Energy

Energy

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Stuck with my energy suplier

Morning,
I am after a bit of advice as I feel I am stuck with my current energy supplier. I am currently on a prepayment meter wanting to move on to a monthly direct debit. The problem I am having is the energy supplier I am currently with (boost) don't offer this service, I have tried to move supplier twice once to Bulb and the other to octopus with no success. The issue is there is a £400 debt on my account, the £400 is a back bill from 12 months ago where I wasn't charged correctly for my electricity usage (another story) has anyone been in a similar situation? Staying where I am doesn't seem an option as my currently monthly spend on fuel is £200! This seems far too high as me and my husband both work during the day 5 days a week?
Tia.

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  • Posts: 33,055 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 3 February 2020 at 9:21AM
    1. Find out why you are spending £200 a month. Daily meter reads for a while to see what you are using in kWh.
    2. No one is going to take on that debt on a credit meter, the problem you have is because you did not do point 1.
  • Posts: 9,570 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Can you give a little more detail on the £400 debt, there are limits on back-billing that may or may not apply depending on how it occurred and when they originally billed you for it...
  • Hi
    The £400 is due to a faulty electricity smart meter, it wasn't communicating with Boost unbeknown to us! It wasn't working for around 18 months. I am a prepayment customer with the account all being online so it went unnoticed as I was topping up as normal ect. They have back billed correctly with regard to off gems regulations apparently. It's just been a nightmare from the start!
  • You are well within your rights to switch supplier with a debt less than £500! With regard to the debt its little more complicated than me taking daily electricity readings! When you have a smart meter fitted you expect it to work! It's a long story and I was looking for a little advice!
  • Posts: 656 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 3 February 2020 at 12:20PM
    Sam2020 wrote: »
    Hi
    They have back billed correctly with regard to off gems regulations apparently.

    Who told you that? Your current supplier?

    If so, you need to send them a formal complaint telling them that the billed amount is unrecoverable due to the back billing rules.

    If they don't do so, then take it to the ombudsman.

    Never believe what a supplier tell you.

    Make sure that you have a copy of all bills issued and all correspondence.

    With the switches that have failed, were you trying to switch to a pre-paymemt tariff with those suppliers or a credit tariff.

    As you say, £400 should not block a switch to another supplier.
  • Posts: 9,570 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Sam2020 wrote: »
    I am a prepayment customer with the account all being online so it went unnoticed as I was topping up as normal ect. They have back billed correctly with regard to off gems regulations apparently. It's just been a nightmare from the start!


    If you've already been through all this in detail then so be it, but do keep in mind that just because your supplier says they have complied with the regulations doesn't mean they are always right...


    ... and especially with a PAYG account it would be relatively hard for them to comply and back bill you for energy used more than 12 months ago, unless you were ignoring things like your credit not going down while continuing to use power etc.



    You may want to try talking directly to a supplier that you wish to switch to as although you are perfectly entitled to switch with a debt below £500, the new supplier does have to agree to accept the debt, so I wonder if that is where things are going wrong for you?
  • I think it is the suppliers I am choosing to switch to. Bulb aren't able to take the debt as I will be switching to a credit meter and they currently don't support smart prepayment meters. I have been to the ombudsman with regard to the debt and how it was calculated and also their customer service (again another story) they have looked into and have decided they back billed correctly. I just feel stuck! I can't compare suppliers properly as comparison sites only let you compare prepayment tariffs for prepayment meters.
  • Posts: 1,303 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'm confused why if the debt is settled cant you switch now?
  • I realise that this of no help to you but how is it possible to run up a debt on a prepayment meter? I thought they cut the power when the credit runs out?
  • Posts: 1,738 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Sam2020 wrote: »
    I think it is the suppliers I am choosing to switch to. Bulb aren't able to take the debt as I will be switching to a credit meter and they currently don't support smart prepayment meters. I have been to the ombudsman with regard to the debt and how it was calculated and also their customer service (again another story) they have looked into and have decided they back billed correctly. I just feel stuck! I can't compare suppliers properly as comparison sites only let you compare prepayment tariffs for prepayment meters.

    Unless i am missing something then surely the solution is to pay off the debt in full (if it is money you owe, which is seems to be from what you have said) then switch suppliers...
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