Overpayment

Victoria8254

So we bought a house and the previous owner was with Utility Warehouse so we stayed with the. We have only electric on the house and have solar panels. The meter was for night storage heaters but we didnt have those so I asked for the meter to be changed to wasnt. In the summer months we had no bill them november the bill was £300 and December £497 I asked to be put on a payment plan to pay the same monthly so in the summer we would be in credit. It was agreed £150. The first months bill was £135 the next lower again I asked why they weren't taking £150 was told they couldn't keep my money and I only had to pay for what I used.  The meter was finally changed in august 2019 and a smart meter installed. I checked in Oct they were receiving readings from. The smart meter. All ok so far.  I've had a bill every month which has always varied in price bit never more than £150 since aug which I've paid. Last week I receive a letter saying I owe £1500 plus VAT!!
Can this be right can anyone help. 

MWT

Forget what you wanted to pay, and forget what they were asking you to pay, go back to the meter reading when you moved in and the meter readings that you supplied to them (you did give them readings?). Check what you have actually used against what you have been billed for and look at those bills for the source of the reading the bill was based on, if they were all estimated readings ('E') then it is perfectly possible that you have built up a large debt by not giving them a real readings. Once you had the smart meter that should have fixed things though so something somewhere is wrong, but only you have the details needed to work it out. Take a good look at the bill that covers the period when the meter was changed, you should see a closing reading for the old meter, make sure that makes sense as it is a common area for errors.

MWT

Also check what period they are claiming you owe the money for as if it is over 12 months ago to correct a mistake they made you may be protected by the back-billing rules.

Cardew

You need to see how much electricity you have used(in kWh) and check that against your bill; using their tariff rates.

UW have some of the most expensive electricity rates on the market. What are you paying per kWh and are there any extras charged?

Having no bills in Summer, and bills in Nov/Dec of £300 and £497, and then 'only' £150 on a payment plan,  it is quite easy to see  how you have run up a debit balance of £1,500.

You need to ask them why was your payment plan inadequate. Do you know your UW agent i.e. the one who gets commission on your account! get him/her to do some work for their money and get it sorted.