Ovo mid term fixed price rise

AnotherConfusedPerson

Hi, I think I’ve found their future consumption estimate.  Couldn’t find it on the paper bill so looked online.
Screenshot for gas attached.  

The more I try and figure it out, the less sense it makes to me.
 I think I need to compare their estimate with the evidence of 12 months worth of last year’s actual consumption?  I just don’t trust my maths.  

I’m not using more gas than last year anyway.

AnotherConfusedPerson

Scot_39 said:

You say they are estimating usage - and only giving us the differentials - but I expect the bills actually have their estimated corresponding readings.

And if so - how do those readings compare with your own.

Forget last year - that's at best a useful benchmark - it has no real bearings on what you may or may not have been using now - which can change massively without noticing if you don't stay on top of readings and bills - either by subtle behavior or by say a faulty appliance / meter / installation.

You have three estimated monthly usage statements and 2 readings straddling them.

The "over" estimates you claim - are non trivial - and over time would push the estimated absolute meter "readings" far beyond actual meter readings.

So dig out those monthly statements, and look not at the monthly usage - but the actual estimated readings - the absolutes not the month to month differences - then dig out your readings - and see how the two actually compare.

If - and thats a big if - you are still using roughly the same amount as last year - given the estimates are 50% to 100% out - I would expect to see a large difference.

My mums gas account ended up in a real mess - she owed £600+ - because BG had ignored 2 actual meter readings and two family submitted readings. They had all 4 on her account records as notes - but none of them had been applied / authorised for use by billing system. 

Submitting readings - and then accepting estimated bills that ignore them - if they in fact have ignored them - a mistake.

You shouldn't have to accept anything based on estimated billing if you have been submitting readings.

Give us the numbers - the absolute estimates and the dates - for their's from the monthly statements - and your own actual readings / dates.

It might give us the clear clue whether they are continuously overbilling - or simply catching up from past underbilling / your current actual use.

Thanks Scot_39.  In my haste I hadn’t even read this, plus other people’s replies.

As you all say, I need to go through bills and see if I can find where Actual v Estimate start to slip away.  

I used to be more on the ball and phone them straight away if they sent an estimate.  Going onto a fixed tariff has given a false sense of security!  

Also they used to send a prompt when it was time to send a quarterly reading.

Thing I don’t understand is that they have an actual reading from 10th June I think it was, so there can’t be much opportunity for a massive over estimate.  

AnotherConfusedPerson

Still can’t figure it out.  I’m going to let them know I don’t consent to their direct debit increase, cancel my direct debit and make card payments in future when they send bills that are calculated from actual readings.

molerat

Paying by other than DD at the very least is going to increase the tariff rates, paying by other than DD may not be an option for that tariff and they could kick you off onto SVR.  You need to argue the EAC is not accurate.  Your readings give 7800 kWh over 21months, their EAC is 21810 kWh for a year.

GingerTim

AnotherConfusedPerson said:

Still can’t figure it out.  I’m going to let them know I don’t consent to their direct debit increase, cancel my direct debit and make card payments in future when they send bills that are calculated from actual readings.

Do note that paying on demand rather than direct debit means you will pay more per unit for your energy.

AnotherConfusedPerson

With the situation as it is I think I’d rather be trying to negotiate from a position of them not taking £250 from my account each month rather than trying to claim it back in the future.
Who knows, maybe I’ll get a quicker response by cancelling the dd.

I’m only about half way through my 2 year fixed tariff.  If prices are now reducing, perhaps being kicked off it isn’t a bad thing?  Or maybe they’ll let me back on when they come up with a sensible monthly payment figure.

I’ve checked my online readings history with them.  There are 15 electric readings and 2 very recent gas readings.  I wonder what’s happened to the other gas readings?  I always send both at the same time.  Thank heavens I caught the advice on TV back in September 2021 to take a photo of both meters.

CSI_Yorkshire

AnotherConfusedPerson said:

With the situation as it is I think I’d rather be trying to negotiate from a position of them not taking £250 from my account each month rather than trying to claim it back in the future.
Who knows, maybe I’ll get a quicker response by cancelling the dd.

I’m only about half way through my 2 year fixed tariff.  If prices are now reducing, perhaps being kicked off it isn’t a bad thing?  Or maybe they’ll let me back on when they come up with a sensible monthly payment figure.

I’ve checked my online readings history with them.  There are 15 electric readings and 2 very recent gas readings.  I wonder what’s happened to the other gas readings?  I always send both at the same time.  Thank heavens I caught the advice on TV back in September 2021 to take a photo of both meters.

Their response to you cancelling your DD is likely just to be putting you on the most expensive version of the SVT.  Once you've dropped off a fix, you do not have any right to be put back on it.  Neither is something I suggest you really want.

Argue the estimated annual consumption with some actual meter readings.  Keep providing actual readings.  That's the only way to fix direct debit projections. 

AnotherConfusedPerson

🤦‍♀️ not sure how to backtrack now.

Qyburn

Will they let you pay by variable DD, settling each bill as it comes?

Alnat1

iirc OVO don't offer this method