Scottish Power - VERY Angry!!!

Sol00

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

That's a far more constructive e-mail from them. And it sounds like they are offering to go a bit further in discussing it - a direct line is very helpful.

I would still ask them to waive some of the refund given that they admit it was due to their system error. And they are already offering to let you clear the debt over 12 months, which is the best I would have hoped for (apart from letting you off some of it).

You can't switch suppliers whilst you owe them lots of money, though, so I would settle down and stay with them, only considering whether it's worth taking their capped deal rather than the deal you are currently on.

I don't believe that any of the capped deals you think will save you money will *actually* save you money. There's no way you will pay £800 odd capped instead of over £1200 uncapped. The two are not based on the same levels of consumption.

Is this still true? I thought you could now switch supplier if there is a debt caused by the current supplier. Perhaps I read this was going to happen at some point

Sol00

jeannieblue wrote: »

I did notice that quite a few didn't have standing charges and I do pay one at the moment...

I hoped to do more research today, but after being up to gone 2am this morning and catching up on chores etc today, I'm really tired and can't summon up the energy tonight!

I'm not capped with SP so my charges could go sky high.........

I think SP are one of the cheapest, however, they do have standing charges which, especially in the summer, can cost you more than you would actually use.

IvanOpinion

Sol00 wrote: »

I think SP are one of the cheapest, however, they do have standing charges which, especially in the summer, can cost you more than you would actually use.

They also have no standing charge tariffs

Ivan

John_3:16

I am with SP and as others have said have had little problem.
I do my readings on line and again as others have said found it very easy. Also the graph gives you the ability to look at yearly usage.

I can understand about the word debt. If you get a loan(debt) I feel you may be no better off. You will have to pay interest on that loan. SP seem to be offering you an interest free loan by upping your DD.

My feeling is to stay with them. Start paying the higher DD. Go on line to get the discount and put your own readings in. When that is all set up and running you may be able to setlle down a little.

if the problem is you cannot afford to pay the higher DD then getting a loan may be the only way to pay over a longer period. This you must will however mean you pay more in total to clear the payment.

Hope you get it all sorted. ( Keep smiling);)

jeannieblue

John_3:16 wrote: »

Hope you get it all sorted. ( Keep smiling);)

That is easier said than done - trying tho - - see?

I've just got home so thought would check the thread, everyone has been very helpful and I appreciate that v much. Got alot on my mind at mo, holiday in 3 weeks is in limbo land at the mo due to circumstances, but that's another thread

I still can't quite get my head round the figures, the kwh millarkey. I use very little gas and I haven't worked out how much I used in the Jan to March as yet, got the figures somewhere, but I found the misreading on the Gas and it seems alot, £551 for such a short period.

Figures are:
Readings were, Oct 5695C - Jan 5509A - Mar 6143C. Now you can see that the Jan one was way down on what it should have been.

Does that equate to £551? I don't know and am tired as have been hospital visiting today, but will try and get my little brain round it tomorrow night - well prob Tuesday night as it is youngest sons birthday tomorrow so may be a bit busy.

I'm also rambling now thanks for reading this far..........

MarkyMarkD

Giving us the readings helps a lot.

When they took a reading of 5509 in January, their computer should have rejected as being less than the previous one, or at least asked you to check it.

But equally well, you should have seen that the bill showed the readings going backwards and told them that it was wrong, before they went mad and suggested they should refund you £500.

Your consumption between the two correct readings is about 450 m3 which equates to about 450 x 39.2 x 1.002640 / 3.63 (based on the factors on my own SP bill) i.e. 4872 kWh.

For comparison, my own consumption in the highest month this winter was 2639 kWh. So as you say, your gas consumption is not very high.

In my worst month, my gas consumption cost me under £72.

So roughly speaking your gas consumption from October to March would cost around £133 - that's doing it pro-rata, whereas it'll be slightly higher because yours will be disproportionately charged at the higher unit rate because you use less.

You haven't used £551 worth. But isn't the point that they refunded you £500 they should have, rather than you having actually used a lot?

Cardew

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Giving us the readings helps a lot.

When they took a reading of 5509 in January, their computer should have rejected as being less than the previous one, or at least asked you to check it.

But equally well, you should have seen that the bill showed the readings going backwards and told them that it was wrong, before they went mad and suggested they should refund you £500.

Your consumption between the two correct readings is about 450 m3 which equates to about 450 x 39.2 x 1.002640 / 3.63 (based on the factors on my own SP bill) i.e. 4872 kWh.

For comparison, my own consumption in the highest month this winter was 2639 kWh. So as you say, your gas consumption is not very high.

In my worst month, my gas consumption cost me under £72.

So roughly speaking your gas consumption from October to March would cost around £133 - that's doing it pro-rata, whereas it'll be slightly higher because yours will be disproportionately charged at the higher unit rate because you use less.

You haven't used £551 worth. But isn't the point that they refunded you £500 they should have, rather than you having actually used a lot?

MMD,
Unless I have missed it, is there anything to suggest that the OP has a metric meter? OP has given 4 digit meter readings which I thought was for Imperial meters - Metric meters have 5 digits

If it were to be an Imperial meter then her Oct to March bill would be around £380 and not the £133 you suggest; and more in line with the £108 they state to be her usage?

MarkyMarkD

Very good point, Cardew, and thanks for making it. We have had a relatively recent meter upgrade so ours is metric.

£108 isn't a sensible monthly consumption to estimate over a full year, based on £380 over 5 months, though. More like £60-70 a month, surely, as the £380 covers the coldest months of the year?

Cardew

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Very good point, Cardew, and thanks for making it. We have had a relatively recent meter upgrade so ours is metric.

£108 isn't a sensible monthly consumption to estimate over a full year, based on £380 over 5 months, though. More like £60-70 a month, surely, as the £380 covers the coldest months of the year?

Agreed gas would be no more than £60 a month - possibly less.

However I had gained the impression that the OP(and SP) are talking about a DD for both gas and electricity(so the £108 might be correct?)

The only clue for my impression was the OP's post:

With Scottish Power at the moment, gas is [EMAIL="kwh@2.620"]kwh@2.620[/EMAIL], standing charge 49 days@11.630 . Electric is [EMAIL="kwh@9.025"]kwh@9.025[/EMAIL], standing charge 49 [EMAIL="days@10.760"]days@10.760[/EMAIL]. Now if I'm honest, i understand a third of that

jeannieblue

Markymark and Cardew - am really appreciating your imput here - even if not sure what you're on about half the time

This metric meter millarky and readings - yes the 108 is for gas and electric. I've paid dd of well over that in the past. Gas is central heating and water. We shower in mornings and go off to work, heating is not on long - obviously talking about winter time re the heating. Everything else, cooking etc is electric.

I've been doing (or trying to do figure work) tonight, to see where I have used that amount for gas and have got myself in a right muddle!

Thank you guys - I can't fathom it, if you need any more info I'll gladly provide it. I'm not stupid (well not all the time) but maths is not my thing! Really appreciate the help.