Possible loophole problem?

tinabillings

Hi. I am really hoping I am wrong or the information I've been given is.
On a group I belong to people have been discussing their concerns about the energy price rises.

Several people so far have reported receiving bills despite being a pay as you go meter customer.

When they question this, their company has told them it is because they haven't topped up weekly so the bill is for the standing charge.

Firstly I've never topped up weekly or had a bill so something sounds not right.

Secondly I'm now concerned about people with the old style meters who may want to top up large amounts in March to take advantage of the loophole as advised by Martin. Are they going to find themselves with a standing charge bill?

Can anyone advise on this or make sense of it?
It is more than 1 company so far Eon and Scottish Power. 

Thankyou

Verdigris

I though pre-payment meters deducted the standing charge, each day, if there is credit on the meter. Perhaps these people have left the meter for so long that their credit gets gobbled up on backdated daily charges before they can use any energy? If they carry on not loading the meter I guess the supplier is entitled to seperately bill for what they are owed.

Just because you aren't using energy it doesn't mean you're exempt from the daily charge for having a supply. It's the same for people with normal accounts.

superkoopauk

The standing charge will count down but as long as you haven't topped up since 1st April it will count down at the old rate saving you a lot for each day you don't need to top up.

As per Martin's article only Scottish Power backbill and he was going to raise that with Ofgem

tinabillings

Sorry should have added these people say they all had credit on their meters and received a paper bill 

MWT

tinabillings said:

Sorry should have added these people say they all had credit on their meters and received a paper bill 

That doesn't make much sense, the only time that would normally happen is at the end of a tenancy for example where the billing is reconciled.

Otherwise the standing charge just gets deducted from he credit on the meter.

EssexHebridean

Have you actually seen evidence of any of these bills? If not then this could be a "my brother's best mate's cousin met a chap down the pub who said his Mum's best friend's sisters dog had this happen" situation - often better known as Chinese whispers. 

Verdigris

People will believe any old pony, these days.