Incorrect billing for gas and electricity, SSE Business

nygiantsfan101

Hi there,

I'm new to this and don't want to look like a fool but I have had a major issue with my energy since moving into my 1 bed flat in September. My girlfriend and I are renting in a house with 5 flats, all of which are paying bills separately.

When I called around to sort out my bills after moving in (Sep. '23), energy companies couldn't open an account for me because I had an SSE Business account tied to the property. There were also difficulties finding the gas and electric meters on the National Grid database because, instead of the flats being listed separately, all 5 were listed as '304 Roadname Road' instead of 'Flat 1, 304 Roadname road', 'Flat 2, 304 Roadname road' etc. Failing to get any success from trying this, I contacted the estate agent I was renting with and they said they would see what they could do.

After two months, the estate agents got back to me and said it would be 'All ok for things to go forward with SSE' after I had already received my first electricity bill so assumed things had been put in order. I then received only my electricity bills and it wasn't until 7 months after moving in my gas bills started to come through. In the space of 2 months, I now have £750 in gas bills to pay off, an account which is still proving difficult to close/switch and around 8 months' worth of bills that I have either paid or am going to have to pay at a variable business rate instead of domestic.

I could really do with some advice on what to do here as my salary isn't the biggest as a PhD student. I had no idea how inflated the price of a business rate is compared to domestic until a customer service advisor told me today. I also don't understand why it took 7 to 8 months for my gas bills to arrive. Does anyone know of any options on what I can do in this situation or will I have to pay these in their entirety and keep trying to switch?

Thanks in advance for any advice or help!

Robin9

If your gas bill is on a business tariff tariff then it will take some untangling. What unit rate / standing charge are you paying.?

My current business gas is under 5p when many domestic rates are around 6p. The sting comes with the standing charge.

Do you read your own meters ?   or are the bills you are getting based on estimates? are you 100% sure the meter on the bill is the one supplying you.

Do you think that the electric is also on a business tariff ?

nygiantsfan101

Hi,

Unit rate and SC for gas are 10.7 p/kWh and 1 £/day respectively.
Unit rate and SC for electricity are 42 p/kWh and 1.75 £/day respectively.

I took my meter readings myself

Robin9

I presume the other 4 flats are in the same boat.   Invite them around for coffee and cake and talk about it.

I suggest you write to SSE headed COMPLAINT - that will go to a level above Customer Service.

State the facts -  keep emotion out of it - enclose a copy of your tenancy agreement - photo's of your meters

nygiantsfan101

Would you recommend paying the outstanding bills or is there a chance the charges are reduced?

Robin9

Until you have convinced SSE that you are domestic  they will not rebill you.