Over spend on energy

marshalltim

Hi there all our energy was charging us a set amount for every month but know iv just been sent a bill for £700 pound extra for over use .why dont the energy companies tell you this when you join them and what is the point of keep switching because when I phoned them they said they all do it is this right .we are struggling as it is what with COVID and having 3 kids now it looks like will have to get in more det just to get over xmas so unfair is this right .any help would be appreciated thanks to you all .

Robin9

First of all have a close look at your bill - is it based on ESTIMATED readings ? (look for the letter E against the meter readings)

Now read your your meters and do some simple sums.

You do seem to be assuming that your DD is an all you can eat figure - it isn't - it is purely a contribution to a kitty. Use more than was guessed at the beginning of your fix and you pay more.  What annual consumption did you give Our Energy when you started.

Have you been reading your meters and looking at your bills ?

Neil_Jones

marshalltim said:

Hi there all our energy was charging us a set amount for every month but know iv just been sent a bill for £700 pound extra for over use .why dont the energy companies tell you this when you join them and what is the point of keep switching because when I phoned them they said they all do it is this right .we are struggling as it is what with COVID and having 3 kids now it looks like will have to get in more det just to get over xmas so unfair is this right .any help would be appreciated thanks to you all .

Almost certainly going to be a classic case of direct debit was too low in the first place and/or meters have not been read.  From the use of "over use" I suspect the former.

Need to get some bills out and proceed as above.

Robin9

marshalltim said:

..............our energy.....................

I initially read this as the name of the supplier being "Our Energy". Now I am not so sure as I think OE is an american supplier. @marshalltim  - can you give us the name of the supplier -  and is this gas and electric ?  How much was your DD and the annual consumption you gave to the supplier ?

marshalltim

iv just found out from the other half its more complicated then first thought apparently the energy company haven't  reviewed our account at all and they are dealing with it .but i will say we have had an on going argument with all suppliers about out meter since we moved in about 5 years ago the house was on A7 .since been changed but our bill now is going to be about 150 a month dose this sound right iv got the right hump about it im running round after the kids turning everything of poor kids sitting downstairs with there coats and gloves on freezing .

Robin9

Do you mean E7 ?

Give us some actual meter readings please 

tim_p

How much were you paying before you say it went up to £150 /month??  

Is it gas and electric or all electric?
More info needed. 

marshalltim

just had a look we are on due energy reading is 06970 kw I think this is it 

Robin9

marshalltim said:

just had a look we are on due energy reading is 06970 kw I think this is it 

By itself that means nothing. 

I assume that is a reading from today --   if you have E7 there will be two readings. 
A copy of your first bill from your supplier showing the meter readings and a copy of your latest will help. Remember to blank out the personal info.

Hasbeen

marshalltim said:

Hi there all our energy was charging us a set amount for every month but know iv just been sent a bill for £700 pound extra for over use .why dont the energy companies tell you this when you join them and what is the point of keep switching because when I phoned them they said they all do it is this right .we are struggling as it is what with COVID and having 3 kids now it looks like will have to get in more det just to get over xmas so unfair is this right .any help would be appreciated thanks to you all .

The Direct Debit you pay every month is not an all you can use. It goes into the kitty to help pay your usage. You either end up in credit or debit.

The "energy company cannot tell you this"? if you decide to use more energy for whatever reason.

If its truly a £700 catch up bill, then you can arrange a payment plan with them. They will increase the D/D accordingly.
Is this for Gas, Electric or both? i am assuming all electric house, so will be expensive.

Are you continually switching just to get a cheaper D/D? When you switch do you enter your yearly consumption ?

Are you still on E7 you said it had been changed?

Do you give regular monthly readings to the supplier?

Please post your bills from a year ago and now. Showing readings, that's the ones with the numbers and pence against them.

Gerry1

Tell us about your heating and hot water.   Avoid instantaneous electric showers which are mega-expensive, especially on E7 which has a day rate higher than single rate.  If you use immersion heaters (and you shouldn't if you have gas) make sure the lower one only comes on overnight and that the upper one is always left switched off except for occasional (very expensive) use if you run out of hot water during the day.