I don't understand OVO bills ! how much do i actually need to pay??

Maclove1

Since the switch from SSE, i haven't got a clue as to how this works.

We're not on direct debit;  they tend to estimate our consumption unless we send a reading.

I checked online and it doesn't say whether our billing is monthly or quarterly. 

I got an email end November saying closing balance was £157 in debit but I can't recall if I paid that - didn't get a notification so I'm not sure, never got a reminder either. 

Now I was puzzled as I haven't seen a bill in some time and online it says our account in nearly £580 in debit since October 1st.  But I only know because we don't seem to be getting regular bills so I haven't got a clue how much I'm supposed to pay. Now.  Is it £580 ?  Why does the website give options to pay different amounts???

 ps; We're using tons of electricity for heating as our house is being done up so no gas/central heating last few months and so yes, that's nearly £200 a month on electricity (

MikeJXE

I was switched from SSE to OVO 

Do you have a smart meter ? If so you. Should be able to see what you use each day.

If you are not on DD then you are paying about 10% more for your energy

If they have changed your debit balance from £157 to £580 how did they get the energy amount used to come to that decision ? 

EssexHebridean

Do you have an online account? It sounds as though you do as you say you have checked online - your bills should appear there for checking too. 
Switch to DD - not only will it be cheaper, you don’t have the risk of failing to make payments on time, leading to potentially having late payment ,rakers placed on your credit history.
Make yourself a monthly reminder to give meter readings - maybe on the last Friday of the month or something. This could be done via a reminder on a smartphone, or in a regular paper diary. 

If your last bill was October, then you are presumably billed quarterly and should see another bill this month sometime. 

FindMyWayBack

The first thing you need to do is provide readings for gas and electric, that will tell you how much you owe. 

Jonboy_1984

Start with submitting a meter reading if it will let you and the balance shown will normally update within a few minutes,

I have been through the SSE to OVO change twice and the frustration is SSE use an estimated reading for the final bill in their system/opening read on the ovo platform.

On our first property it was 30% under despite me submitting a meter reading a week before.The OVO website wouldn’t accept a reading for about 6 weeks but then recalculated and came out to with £1 of my own calculations.

 On the second property it was 300% over despite smart meters being in place and working. This was corrected within 48 hours with a new smart reading.


Are there any bills showing under the bills section of their portal?

macman

If you don't have a smart meter and don't send reads, they don't 'tend' to estimate. They have to estimate.

Etch

@Maclove1 - Have you checked that 'Your account details' are set correctly in your online account Profile? I was also switched from SSE to OVO in the middle of last year, and I get emails reminding me to provide readings and giving my latest bills.

Maclove1

Thanks all.

No smart meter and never set up for DD. sounds like the way to go to save.

Definitely need reminders.

The bill for October to now is £580, this was after I sent a meter reading, so I guess that's accurate, even though huge

Question remains, why do they give the option to pay different amounts, do I have the option to pay smaller amounts until fully paid?  Under 'Make a payment' it say's 'suggested amount £150' - 'full balance £580' - "£50' - '£100'

macman

It states clearly on your bill if the reading is estimated or actual, so you'll know if the bill is accurate. For confirmation, check the reading vs the current meter reading.
You'll typically save about 6% by using DD vs monthly or quarterly billing.
You can pay what you wish, but if it's anything less than the amount now owing, you'll be in arrears.

EssexHebridean

£580 for October > now doesn’t sound bad at all to be honest - that’s effectively three months, including a very cold snap in December. Remember to balance that with far lighter use/lower costs in the three months at the opposite side of the year.  That would be the advantage with monthly DD - you’ll spread that cost over the year. Just make sure you keep giving your readings monthly so things can be kept as accurate as possible. 

stupot_4

I’m tired of all the comments that don’t address the original question so let me state it clearly. 

Customer is paying quarterly

Customer reads meter same day every month which is the day before the bill is prepared and enters it on Ovo web site. The most up to date reading possible 

when the quarterly bill is received it breaks down the usage and bills into three parts. 

All the separate bills that make up the quarterly bill have estimations on them despite Ovo having received the meter readings. 

Customer is not interested in paying monthly or going onto DDM or having a smart meter installed. 

Why are Ovo estimating?