The right to switch companies

[Deleted User]

Did a comparison and wanted to switch my gas/elec and present supplier is blocking.  I have disputed that I owe them what they say, they are ignoring my emails to sort this out but quick to inform they are doubling my monthly payment and after no further contact have taken their new payment without my agreement and still can’t switch 

Robin9

Have you the last bill ?   Does the last meter reading have a letter E for ESTIMATED against it.  

Read your meter now and give the reading to your supplier and get a revised bill.  

[Deleted User]

They put a smart meter in and very difficult to read plus always breaking down.  Cannot take normal readings as no figures on old meters now.   Bills where showing we were using on average £20 less that previous monthly DD so we disputed that we owed anything when it should be other way round.  As they are ignoring all communication but have increased monthly DD how can we actually leave this company or is there someone we can report them to for more assistance 

Robin9

Ignore the In House Display (IHD)  toy that sits in your kitchen - that's not the Smart meter.

Read the meter itself  - the one that's in the garage or an outdoor meter box.   Watch out for the decimal point - if it has a small key pad press button 9

The new meter will have a sticker on it that gives the old meter reading. The new meter initial reading will probably be 0.

[Deleted User]

There are no figures on the original meters, they disappeared when they gave us this miniature box which shows when we are using supply and how much it costing daily.  As I know how to take readings and work out the cost from old meters so always had monthly bills spot on but this contraption does not allow me to do that so can’t check my readings with theirs.  I will try again to ask for a final bill but not holding my breath for a reply.  Just don’t want to stay with a company who in my opinion is ripping me off and holding me to ransom 

Gerry1

As Robin9 previously stated, read the meters ON THE WALL.

[Deleted User]

And as said there are no readings on the meters in the garage, they done something with them when giving us this other contraption.  I know how to read a meter, done it for years to work out my bills to compare with bills but there is no reading to take as everything is suppose be done through this contraption which is also suppose to give them updates.  My main problem is supplier not answering any form of communication but seems it right to increase DD and block switch to another company.  Who can I go to for assistance as obviously I don’t want to stay with them.  I switch every year for better deal and this first time had this problem and first time with one of these contraptions.  Been advised to cancel DD which will prob make them contact me.

Robin9

Don't cancel the DD - 

Photo the meter please .

Robin9

Tricia58 said:

..................., they done something with them when giving us this other contraption.......

Is there a button A or B to press to liven up the screen ?

mac.d

Tricia58 said:

And as said there are no readings on the meters in the garage, they done something with them when giving us this other contraption.  I know how to read a meter, done it for years to work out my bills to compare with bills but there is no reading to take as everything is suppose be done through this contraption which is also suppose to give them updates.  My main problem is supplier not answering any form of communication but seems it right to increase DD and block switch to another company.  Who can I go to for assistance as obviously I don’t want to stay with them.  I switch every year for better deal and this first time had this problem and first time with one of these contraptions.  Been advised to cancel DD which will prob make them contact me.

There will be readings on the actual meters, you just need to figure out how to get them, and if you post photos, some helpful people on here should be able to tell you how to view them. The "contraption" is an In-House Display (IHD) and should only be used as an approximate guide to how much energy you are using, you need the actual readings from the meters.

If you owe your current supplier money, they have every right to block your switch, therefore you need to check your previous bills, and your most recent bill to make sure they are billing you from actual readings or estimates. If it's actual readings, then you'll have to sort out paying them what you owe, once you've done that, then you can switch to another supplier and try to get a better deal.

If you've done all that and have problems contacting them or getting a corrected and up to date bill,you can raise a complaint with them and see if that forces them into action. But don't cancel your DD, you are still consuming energy and have to pay for it, so if you stop paying, you're just going to owe them even more money, trash your credit worthiness, and make it difficult for yourself to get another supplier to take you on.

[Deleted User]

Online bills are showing overpaid on average  £20 month (ie DD £52, usage £30/£34) so don’t see how owe them, certainly during summer months and everyone in household are all key workers during pandemic.  We have tried asking for updated bills, complaints made re money owed, sent them photos of reading on contraption as requested to which not acknowledged, etc all to no avail.  Now they doubling DD with no reasonable explanation and I work with figures daily so I’m not naive or stupid when working bills out, done it all my life.  If they can prove bills are right have no issue paying so we can switch.  Some has suggested ombudsman so think that might be something to consider, they might get a response because we certainly not.