SSE final bill & debt collection agency

radioj

Hi everyone. Last year I moved into a new flat and moved the electricity (no gas) over from SSE to Octopus. I wrote to SSE telling them this and they sent me an estimated bill for the 3 weeks the switchover took.

We're not talking much - £50. However, I was a bit confused that it was an estimated bill because I have a smart meter, so I spoke to Octopus and they raised a 'proposal' to update the meter readings with the actual ones.

Weeks went by and I received another bill from SSE for the estimated amount, so I contacted Octopus again and they said they are still waiting for SSE to accept the revised meter readings (which they provided me with).

Today I was contacted by a debt collection agency on behalf of SSE, with £20 slapped onto the original bill amount. I've contacted SSE to complain, but what on earth is going on? I'm more than happy to pay what I owe - just SSE seem to be completely useless at sending me the revised bill. I'd pay the original amount now if I had to, but I was under the impression the readings were being updated. I very much begrudge paying an extra £20.

TheMilkmansDad

go back to the beginning. Did you register with SSE and provide them open meter readings when you 1st mover in to open an account?

I'm confused by the "Telling SSE" part. 

If you initiated a Switch to Octopus then Octopus would have requested your meter reading when they officially took over. That reading would have then been sent over (by Octopus) to SSE for them to prepare your final bill. 

Is this what happened timeline wise in your case? If not, can you clarify.

radioj

I don't think it quite worked like that. On the day I moved in I provided SSE with my details and the meter readings, and also said that I was changing supplier. One month later they emailed me to apologise for the delay and say that they'd set me up an account and would send me a final bill. I received this in December but with estimated readings (from the day I moved in to the day of the switchover).

*EDIT - sorry*

At this point, I phoned SSE asking why the readings were estimated. They said if I spoke to Octopus, they could provide them with the actual readings. So I did this and Octopus confirmed they had raised this 'proposal' with SSE to update the readings just before Christmas. However all I received in January was a chaser for the original amount, and now the debt collection communications.

Octopus' email on 24th December:

"Thanks for getting in touch.

We have not received the validated meter reading for electricity, we have raised a proposal for this to be agreed at your meter readings of 1968.0 and 5593.0. Once the old supplier agrees this with us it will be validated and your bill issued.

Warmest Wishes,

Karen 🐙"

However nothing seemed to happen.