Energy

Energy

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Energy Crisis - Direct Debit Nearly TRIPLED

Can someone please help?
After signing up to Look After My Bills, we switched to EON from British Gas. The direct debit more or less stayed the same until a few months later, our direct debit was reviewed due to the monthly meter readings and our direct debit changed from £64pm to £158pm. There are two of us, living in a three bed bungalow and we both work full time so we cannot understand why or how this has come about?
After raising my concerns with both companies, we are none the wiser. Now, Look After My Bills have switched us to Toto, EON are refusing to assist us with any investigations into the meter because the account is in suspense due to the switch but they still require one more direct debit. We cannot afford to be paying them more or less triple our previous bills.
After liaising with friends (similar set up), their direct debits average £40 with Bulb...
Has anyone got any advice on a) being reimbursed or b) not having to pay this last month's payment (which incidentally swallows up the last of any credit we had in the account) - we feel like we have been robbed!
Any advice would be appreciated as we (I) don't know where to turn next...
Thanks
Bella

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Comments

  • Posts: 9,802 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 22 September 2019 at 4:16PM
    Have you been taking / submitting your own meter readings?

    What estimated usage did you give to get their initial quote, and how did you arrive at those figures?
    How's it going, AKA, Nutwatch? - 12 month spends to date = 2.52% of current retirement "pot" (as at end October 2024)
  • Posts: 12,355 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 22 September 2019 at 4:19PM
    Have you been reading your meters while all these switches have been going on ? If not LAMB will have been guessing what your consumption is.

    You need to do some homework. Please go back over your bills and find one where there are ACTUAL readings - look for the letter A , ignore any with an E. What is the reading today?

    Please list the readings from your bills including a final bill from BG - ignore the money aspect.

    Forget what your friends are paying - they might not be reading their meters. Get your own house in order.
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • Sea Shell
    We have been submitting our own meter readings monthly along with the annual reading by EON. The estimated usage was provided by British Gas x
  • Posts: 33,046 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 22 September 2019 at 4:45PM
    And how does your actual kWh annual use compare with the estimate supplied by BG ? Stop talking about £s and direct debits and give some actual meter readings and dates.
  • Posts: 12,355 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Bella0707 wrote: »
    Sea Shell
    We have been submitting our own meter readings monthly .


    What are they please ?
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • Posts: 418 Forumite
    100 Posts
    edited 22 September 2019 at 5:31PM
    Bella0707 wrote: »
    Can someone please help?
    After signing up to Look After My Bills, we switched to EON from British Gas. The direct debit more or less stayed the same until a few months later, our direct debit was reviewed due to the monthly meter readings and our direct debit changed from £64pm to £158pm. There are two of us, living in a three bed bungalow and we both work full time so we cannot understand why or how this has come about?
    After raising my concerns with both companies, we are none the wiser. Now, Look After My Bills have switched us to Toto, EON are refusing to assist us with any investigations into the meter because the account is in suspense due to the switch but they still require one more direct debit. We cannot afford to be paying them more or less triple our previous bills.
    After liaising with friends (similar set up), their direct debits average £40 with Bulb...
    Has anyone got any advice on a) being reimbursed or b) not having to pay this last month's payment (which incidentally swallows up the last of any credit we had in the account) - we feel like we have been robbed!
    Any advice would be appreciated as we (I) don't know where to turn next...
    Thanks
    Bella

    There's an excellent, informative article written by MSE just for people in your situation
    https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/

    HTH :)

    You've certainly not been robbed.
    Whatever you pay is credit to your account, and used to pay or offset your charges.
    You will be charged according to the tariff agreed
    Any over (or under) payment will result in a balance that will need to be paid wither way eventually.

    If you think there is an issue with your meter, only your current supplier can assist you in getting that investigated
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