Student needs adivce on Scottish Power Electricity Bill

maynarje01

I am currently in a dilema on what to do about a recent bill for electric/gas from scottish power. Me and my five other housemates pay the electricty/gas bills quartly and so far we have payed three bills at around £75 each. We figured that it might be a little cheap but we figured its because we have all energy saving bulbs and are fairly good heating even in winter. Now four of my housemates and myself have gone back for the summer to our respective homes. The remaining housemate has just recieved a bill for around £670 for the quarter. Being rather shocked he rang scottish power and they say that this is a "catch up" bill as all the previous bills were estimates only. They claim they were only estimates as we did not put the meter readings in the window for them to take. This is untrue, i know this as i did it myself and even if they somehow did not see the card in the window then we have not had any indication throughout the year to tell us this. Now six students that have just finished for the year have barely any loan or overdraft left to pay a meaty £112 each. Now it seems a bit odd to me that the estimate of around £75 a quarter was so completly wrong seen as we took the account off the 6 previous students tennants. I seriously doubt if we supposedly use £250 a quarter that the previous tennants could only use £75 so where this estimate came from i have no idea.

I feel this is complete unfair that a company can get away with an error this large and rectify its mistake by taking a large quantity of money off us with no downside for them and no way out of it for us.

If anyone has any suggestions it would be much appriciated.

Premier_2

When you receive a bill from Scottish Power, it clearly states whether the meter reading is an estimate (in which case you can provide a customer reading & they will rebill if hugely different), indicated by an 'E' next to the reading or an Actual reading, indicated by an 'A'. They may also use 'C' to denote a customer provided reading.

Cardew

maynarje01 wrote: »

I feel this is complete unfair that a company can get away with an error this large and rectify its mistake by taking a large quantity of money off us with no downside for them and no way out of it for us.

If anyone has any suggestions it would be much appriciated.

I am afraid that the error is yours, for not checking your bills - especially when you thought they might be low.

I understand that as students, probably facing your first utility bills, how this can happen. However you have still received the gas/electricity.

If you phone and plead your case(be nice!) you might get a small reduction as a goodwill gesture and time to pay what you owe.

maynarje01

I am afraid that the error is yours, for not checking your bills - especially when you thought they might be low.

I thought that the blame of the error would mostly come down to us. I do think it is rather an injustice as we have done what they have told us to do yet they still got the estimate horribly wrong. Luckily for most of us we have families with enough money so we can fall back on them. Thanks for the advice

glasgow_DFW

Agree with the above 5 adults in house think that a bill £75 for a winter quater would cover it?
The bill shows that it is an estimate, see if they can push some of the usage from before the 02/02/08 price increase it will lower the bill a wee bit.

glasgow_DFW

GARYFIRST wrote: »

I have a very personal and identical experience with the SP.
I have been on contract with SP for a year .

What are you talking abount this situation has nothing in common with your situation at all. Have you just spit the dummy beacuse energy watch and EnSo have told you that your complant is not valide and that SP don't have to give you all your energy for free 'cuse your in ahuff with them.