (stating the opening reading) almost made it sound like I should just pay Spark and have a massive massive credit with Octopus - surely that wasn't what I was supposed to do and disputing the reading was the best thing to do?


First property BTW, so I am completely clueless! :rotfl:

Robin9

This is Octopus's problem - it's not Spark's job to give Octopus any readings. Octopus does the asking of YOU - did you give them the reading on the 26th. ? You don't give Spark any readings when changing suppliers - it's the gaining suppliers job to drive the process..

Carrot007

Robin9 wrote: »

it's the gaining suppliers job to drive the process..

As much as that is how it has become, the system does not work like that.


The outgoing supplier validate the final read and send it onto the new supplier. The new supplier cannot do much about it.


As theoretically convienient it is for the customer, the systems just do not work the new way. It has only made it harder to get it sorted out when there is a dispute.


Your new supplier as another small one will not want to makle the effort to fix (it will result in them makinga loss on you). So best advice is keep complaining to the old and send them a picture of your final meter read (you took one right? (if not a good one now will help if it's still lower)).

itsagiven

Yep, gave Octopus readings on 3 different occasions when asked, including the 26th Changeover day!

So do I just leave Octopus to dispute the opening reading with Spark and stay quiet? Not really sure what I should be doing with this massive Spark bill.

itsagiven

Carrot007 wrote: »

So best advice is keep complaining to the old and send them a picture of your final meter read (you took one right? (if not a good one now will help if it's still lower)).

Yep - Octopus always advised me to take a picture of every reading which I have done. Octopus asked for this when creating the dispute, I assume they passed them onto Spark?

Carrot007

itsagiven wrote: »

Yep - Octopus always advised me to take a picture of every reading which I have done. Octopus asked for this when creating the dispute, I assume they passed them onto Spark?

Great, I would keep up asking octupus to dispute (they will not want to as like I say they are already making a loss on you as a customer now). But also do dispute to spark (and yes they are useless), but don't put too much effort into it unless you really do not want them to take you to court! One photo and you will win. And yes rely to every request, including the eventual debt connectors with a picture of the meter.


The unfortunate thing avbout the domestic supply market is that after 1 dispute the compan ywill make a loss on you. As such most of them have decided it's better to then stick their head in the sands rather than sort it out. (you know in case that works, which in the case of most small issues is probably right).

itsagiven

Carrot007 wrote: »

Great, I would keep up asking octupus to dispute (they will not want to as like I say they are already making a loss on you as a customer now). But also do dispute to spark (and yes they are useless), but don't put too much effort into it unless you really do not want them to take you to court! One photo and you will win. And yes rely to every request, including the eventual debt connectors with a picture of the meter.


The unfortunate thing avbout the domestic supply market is that after 1 dispute the compan ywill make a loss on you. As such most of them have decided it's better to then stick their head in the sands rather than sort it out. (you know in case that works, which in the case of most small issues is probably right).

Thanks! I don't get very far with Spark, I find them quite difficult to deal with. I told them my meter is outside and they're more than welcome to come see that my reading is lightyears away from their closing meter reading! :rotfl: Just hope this dispute process doesn't take too long, it's my first property and there's still a lot going on, I could do without the stress lol!

Worse thing is - In my full Spark window, I didn't even live in the property (Had A LOT of decorating) hence the low usage, and they throw a massive bill at me

brewerdave

At least both suppliers want to use the same (incorrect/) reading -even messier if they both are trying to charge on different figures - I've been trying to untangle a dispute over a November changeover reading since early this year:mad:
If the rate per kwh for Octopus is lower than Spark's rate then you will make a few bob on the changeover -is there no way you can finance the final Spark bill IF the dispute isn't sorted??

itsagiven

brewerdave wrote: »

At least both suppliers want to use the same (incorrect/) reading -even messier if they both are trying to charge on different figures - I've been trying to untangle a dispute over a November changeover reading since early this year:mad:
If the rate per kwh for Octopus is lower than Spark's rate then you will make a few bob on the changeover -is there no way you can finance the final Spark bill IF the dispute isn't sorted??

I could finance it, I'd just rather not (Still waiting for first DD's to go out to loads of places) so don't really want to part ways with all that cash for something I technically don't owe.

I don't even understand how this works, if I pay this Spark bill for the starting figure... I've given Spark hundreds for electricity I didn't use, and then I'm in credit with Octopus for 6+ months and basically supplying the electric for free... what do Octopus gain out of this?

brewerdave

brewerdave wrote: »

If the rate per kwh for Octopus is lower than Spark's rate then you will make a few bob on the changeover -is there no way you can finance the final Spark bill IF the dispute isn't sorted??

Sorry - I was looking at it a*se about face:o - you are actually losing money -so hang out for a resolution of the changeover dispute:T

Biscuit_Tin

itsagiven wrote: »

Hello all,

I recently moved into my property and it's been a nightmare with the electricity. I found out who the supplier was, and after telling them (Spark) about 10 times - they finally agreed that they were supplying my property. (They had been full on denying all knowledge of my property!!!)

Anyway, we told them what the meter reading was and told them that we would be changing. Octopus took over on the 26th which was the date Spark and Octopus agreed on, and then told us that the opening meter reading from Spark for changeover is 14500. I couldn't believe what I was reading...

The meter readings were as follows:
9th Aug - 13496
26th Aug - 13551

We used 55kwh in our period with Spark, but they want to charge us for 1000kwh usage... I don't have the money to be paying this multi-hundred pound bill.. Spark were fully aware of both meter readings, and we won't even hit their 14500 reading this year!

I told Octopus my wish to dispute, and they did notify me that they've done this (this was about two weeks ago). But I've just had Spark chasing me with the invoice again...

Where do I stand with this? The original email from Octopus (stating the opening reading) almost made it sound like I should just pay Spark and have a massive massive credit with Octopus - surely that wasn't what I was supposed to do and disputing the reading was the best thing to do?


First property BTW, so I am completely clueless! :rotfl:

Please post copy of the bill you have received from Spark.