Spark energy economy 7. Please help

Gerry1

There are two main problems.

• The daytime tariffs have been incredibly expensive, up to 23.1945p/kWh inc VAT.  He's been paying almost twice the rate I'm paying which is only 12.11343p per kWh.  Ditto the standing charge of 28.14p/day.  I'm paying 13.2825p.
  

• The original DD was set far too low at only £38 per month.  This wouldn't cover the usage on a good tariff' let alone a rip-off Spark tariff.  He's been topping up, but not sufficiently.

Whoever signed him up (or the previous tenant) to Spark should hang their head in shame.  I assume the flat is all electric and has night storage heaters?

Make sure the number on the meter is the same as on the bill.  Make sure it's his meter by switching everything off at the consumer unit for a few hours when it's dark and making sure the readings don't change and the red LED on the meter doesn't flash.

As a matter of urgency, go to the Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?' comparison sites, find out Spark's cheapest tariff and switch to it immediately.

He won't be able to leave Spark with such a debt.  It might be worth considering a bank overdradt, family loan etc to allow it to be cleared so that he can switch to the best tariff from a cheaper company.

Robin9

I assume all electric - is it storage rads or those slimline magic dust heaters or a big electric heater supplying what looks like conventional water filled radiators ?

Gerry1

He's been scammed by the opening meter readings, which are estimates.  They're both far too low, so he's been paying for the usage of the previous occupier or the landlord.

Wonder why the mysterious third party verification process didn't spot it?

Opening reading validation process

My opening reading is wrong

Anyway, that's what needs to be challenged.

katygeorge

Robin9 said:

I assume all electric - is it storage rads or those slimline magic dust heaters or a big electric heater supplying what looks like conventional water filled radiators ?

This. They look like perfectly normal radiators. His neigh-boroughs aint paying anything like this

Robin9

His DD is far too low at £38.    Between his reading in Nov 20 -  87924 and now 93185  costs £1000 day (31104 and 33479 night)  £300 = thats £1300 or £130 a month.   I take Gerry's point about unit rates but an all electric flat is not cheap whatevr your supplier and tariff and £38 is never going to be realistic

Can you try and send your photo again.

tim_p

katygeorge said:

His neigh-boroughs aint paying anything like this

I take it he’s confident he’s paying for the right meter (serial number matches the bill, done a kettle test with a friend) otherwise there could be a reason his neighbours aren’t paying anything like him (hint: he’s paying their bill)

Gerry1

tim_p said:

katygeorge said:

His neigh-boroughs aint paying anything like this

I take it he’s confident he’s paying for the right meter (serial number matches the bill, done a kettle test with a friend) otherwise there could be a reason his neighbours aren’t paying anything like him (hint: he’s paying their bill)

The figures aren't too bad once the opening readings scam has been corrected. After that's been sorted out and he's switched to a decent company and a sensible tariff he should then be OK.

katygeorge

so even though he isnt using the heating and is never there you think this is correct? 

tim_p

katygeorge said:

so even though he isnt using the heating and is never there you think this is correct? 

Remind us how he gets his hot water, is it an immersion heater?

katygeorge

tim_p said:

katygeorge said:

so even though he isnt using the heating and is never there you think this is correct? 

Remind us how he gets his hot water, is it an immersion heater?

He has a huge electric boiler. Dam near fills a airing cupboard so it could be. He says he will send me a photo of it tomorrow when he gets up for work.