Energy switch "actual" usage past 12 months

Irratus_Rusticus

So yesterday I did an online switch using Uswitch because they had a Uswitch-only tariff that suited me.

Read the confirmation email and found they had used the neighbour's address despite me entering mine manually because they didn't have it on their list at my postcode. Emailed back to point this out and rang first thing today. Told I needed to cancel and switch again.

Skipping over many minutes on hold, went the verbal switch route with Uswitch and hit a new buffer.

When asked for my last 12 months consumption I gave them my accurate personal records - I keep meter readings and kwhs billed so know my actual consumption going back years. I can also do the gas conversion to check the billing myself.

Sorry, we need the actual annual usage as your existing supplier says on your bills.

Sorry back but my supplier has been inflating my so-called 'actual usage' to charge me more despite me not being with them 12 months. Told me the computer would sort itself out after an actual 12 months. If you use their annual figure for the switch, my new supplier will also inflate my payments and I don't want to wait 12 months with the existing lot to get the actual 'actual' annual usage on my bills.

Sorry, Offgem insist we use the actual annual usage that your supplier works from. Otherwise we'll have to create an estimate from the size of the property.

Seriously? Sorry back, but in these days of regular switching, who stays long enough for their existing supplier for them to calculate the actual usage in the last year? I don't want to pay more to my new supplier just because my existing supplier inflates my actual usage to charge me more. I repeat, I have actual kWh usage as billed over years. Ask me any question.

Sorry, we've got to follow Offgem even if your existing supplier's usage figures are incorrect. We know this may be annoying.

Annoying?

I gave up when I remembered my new supplier charges in advance anyway. At least that's more honest than inflating so-called 'actual usage' to take more. Now I'll pay in advance on a higher annual usage than I actually use.

Basically, you have to stay with a supplier for a year's billing to get them to give you an accurate annual usage to switch on.

Thanks Offgem.

Robin9

Irratus_Rusticus wrote: »

...................
Sorry, we need the actual annual usage as your existing supplier says on your bills.

Sorry back but my supplier has been inflating my so-called 'actual usage' to charge me more despite me not being with them 12 months. Told me the computer would sort itself out after an actual 12 months. If you use their annual figure for the switch, my new supplier will also inflate my payments and I don't want to wait 12 months with the existing lot to get the actual 'actual' annual usage on my bills.

Sorry, Offgem insist we use the actual annual usage that your supplier works from. Otherwise we'll have to create an estimate from the size of the property.

Seriously? Sorry back, but in these days of regular switching, who stays long enough for their existing supplier for them to calculate the actual usage in the last year? I don't want to pay more to my new supplier just because my existing supplier inflates my actual usage to charge me more. I repeat, I have actual kWh usage as billed over years. Ask me any question.

Sorry, we've got to follow Offgem even if your existing supplier's usage figures are incorrect. We know this may be annoying............

I think this new supplier is telling you porkies.

Who is it ?

Bark01

I think there maybe a misunderstanding here.

If you gave your own personal consumption to your new supplier how would the other supplier know wit was different to what had been billed? Its not something that is available to them and certainly isn't something that is required by Ofgem.

What is required is that your final read from your old supplier matches the opening read from your new supplier. That read is passed between suppliers via an industry flow, you shouldn't have to do anything. If you think its wrong you need to get your old supplier to change it and then pass it over to your new supplier, if they won't raise a compliant.

matelodave

I swapped many a time and often and have never had a problem with giving my own consumption figures.

I'd suggest that if your new supplier is being awkward and intransigent then go somewhere else

Irratus_Rusticus

Thanks for replies.

As I explained, I first did an online switch through Uswitch, but their confirmation email showed a neighbour's address, so they cancelled that application and took me through a phone call switch instead.

I fully agree the new supplier should take the customer's provided annual consumption - always worked for me in the past and the online procedure at Uswitch accepts what you enter anyway. It has no idea. The annual amount given is used for comparison and picked up by the new supplier to calculate your initial direct debit payments.

The Uswitch rep on the phone insisted I had to read him off my existing supplier's bill what my supplier said was my annual consumption. I explained I had not been with the existing supplier for a year and argued their so-called 'actual' annual usage was inflated because Scottish Power claims it uses estimates=actual until you have 12 months with them.

I know my real actual kwhs usage because I keep bills and take extra readings and can do the figures. Years of practice.

The Uswitch rep kept repeating he could only accept my existing supplier's figure even if it was wrong or annoying, claiming Offgem demanded it.

I didn't believe a word of this but got fed up trying to argue.

Gerry1

Why not phone again and see whether another agent is more helpful?

leviathan

Who is the new supplier?


If the read on the previous supplier estimate is higher than your actual meter then speak to new supplier directly
Dispute the opening read


Then chase the previous supplier for refund as new supplier will provide the final reading to them.