Spark energy :(

jmelouise8

I moved into my property (which is a 2 bedroom masonette) 4/5 months ago. The flat was switched over to spark while it was vacant by the landlord. For some reason? When I called to let them know I had moved in, I asked for a pay as u go set up. 
I was told they dont offer pay as u go??? Which turned out to be a lie.  I Complained about it. Heard nothing. Initially i was set up for a direct debit at £32 a month. 3 months later I'm told that I wasnt paying enough and I now owe them £124, so they're upping my direct debit to £90 a month! Bear in mind, I've never once received a single bill from these people. Had they of informed me straight away, I would of paid more per month (but not £90!!). Now I have a debt because of their lack of communication! I contacted sse to switch supplier, as they have been very good in the past, to have this blocked by spark. Even though I was told, by spark, I could leave despite the debt. During this time I'm being emailed and text up to 6 times a day demanding the £124 debt that shouldn't of even built up in the first place. The harassment is beginning to affect my mental health. Yesterday I received another text to tell me my latest bill is now also ready, click here to pay. No amount. No bill, just a demand for an undisclosed amount of money! So I called, again, finally got through to be told this months bill is £80 odd pounds, and that I've been put onto their most expensive tariff because I cancelled the direct debit. I asked to set up a new direct debit on a cheaper tariff to be told it would have to be set at £80 a month. So no cheaper, even though it's meant to be a cheaper tariff!!  This makes no sense. Every time I speak to someone I'm told something different. The customer service is appalling. I've been hung up on by them twice today alone. I then got told this afternoon, after all this, because of my 'debt', they want to put me on a pay as u go meter !!!!!!!! The thing I wanted originally. They also said I should of been receiving paper bills.  But I haven't. I was told if I was to set up a direct debit at £80 a month, I would be allowed to leave. But I simply dont believe this. They have lied so many times now, why would I believe any of them. I dont understand how any of what they're doing is legal. My mum pays less a month, for gas and electric, combined for a 3 bedroom house!!! I have opened a case with CAB. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Gerry1

Unfortunately you've made all the classic mistakes, it's costing you a fortune and you're on a very sticky wicket.  Sorry to bring the bad news, but you'll have to face the reality to understand how to escape from it now and avoid making the same mistakes next time.

Hold tight, here goes.

• Mistake 1: All Electric. Electricity is four or five times the price of gas, just look at the p/kWh rates. Always find a place with gas.

• Mistake 2: Being lumbered with Spark.  Landlords just love it because they get commission.  The tenants get the rough end of the pineapple.

• Mistake 3: You don't understand Fixed Monthly DDs.  You're working with DD amounts which may or may not reflect your usage.  Always compare annual costs, submit monthly readings and do the sums yourself.  Pay for less than you've used and the DD jumps twice, once to reflect your higher usage and then again to claw back your arrears.

• Mistake 4: £384 per year would be ridiculously cheap for gas, let alone for electricity.  It was never going to fly.  Expect to pay at least twice that on a competitive tariff.  They saw you coming.

• Mistake 5: You cancelled the DD and ended up on an even more expensive tariff.  You have to pay for what you use, you can't decide what you think is fair and just pay that.  If you're in financial difficulty, check out Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment etc.

The answer is to settle your arrears PDQ, escape from Spark, find a competitive tariff (start with Citizens Advice and Switch with Which?).

You're lucky that the debt is quite low at £124 or whatever. Can you borrow it from your mum?  Are you claiming all the benefits to which you're entitled?

So to summarise, concentrate on buying your way out of Spark, finding the best tariff, and then finding somewhere with gas. Anything else is likely to end in tears. Once again, the sooner you realise all this and put it down to experience the easier your escape and future life will be.

Don't forget to come back and tell us how you get on !