Building up bebut

ClaireHucker

Hi. I moved into my new property just over a year ago and as i still had a contract with my supplier i kept using them. I should  have  change last July but had a new baby and thing went out the window. They have  sent me my yearly  statement (dont recall ever  getting  one before) and they qant to up my monthly gee from 86 to 155. I get  both gas and electric.
I started  to look into switching and what my balance  on my account was and apparently  i owe over £600. Monthly  i use £197. So even  with this price hike i wouldn't  be clearing what i owe  monthly let alone my existing debit and i cant afford to pay it all off now to transfer.
So question can they allow you to build ao much debut up without telling you? I had to look into my account to dind this out it wasnt on my statement
Is there anything i can do?

Thank you  
CH

Gerry1

Did you register with the existing supplier of the new property when you moved in?  If not, you probably were on a very expensive 'deemed' tariff.  What is your current tariff and what are the rates?

Stop thinking in monthly DD amounts, they're meaningless.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay

You must give monthly meter readings and find out your annual consumption in kWh (use this site to convert the gas volume to kWh), then start by using the Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?' sites to compare the annual costs of those kWh.

In the meantime, ask for a payment plan if they block a switch.

RelievedSheff

You also need to make sure your bills are based on actual readings not estimated readings. Have you been submitting meter readings?

Robin9

When you opt to manage your account online - that's what it means. Your bills will all be there and they will have a comment about your DD and tell you when it needs to be adjusted.  A good tip is to read your meters every month, send them to your suppliers and keep a very simple spreadsheet - it doesn't need to be accurate to the last penny. - so you know how thinks are going.

Read your meters today and give them to your supplier and get a corrected bill. 

PS Please do use a spell checker before you press that "send" button.  bebut had me guessing .

tempus_fugit

OP, it’s not up to the energy company to manage your energy usage and accounts, it’s up to you. Keep track of your own usage and how much it is costing you according to the tariff you are on, and then building up debts like this will be less likely to happen. 

Hasbeen

Robin9 said:

When you opt to manage your account online - that's what it means. Your bills will all be there and they will have a comment about your DD and tell you when it needs to be adjusted.  A good tip is to read your meters every month, send them to your suppliers and keep a very simple spreadsheet - it doesn't need to be accurate to the last penny. - so you know how thinks are going.

Read your meters today and give them to your supplier and get a corrected bill. 

PS Please do use a spell checker before you press that "send" button.  bebut had me guessing .

Bebut is credit?? Anyway it was the baby out of the window that got me? LOL.

Op: if on standard tariff it will be expensive. Have a look on your providers site and check if any better deals available. Read your meters every month and check there are no estimated readings on your online accounts.

Oops sorry, had another look and Bebut is debt? 

Robin9

"bebut" appears to be a sword or dagger. I think Claire means debt -  my point is that spelling, long paras etc can easily throw people off the thread.

Hasbeen

Robin9 said:

"bebut" appears to be a sword or dagger. I think Claire means debt -  my point is that spelling, long paras etc can easily throw people off the thread.

Yes had to look it up Russian dagger/Small sword. A lot of new posters etc use mobile phones to post. I have the same problem small buttons, big fingers. LOL

Cardew

ClaireHucker said:

Hi. I moved into my new property just over a year ago and as i still had a contract with my supplier i kept using them.

Thank you  
CH

I am not sure what you are implying by that statement.

Your contract with your supplier finished when you left the old property. You entered into a new 'deemd contract' with the company supplying your new property.

Assuming it was the same company(say British Gas) you will still be on their most expensive tariff, and unless you contacted them and gave them the meter readings, on the day you became responsible for the new house, they will use the closing meter readings for the previous occupant.