Big Energy company SSE charging hugh amounts of money in final bill once you've switched

Hellibobs31

I have received my final duel fuel Gas and Electric bills from SSE after switching to a different (small energy company) and the bills are huge.  I switched to SSE through USwitch as I do once the energy company I am with starts charging it's normal rates and I have always used small energy companies and I have never had this issue with them.  But the last large energy company I was with, Npower, did a similar thing and caused me a lot of stress and problems. I should have known better than to join a large energy company.  Is there any way I can get some advice on how best to deal with this?

MWT

First check that the final bill is using the meter readings that you gave to your new supplier.

If the readings are correct then you are probably dealing with debt you have accumulated during your time with SSE, or a previous under-estimate of usage.

Look at your previous bill from SSE, does it use estimated readings? ... does it show that you have been accumulating an unpaid balance?

JJ_Egan

Bill  and meter readings are the key .

If you had a big bill then you where not paying enough on your Direct Debit to cover usage ,and probably not giving frequent meter readings .

Applies to  big or small suppliers .

[Deleted User]

Hi,

were you paying by monthly direct debit, and supplying regular/monthly meter readings?

Talldave

Small energy companies tend to be quite on the ball at getting regular meter readings, so that big debts don't build up.  Is your issue that SSE are trying to charge you for energy you didn't use, or just that they want paying for what you used and had been under-paying for? If it's the latter, you've had a great interest free credit deal on energy and it's now time to pay up.

Robin9

Hellibobs = as Npower did a similar thing it suggests to me (and others above) that you have been underpaying.

Can you give us more info please - Actual readings of about 12 months ago and todays reading  and what your DD was?

For this latest swop what info did you give them - actual annual consumption (as calculated by you), number of beds, type of heating etc ?

PS Separate suppliers is generally cheaper than dual fuel.

Gerry1

If your company lets you pay by Variable Direct Debit you won't get any huge debts building up, and you'll soon know if you're using more than expected.  However, it does mean higher bills in the winter so it may not suit everyone.

molerat

Been an energy tart for years and never once received an unexpected large bill.  I did get into around £700 debt once but I knew it and the money was in a high interest account - if they didn't want it back urgently why should I offer it to them.

burntwood

Hellibobs31 said:

I have received my final duel fuel Gas and Electric bills from SSE after switching to a different (small energy company) and the bills are huge.  I switched to SSE through USwitch as I do once the energy company I am with starts charging it's normal rates and I have always used small energy companies and I have never had this issue with them.  But the last large energy company I was with, Npower, did a similar thing and caused me a lot of stress and problems. I should have known better than to join a large energy company.  Is there any way I can get some advice on how best to deal with this?

Welcome to MSE.

In what way are you thinking you want to deal with it?

e.g. if you are having difficulty with paying, I suggest you post over on the Debt Free Wannabe board.
if you are wishing to dispute the bill, on what basis?
if you don't understand the bill, please post a full copy of the bill and the previous one you received (remove personally identifiable info first)
etc, etc.

The size of a supplier has little bearing in the process used to bill you - they are all usually follow a very similar processes (except some odd small suppliers are making up new rulkes that they decide to follow). The only difference really in most cases is the tariff you pay.
 

Hasbeen

Hellibobs31 said:

  But the last large energy company I was with, Npower, did a similar thing and caused me a lot of stress and problems.

What was the reason you had a similar thing? and what did you learn from it, to avoid similar in future?

Robin9

Hasbeen said:

Hellibobs31 said:

  But the last large energy company I was with, Npower, did a similar thing and caused me a lot of stress and problems.

What was the reason you had a similar thing? and what did you learn from it, to avoid similar in future?

Agreed - my concern would be that you might be making a fundamental mistake which you are carrying onto your new supplier.