Help understanding bill back dating

nickwol

I recently sent my energy company my customer readings for gas and electric, admittedly, I hadn't done this for a while, so I was fully expecting to be charged accordingly for the outstanding. (I will use my gas example here as its easier to explain, but I had the same outcome with my electric also), with my gas reading, for arguments sake, lets say the estimated end reading for the previous month was 7149, I then send in a reading of 7171, I was assuming I would be charged for the cost of the 22 units used from their estimated reading to my customer reading (taking into account that, each previous month, the unit cost of their estimated reading was deducted from my balance and all of their readings followed on in sequence with no breaks), however, when I got my bill, they had re-adjusted my bills going back to January, charging me an additional £30 to what the cost of the 22 units would have been. When I questioned this they stated that, my actual reading suggested I was using more gas than they had previously estimated so they needed to re-adjust my previous bills (this is not my monthly payment plan, this adjustment is to what they deduct from my balance). Can anyone please explain to me how this can be done, taking into account that my end reading hasn't changed, they seem to be charging me for gas I haven't used.

molerat

Surely if they have recalculated and backdated use it would be at cheaper rates than a catch up bill charged at current more expensive rates ?

Brie

Tell them they have estimated incorrectly and that you just want to pay the correct amount, not their imaginary one.   It's to be expected that you are using a lot more energy than normal given the very cold weather we've been having.  

If they are still resistant ask to be put on an actual DD payment not one based on an estimated year's use.  That way you can submit a reading each month and then pay exactly for what you have used, not what they think you might use.  Payments will obviously be higher in the winter than summer but that might not be objectionable to you.

[Deleted User]

Brie said:

Tell them they have estimated incorrectly and that you just want to pay the correct amount, not their imaginary one.   It's to be expected that you are using a lot more energy than normal given the very cold weather we've been having.  

If they are still resistant ask to be put on an actual DD payment not one based on an estimated year's use.  That way you can submit a reading each month and then pay exactly for what you have used, not what they think you might use.  Payments will obviously be higher in the winter than summer but that might not be objectionable to you.

What makes you say that? If an actual meter reading is provided and accepted, then the supplier will either ignore all previous estimates or change the estimated readings for the dates when the tariff changed (eg; 1st April and the 1st October for those on the Ofgem-capped tariff).

If consumers fail to provide regular meter readings then re-billing will occur. 

pochase

Can you give us the unit rates they have charged you?

The 22units billed at current rates would be the most expensive scenario, so I cannot see how readjusting the usage to cheaper rates would be more expensive.

Do you have an imperial (ft3) meter? 22 units at m3 would be only 246KWh, that is 246*10.3p = £25.34 at todays rates. FT3 would be £ 71.82.

That would explain why you think you are billed to much.

wakeupalarm

Which Energy company is it? 

nickwol

wakeupalarm said:

Which Energy company is it? 

Utility Warehouse

nickwol

This is what was on the bill - would love someone to explain

[Deleted User]

Here goes. UW seems to think the the meter reading of 6856 on the 25th January was an actual/customer reading, as was the reading of 7171 on the 30th November.

It has reversed all the estimated bills between the reading of 6856 and 7171 BUT it has estimated readings for the 1st April and the 1st October when the tariff price changed.

I would sit down and do the cost calculations for each block to confirm. What UW has done is normal practice.

nickwol

[Deleted User] said:

Here goes. UW seems to think the the meter reading of 6856 on the 25th January was an actual/customer reading, as was the reading of 7171 on the 30th November.

It has reversed all the estimated bills between the reading of 6856 and 7171 BUT it has estimated readings for the 1st April and the 1st October when the tariff price changed.

I would sit down and do the cost calculations for each block to confirm. What UW has done is normal practice.

Actually i had worked out this is what they have done. It's very frustrating that they have re-estimated a bill that had already been paid and moved (used and paid for) units to a month where the unit cost is higher.

It may be normal practice, but surely its immoral  

[Deleted User]

nickwol said:

[Deleted User] said:

Here goes. UW seems to think the the meter reading of 6856 on the 25th January was an actual/customer reading, as was the reading of 7171 on the 30th November.

It has reversed all the estimated bills between the reading of 6856 and 7171 BUT it has estimated readings for the 1st April and the 1st October when the tariff price changed.

I would sit down and do the cost calculations for each block to confirm. What UW has done is normal practice.

Actually i had worked out this is what they have done. It's very frustrating that they have re-estimated a bill that had already been paid and moved (used and paid for) units to a month where the unit cost is higher.

It may be normal practice, but surely its immoral  

Every business in the land has the right to issue a corrected invoice. If the revised bill results in a debt, then under The Statute of Limitations the debt is actionable for up to 6 years. Ofgem even allows this for Final Bills even if they have been paid in full.