Issues with billing when switching providers

COLIN_in_NOTTS

Anyone else had issues like these?

After the demise of Yorkshire energy last December, my account was transferred to Scottish Power as directed by the authorities.

However, my initial billing was incorrect, as the meter readings provided were wrongly transfered. Also, not being happy with their annoyingly slow responses online and by phone, I have since moved on to another provider. Again, my initial billing was incorrect - again due to meter readings being wrongly transfered. My original Yorkshire Energy account was in credit, and after my final bill with Scottish Power has finally been made available, (after over a month of waiting), the credited amount is around half of what it should have been. I hope that my new provider will be more efficient.

jbuchanangb

The important thing is that the meter readings used for the final SP bill, and those for the start of billing with your new supplier are (a)  both the same, and (b) accurate to what you provided the latest supplier. If there is a credit balance SP must pay it back to you. If there is a debit you must pay it. I have just instigated switches from SP dual fuel tariff to two separate suppliers, one for electricity and one for gas. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, particularly as I am equipped with SP's SMETS1 smart meters.

groggyboy

Hi I have a question about smart meters. My in-laws asked me to look at their energy bills for them and when I looked into their account I discovered that they were £320 in credit yet their bills have not gone down to reflect this. I myself have just started a switch to another supplier and been told I have to have smart meters but looking at my In-laws account this puts me off. how can they have so much credit on the account? I thought smart meters are supposed to make your bill accurate? they have obviously been over paying

niktheguru

groggyboy said:

Hi I have a question about smart meters. My in-laws asked me to look at their energy bills for them and when I looked into their account I discovered that they were £320 in credit yet their bills have not gone down to reflect this. I myself have just started a switch to another supplier and been told I have to have smart meters but looking at my In-laws account this puts me off. how can they have so much credit on the account? I thought smart meters are supposed to make your bill accurate? they have obviously been over paying

Their bills will be accurate if on a smart meter.....but whether they are in credit or debit will depend upon if they have a "fixed direct debit" or a "variable direct debit". If a fixed direct debit then a specified amount is agreed in advance based on annual consumption estimates. It usually means you're in credit during the summer and it balances itself out in winter. However if you use less energy or if the estimates were overestimated to start with you could end up with a credit balance. Most energy companies will review this once or twice a year and adjust your direct debit accordingly. Most will NOT refund the credit to you automatically. (but will refund it if you ask for it back, some have this facility on their website such as british gas, others you need to call or email), they will just reduce the direct debit to a point that it should even itself out over the next few months.

Some providers are more proactive at reviewing direct debits than others.
If you have a variable direct debit, then you should just be paying the exact amount you owe automatically.

Having a smart meter vs a traditional meter shouldn't directly change this. It just means you will have more accurate bills, but doesn't necessarily change the direct debit payments. (similarly to if you have a traditional meter and give regular meter readings.....however if you have a traditional meter, dont give readings and the utility company bases your usage on estimates your direct debits can be WAY OFF.)
Whether or not you have a smart meter you should ALWAYS be checking your bills that come through the post or on your online account, just to check billing is ACTUAL (not estimated) and that your usage isn't putting your account in significant debit or credit. It literally takes one minute to check this, i'm so surprised people just ignore it.

Bobbymax

Be aware that if, like me, you're a former Yorkshire Energy customer who has ditched Scottish Power as soon as was humanly possible, you might get a much bigger final bill than anticipated. Having not asked for a meter reading nor issued a bill in the three months since they took over the account (and only took a payment when it apparently suited them), they've worked out that I've been averaging almost £190 a month in energy consumption. My new fixed deal sees me paying out much less than half! I know it's winter but, seriously, that Energy Exclusive tariff is clearly a right earner and I got £180 refund from YE within that!

[Deleted User]

groggyboy said:

Hi I have a question about smart meters. My in-laws asked me to look at their energy bills for them and when I looked into their account I discovered that they were £320 in credit yet their bills have not gone down to reflect this. I myself have just started a switch to another supplier and been told I have to have smart meters but looking at my In-laws account this puts me off. how can they have so much credit on the account? I thought smart meters are supposed to make your bill accurate? they have obviously been over paying

A smart meter is a meter. Yes, it will result in accurate bills but without a supplier account review process it will not necessarily result in DD payment adjustments UNLESS the account has been set up to pay on quarterly usage.

FWiW, I have SMETS2 smart meters and I am with Octopus Energy. Rather than wait for the supplier to take action I review, and adjust, my monthly DD payment online when I receive my monthly statement. 

[Deleted User]

Bobbymax said:

Be aware that if, like me, you're a former Yorkshire Energy customer who has ditched Scottish Power as soon as was humanly possible, you might get a much bigger final bill than anticipated. Having not asked for a meter reading nor issued a bill in the three months since they took over the account (and only took a payment when it apparently suited them), they've worked out that I've been averaging almost £190 a month in energy consumption. My new fixed deal sees me paying out much less than half! I know it's winter but, seriously, that Energy Exclusive tariff is clearly a right earner and I got £180 refund from YE within that!

Do not fall  into the trap of assuming that a lower monthly DD payment means lower bills. Your monthly payment just goes into a Piggy Bank and charges for actual usage based on your agreed tariff are deducted from it. Do your own calculations. Look at your annual usage and tariff to work out an annual consumption. 

Bobbymax

[Deleted User] said:

Bobbymax said:

Be aware that if, like me, you're a former Yorkshire Energy customer who has ditched Scottish Power as soon as was humanly possible, you might get a much bigger final bill than anticipated. Having not asked for a meter reading nor issued a bill in the three months since they took over the account (and only took a payment when it apparently suited them), they've worked out that I've been averaging almost £190 a month in energy consumption. My new fixed deal sees me paying out much less than half! I know it's winter but, seriously, that Energy Exclusive tariff is clearly a right earner and I got £180 refund from YE within that!

Do not fall  into the trap of assuming that a lower monthly DD payment means lower bills. Your monthly payment just goes into a Piggy Bank and charges for actual usage based on your agreed tariff are deducted from it. Do your own calculations. Look at your annual usage and tariff to work out an annual consumption. 

Yep, took all that into account. The point I'm trying to make is that we were advised not to switch away from SP until the YE refund came through. That took three months, in that time we've been clobbered by the double whammy of the coldest time of the year and SP's inflated tariffs. I really can't see why people don't do anything when they are being taken to the cleaners by these companies!

JJ_Egan

Must be on switch number 20 now and never ever had any problems . Meter readings before and after and monthly .

DD i  know its an estimate so expect credit/ or need to increase due to weather etc .

Credit owing always within two weeks of asking .