Shell Energy - Payment Plan for Debt

Dinky1975

Hi - Shell Energy has taken over from Green Energy on which I was making payments of £100 a month for Gas and Electric.  I have now ben told that I have an outstanding debt circa £2182.  I rang and spoke to someone who changed me to a better tariff (Energy August 2021 V4) during this I explained that I was only able to continue making these payments as my husband is unable to work due to disability, as only my wage coming in.  He said he would put the proposal through and that they would be in touch.  They declined the payment plan to continue and now expect me to pay £153.13 for usage and £57.00 a month repaying the outstanding balance totalling £210.13 a month.  I have done a quick check and can save with other suppliers but Shell have told me I am unable to switch until my balance is below £200?  Don't get me wrong I know I need to pay my outstanding balance and have asked if we can review my account again in 6 months as the occupants in my home will be going down to 2 from 5, but Shell have refused.  I also wondered whether anyone has queried the billing?  I hardly use Gas and yet the bill is so high, especially given the recent hot weather I have not used any at all and yet I am being charged?  They have suggested putting in a pre-payment meter which I don't want as don't have any spare funds to keep it topped up, all my bills go out when I get paid at the end of the month and that's it.  We do not qualify for any benefit help to assist bills we have tried.  Any help/advice would be appreciated?  Please be kind I have depression and anxiety and this is worry doesn't help Thankyou

RelievedSheff

To have racked up a £2k bill you have clearly been underpaying for a long time.

I am going to assume that you have not been submitting regular meter readings to your supplier?

You need to take regular meter readings, submit them to your supplier so that your bills are based on actual readings not estimated readings and keep a log of your readings yourself so that you can see how much energy you are using.

You won't be using much gas now but during the winter months you will be using a lot more. Splitting the cost equally over 12 months means that you underpay during the winter and over pay during the summer but over the 12 month period the payments equal out.

Have you checked yourself that the tariff you have been put on is the cheapest that they can offer you?

Robin9

Lets see if we can check that the £2k is correct.

Can you look back on your bills until you find one that has a letter A for ACTUAL against the meter readings. What were the readings  and how much did you owe at that time . What are the readings today ?

EDIT and tell us a bit about your property - semi, flat, modern, Victorian, number of beds, heating ...............................

Gerry1

Send both meter readings today.  Also post photographs so that we can check the readings are correct.  Check that the serial number on the meter is the same as on the bill.  If it's a flat, switch off at the meters and make sure that you don't still have gas or electricity coming through, that would mean that you're paying for someone else's usage.