Opus energy - An absolute nightmare!

Robin9

@bravo93 Could you post a copy of his bill - blank out the personal info and account details but make sure you include the MPAN 

MWT

Unfortunately the essentially unregulated business energy market is full of people not averse to recording calls and building up enough 'yes' answers over a number of different questions to represent that they gave full disclosure and received a committent to proceed.

Genuine businesses get caught by this all the time and end up in long highly expensive contracts with exit fees in the thousands.

There are genuine energy brokers who have made a business out of challenging these border-line fraudulent operators and getting real businesses out of the contracts and into a normal business deal.

Gerry1

@Robin9 @bravo93 Best not to quote the whole of the S number because that uniquely identifies the customer.  Omitting the eight-digit number on the lower line will anonymise it sufficiently.

bravo93

Here is his latest bill... I cannot begin to understand how he can even be using that amount of electricity!

QrizB

Can you read his meter and confirm the numbers?

Notwithstanding that, he's clearly being charged 20% VAT not 5%. The sooner you call their "complaints" number the better (the 0800 630 0841 one).

PS the meter number is still visible on that page under "charges on this bill".

bravo93

QrizB said:

Can you read his meter and confirm the numbers?

Notwithstanding that, he's clearly being charged 20% VAT not 5%. The sooner you call their "complaints" number the better (the 0800 630 0841 one).

PS the meter number is still visible on that page under "charges on this bill".

The 'import' says 12,549... which i'm guessing is the amount used since the smart meter was installed (8th April 2021)?
then it says £22.51.. which is what he's consumed today?
It seems an awful lot..

Gerry1

Just the standing charge of £1.51 per day is more than the cost of most people's entire electricity bill ! 

Given that the readings are 'Actual' implies that it's someone else's meter.  Have you checked that the serial number on the meter is the same as that on the bill?

Robin9

Do double check the serial numbers of the meter itself and that shown on the bill. It is actually addressed to him isn't it ?

I would miss out Customer Services and write - don't phone Direct of Services at the address given. Stick to the facts and leave emotion out of it. 

Opus have got some explaining to do -  

niktheguru

I know the meter has been changed but do you have his old bulb bills. How much was he using then. What was his estimated annual usage.
You need to put a complaint in ASAP. He is paying over £400 per month just in charges and VAT, not even including elec costs. It is outrageous. If opus cant solve it he needs to go to the ombudsman.
In terms of his dementia, do you have a clinical diagnosis or do you just think he's getting forgetful. As documentary evidence of dementia would also help your case.

Do go and check his set up. How is the heating set up, what has he got on during the day. Where do the cables from the "meter" go. Are they just to his house, or to other houses or floors. Is his meter in his property or in a communal area. Can you provide a picture of the meter and consumer unit?

bravo93

niktheguru said:

I know the meter has been changed but do you have his old bulb bills. How much was he using then. What was his estimated annual usage.
You need to put a complaint in ASAP. He is paying over £400 per month just in charges and VAT, not even including elec costs. It is outrageous. If opus cant solve it he needs to go to the ombudsman.
In terms of his dementia, do you have a clinical diagnosis or do you just think he's getting forgetful. As documentary evidence of dementia would also help your case.

Do go and check his set up. How is the heating set up, what has he got on during the day. Where do the cables from the "meter" go. Are they just to his house, or to other houses or floors. Is his meter in his property or in a communal area. Can you provide a picture of the meter and consumer unit?

His Bulb bills were all between £300-350 a month and he was with them for 2 years until September. He doesn't have gas and there's a small pool in the garden which costs about £5 a day. He hasn't turned that on since last September though...