Spark Energy!

shaunleeds

Hi Everyone

Could do with some advise please

I moved into my 1 bed studio back in June this year and I was enrolled with the letting agent to go with Spark. I chose a plan, set up a DD and everything was managed by the moving in team

The day i moved into the flat on my floor of communal flats a cupboard was open with some meters installed. I took a photo on my phone in case just incase of my meter if I ever had to use it.

I didn't think anything of it after that. I had to wait 5 months up until about 2 weeks ago to get access to my online dashboard with Spark to see my bills and administrator my account.

For the last 5 months I've been paying my £35 a month direct debit with nothing from Spark to say there was a problen

2 weeks ago I then started to get text alerts from Spark for the 1st time telling me I need to bring my account upto date as it's now in debit, fine. It was then I also got an email to log into my dashboard for the 1st time

I checked my online dashboard and the amount to pay was £174. The text said over £240. I then got another text to say it was closer to £204
I went onto the online chat who after some time said I should go on what's on the dashboard which is £174. They also said I should get an actual meter reading and submit it for an accurate bill, as it has been estimated upto now.

I went into the same cupboard on my floor where the meters are and took a photo.
Spark then told me they didn't recognise the meter and then when I cross checked it against a bill (finally got access to them) they were completely different meter IDs, they suggested and check it wasn't a water meter, which it was!

I emailed the letting agent asking where the electricity meters are as I was never told but didn;t receive a reply that day. On my way home from work I noticed an engineer in a cupboard next to the main doors to the flats and this was infact the electricity meters!

I took a photo of the meter reading to send onto Spark.

At this point when I logged into my dashboard again, my new debit balance to pay had gone from £174 to over £355. For last month they had estimated £204 worth of electricity had been used, in a 1 bed studio where half the time i'm not even in!

I've sent the actual meter reading pic to Spark

My big concern is, the starting meter reading on my bill for June is way off the actual meter reading now. Started at 42000ish and is now is closer to 48000!

I've already paid £210 in DD, they now want over £355 and the differences to get to 48000 is literally thousands to pay, which for a 1 bed studio for 5 months does not make sense!

I've asked Spark to look into it, they've come back and said the start meter reading in June was an estimate. I've also asked my letting agent who tell me they never took a meter reading when I moved in because they didn't have access, just checked my inventory and they only took a water reading instead


I really want to switch asap even if there are exist fees I don't care
Can I switch while i'm disputing this amount?
Is it a legal requirement that the letting agent should have recorded all the meter readings when the last tenant checked out?
What's my next course of action if Spark don't back down?

I'll pay what I've used and that is it. With the DDs I've paid already and what they've been chasing me up on so far, that's nearly £700 alone. Plus to adjust the bill again to the accurate meter reading it would mean another £1000 or 2 easy, it just doesn't make sense
I feel like i'm paying for some of the previous tenants use

I'm worried they're going to put a black file on my credit file even though I've told them to put this on hold so I can contest it but don't know how I'm suppose to do it

Sorry for the long winded post if you;ve made it this far

Thanks

JJ_Egan

You have meter readings for the period in question ??

GunJack

6000 kwh of leccy with standing charge should cost around £900, depending on your tariff, so shouldn't cost thousands. However, yes you need to get the opening read sorted - Spark should be able to help here if the previous occupant was also with them, they should have a closing read. Also, make sure you ID the correct meter for your flat, that may help.

Gerry1

Take at least weekly meter readings from now on, and work out the likely opening reading, bearing in mind your earlier usage would have been lower because it was warmer and lighter.

The letting agent will have received a kickback from Spark for signing you up. If they failed to do so and don't respond to you, consider sending them a Letter Before Action and then go to the Property Ombudsman.

Similarly, if Spark are unreasonable, ask for a deadlock letter and on receipt go to the Energy Ombudsman immediately,or after eight weeks if Spark do not send one.

Best to use written communications rather than the phone so that you have an audit trail.

Former Spark Representative

Hi Shaun

Sorry to hear about this.

Can you drop me a line to the email address given in my profile please?

I'd need you to confirm:

Your full name
Your move in date
Your email address
Your phone number

I'd also need two sets of meter readings which are at least as week apart. It sounds like you've already been taking readings, so it's fine if they're readings you've already submitted.

I'll be happy to put things on hold while we look at this for you.

Kind regards

Jenny
Customer Relations Team

D_M_E

Do you now have access to the electric meters - if so then you must check that the meter they are billing you for is the actual one supplying your premises.

soundgeek

Problem leaving Spark energy

I received a final statement from Spark saying I was £28 in credit. It didn't say anything about refunding me. Instead it said they would take the next payment by direct debit. I thought, this is just an inconsistency in the statement.

I now see from my bank statement that they did take a payment and my balance has gone up to £64!

Are we allowed to leave Spark energy? Am I safe to cancel the direct debit. Will they ever refund me?

Has anyone else had problems with Spark Energy?

skysama

soundgeek said:

Problem leaving Spark energy

I received a final statement from Spark saying I was £28 in credit. It didn't say anything about refunding me. Instead it said they would take the next payment by direct debit. I thought, this is just an inconsistency in the statement.

I now see from my bank statement that they did take a payment and my balance has gone up to £64!

Are we allowed to leave Spark energy? Am I safe to cancel the direct debit. Will they ever refund me?

Has anyone else had problems with Spark Energy?

If you have received a final bill, then you must have already left the supplier.

dogshome

soundgeek

Not good manners to bump someone elses thread, but since you have:
Are you now with a different supplier from Spark, an does Sparks Final Bill show that you are in Credit ?

If so you can contact your bank and have them claw back any D/Debits Spark have taken after your account with them closed.

soundgeek

You have assumed that I have intentionally "bumped" another thread, but you are wrong. This is bad manners.

I intended this to be a new post, but New Post put it here & would not let me delete it! Not user friendly.

OK re D/D. Thanks.