Received bill along side pre payment meter

kurthardy

Hi all

I've just moved out of a 2 bed flat where there was a pre payment meter. As I presumed with a pre payment meter, I topped up when running low and that's that. 

I've now moved and Scottish Power are sending me emails about a final bill of £250.
There explanation was something like when the statements are generated, the system reads from the smart pre payment meter and generates a statement. 

But that's not my understanding of a pre payment meter. Mine is simple, there's a daily charge on the meter, and a unit rate. You top up and if you don't, the electricity cuts off. 

Anyone know if I'm liable for this bill and what's going on?

MattMattMattUK

kurthardy said:

Hi all

I've just moved out of a 2 bed flat where there was a pre payment meter. As I presumed with a pre payment meter, I topped up when running low and that's that. 

Did you set up a new account when you moved in and provide the supplier with readings, or did you just continue using the previous occupants key?

kurthardy said:

I've now moved and Scottish Power are sending me emails about a final bill of £250.

Moved from the property, or moved energy supplier?

kurthardy said:

There explanation was something like when the statements are generated, the system reads from the smart pre payment meter and generates a statement. 

It does.

kurthardy said:

But that's not my understanding of a pre payment meter. Mine is simple, there's a daily charge on the meter, and a unit rate. You top up and if you don't, the electricity cuts off. 

If the electricity cuts off one can still accrue the standing charges, there is also emergency credit to account for etc. so despite being cut off for not paying the standing charge still accumulates. 

kurthardy said:

Anyone know if I'm liable for this bill and what's going on?

Maybe, it depends on the circumstances. If you can answer the questions above then we might be able to assist. 

FlorayG

Did you send a final reading when you left and tell them you were no longer liable? The bill may be for the period between you leaving and the next person moving in

kurthardy

Hi

Thanks for your response. 

I set up my own account when I first moved in. There was no electric when I moved in so I activated the emergency credit which was £10 so sorted that. When I called them they said they can see the balance of zero on the account when I moved in in January. 

I've move out of the flat now. The balance on the meter was positive, I cant remember but around £5-£10

I've never been cut off since I just topped up when the balance dropped below £10

Thanks

kurthardy

I have asked them to post the bills to me since I can no longer access them via the my account login but they haven't arrived yet. 

MattMattMattUK

kurthardy said:

I have asked them to post the bills to me since I can no longer access them via the my account login but they haven't arrived yet. 

It may also be worth raising a complaint at this stage just to get things moving. 

I think you will have to wait for the bills to try and figure out what has happened, but I am wondering if they added a previous users debt to your account, especially as there was no power when you moved in. 

kurthardy

Ive just looked on the email and there was a link to "pay now". Going through it all actually allowed me to download a final bill. 
The starting balance is £235 but from the 19th Jan. I moved in on the 9th Jan so I'm missing 10 days off my bill. 
Then it shows the debit verse credits which is £190 from May to Oct. 

So I think they have definitely got something wrong. I'll try and ring them again and raise a complaint. 
Thanks

MWT

kurthardy said:

I set up my own account when I first moved in. There was no electric when I moved in so I activated the emergency credit which was £10 so sorted that. When I called them they said they can see the balance of zero on the account when I moved in in January.

If there was no credit on the meter then the standing charges may have been accumulating for some time...

kurthardy said:

The starting balance is £235 but from the 19th Jan. I moved in on the 9th Jan so I'm missing 10 days off my bill. 
Then it shows the debit verse credits which is £190 from May to Oct. 

So I think they have definitely got something wrong. I'll try and ring them again and raise a complaint. 
Thanks

You need to specifically query the opening balance and get the bill corrected to the actual start date of your tenancy.

Ideally you would have taken a meter reading when you moved in but as it is a smart meter they should be able to access that anyway.

Gerry1

kurthardy said:

I'll try and ring them again and raise a complaint.

Better to keep everything in writing: makes it simpler if you end up going to the ombudsman.