Sse electric bill for shop excessively high?

rowdy75

I’ve just asked her and no I don’t think she did raise a formal complaint.

Ive not cycled through readings (didn’t know you can) and have left the building so won’t be able to for a few days.

What my wife did say was the bill up until the old meter was changed in July was paid. This was after sse took two lots of dd, and was told by them to cancel the dd. They told her not to pay anything for three months as the smart meter was being fitted and a correct bill would be generated, but it hasn’t been and an extortionate amount was billed and a bailiff (my wife said she was a bailiff) arrived with the letter.

rowdy75

Just to add the bills up until July had been amended, as each one was anything from 6 to 9 thousand, but each time dropped to around £800.
The 21p per unit has not been charged, they have charged £1.71 a unit because they have always deemed our arrears meant we have been in breach of contract.

BooJewels

I think I've read all of the thread, but apologies if I've missed it, but when the meter was changed, they should have left a card or sticker with the meter that gives the index of the removed meter and the starting read of the new one, usually 00000 with a brand new meter, plus the date.

That would allow you to work out what you'd used on the old meter, then continuing from that date on the new one.  The bills are showing estimated readings in the 7000s and the new meter is at 341?  So that suggests that they're estimating from the old meter reads and not getting reads from the new one.

And how is the night usage estimate less than the previous bill?  If you've only used 341kWh since the meter was installed, that would give rise to a bill since then of just over £120 - depending on when the meter was installed (I.e the standing charge would differ).

If you've got the card with the previous meter closing reading, plus your tariff, it should be easy enough to work out your bill.

Jyana

It doesn't look as though SSE think that recent bills are paid, due to the £7,623.52 debt previous to November. If they are estimating that you are using £1,300 odd a month, then that puts you at around a 6 month debt with them before this November bill, so way before July. 

One odd thing on the bill I have just noticed, the night units appear to have gone down in number, from previous reading of 1703 to current reading of 1544. Then they have counted this as being 1544 units used. Can someone confirm this, I've had a mad day and feel a bit fried, so am questioning what I'm seeing?! 

BooJewels

I posted the same @Jyana - I also just commented on the backwards night readings.

Jyana

BooJewels said:

I posted the same @Jyana - I also just commented on the backwards night readings.

Cheers BooJewels, I saw after I pressed post, so felt more confident that it wasn't just my frazzled mind! 

rowdy75

I really don’t know about the night meter readings. I’m at a loss with most of it to be honest, but everything is switched off at the wall so there shouldn’t be any night time usage at all.

Nothing was paid from July when the previous balance was paid until now, as we were told not to as the smart meter would generate an accurate bill for us to pay for the next quarter, but as you can see this has not been the case and they appear to have estimated it wrongly again.

rowdy75

What I can confirm is the text my wife received yesterday asking for a meter reading did have the meter number on it which corresponds with the actual number on the meter so we know that’s right.

BooJewels

@rowdy75 - there are a lot of very knowledgeable people in this forum who are happy to help people and are trying to help you to unravel this - getting good data to send to SSE to put your point is going to be vital.  Saying that 'you're billing us too much' isn't going to get you anywhere.

I've been reading it as it has gone along and it feels a bit like pulling teeth - we need information in order to get to the nub of the problem, to give you a strong case to put to them, or later maybe, to the ombudsman.

Help us to help you by answering some of the questions, then we might get to the bottom of it.  At the very least, you need to supply them with meter readings, so that you can at least eliminate erroneous estimates.  Start by getting a little notebook and taking a meter reading when you arrive each morning and you lock up at night - to both satisfy yourself and maybe prove to SSE that the meter doesn't change overnight - likewise when the shop is closed.   A pattern established after a couple of weeks will be useful data.

I say this as a previous shop keeper who had to do the same after buying the business from a woman must have been a reptile who kept the place implausibly hot - so they didn't initially believe my much lower readings.  

Robin9

O to be a fly on the wall and look at those two installations.

This is so confusing that I wonder if SSE and @rowdy75 are talking about the same premise . I am really thinking that the two supplies are well and truly mixed up and have been ever since the premise was split - I know @rowdy75 that you say BG have always got their billing right but it just could be that their data is also wrong.

@rowdy75 write (by snail mail) a letter to SSE headed COMPLAINT.  Keep the content simple quote dates, MPAN, photo of meter.  Give the info for both the Salon and the Gift Shop.  Keep emotion out of it.

If the account is in your wife's name then she should write.

Don't waste your time on Customer Services - if there is a fundamental error then they can't help.  Don't waste your time phoning