Worried

Sarah69

My gas/electricity deal is due to finish and I’m worried at what they will be expecting me to pay. I’m already in about £1,500 of debt with them and I pay £130 per month. I really have no extra money I can put towards a more expensive direct debit. Is there any help for a full time worker? 

Robin9

£400 in instalments starting in October.

What is your actual annual consumption ?

pochase

If you are in debt by £1500 your real payment per month should be £255. And that does not take into account that you should be well in credit in late summer.

£3000 even at last years SVT would make you an extreme user.

macman

Did you get the £150 C Tax rebate on Bands D to D?
As above, it sounds as if your current DD is not covering current consumption, so tell us your kWh usage and tariff.

EssexHebridean

Hi Sarah - it sounds like you're doing the right thing trying to get in control of your situation quickly. You're absolutely right that the increasing prices are going to give you a problem - and the sooner you know the extent of that, the sooner you can see what can be done to tackle it. 

I'd suggest that as well as chatting over here about your use/costs it might also be a good idea to pop over to the Debt Free Wannabe board and complete your SOA (Statement of Affairs) - there is a link in my signature to one of the calculators we recommend. Fill it in as openly and honestly as you can - make sure it reflects your real income and outgoings not what you think you "should" be spending. Use the "Format for MSE" option then copy and paste into a new thread on DFW and we can cast an eye over it and see if we can spot any savings you might have missed in your monthly budget. 

Sarah69

pochase said:

If you are in debt by £1500 your real payment per month should be £255. And that does not take into account that you should be well in credit in late summer.

£3000 even at last years SVT would make you an extreme user.

I don’t have that sort of money to pay each month! This is mostly electric and I don’t know how it could be that much. I have queried it with my energy supplier and they say it’s correct. I have never been with an energy company and not been in credit by the end of summer. 

Sarah69

macman said:

Did you get the £150 C Tax rebate on Bands D to D?
As above, it sounds as if your current DD is not covering current consumption, so tell us your kWh usage and tariff.

Yes I received that. 

How do I find this out consumption etc? 

The_Fat_Controller

Your annual consumption should be on the bottom of your bills, it will say "estimated" but is based on you last 12 months usage.

pochase

Do you submit regular meter readings?

Take two bills 12 months apart and give us the meter readings on both bills. The difference will be your usage. It is important that this are real readings and not estimated.

Please also give us the meter reads for you latest bill, tell us from then the bill is and read the meters today and give us the readings.

Your reaction lets me assume you might be billed on estimates.

Snwps

Sarah69 said:

 I have never been with an energy company and not been in credit by the end of summer. 

I'm the same, it can depend on when you switch or set up your contract. For example I was switched to BG when my previous supplier when bust in September. Due to this my annual contract runs September to September. So I always start off on the back foot, in using more energy than my DD is covering and running up a small debt. Then as spring comes it flips over and by the time summer is here my DD is eating away at the debit balance to bring back to zero by the end of the contract come September. 

I think running up a credit during summer is for those who start their contract early spring. So they're starting off paying more DD than their usage. 

I've not seen this mentioned on the forums. Its aways said that you should build up a credit in summer. I am trying to do this now by way overpaying and BG is telling me I'm going to be a few hundred in credit at the end of my plan. I hope they keep it for winter and dont refund me (I bet there's not many that say that). 

However, back to OP post, the amount you're in debit points to the fact your DD dont cover your usage (as mentioned in previous posts).

PennyForThem_2

Sarah69 - get in touch with your supplier, give them the actual readings direct from your meters.  Tell them you are struggling to pay and be honest with them how much you can afford to pay.  

They should work out a plan for you.  

Also do what EssexHebridean suggests