£1,000 electric bill :(

AdladUK · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:37

So yeah, I ring the ScottishPower to reset my online password (I got locked out by mistake) and they kindly tell me that I have £1039.24 outstanding on my account.

Now given that I live in a 1 bedroom place, never put the heating on and rarely use the lights, I was slightly shocked. Turns out they've been "underestimating" my bills with estimated readings :rolleyes:

I just wanted to make sure this is legit before paying them. I'd heard a few people on here mention about this sort of thing before. Is this a con? Or is it my responsibility?

A pic of my online account:

paradigm · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:39

If they've been undercharging you, isn't that their problem?

Basher · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:39

How much have you paid to date? Do the meter readings match the actual meter reading?

ColdAsIce · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:40

When was the last time you paid a bill and how much was it then?

Basher · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:41

paradigm said:
If they've been undercharging you, isn't that their problem?

If you used the electricity, you have to pay for it. They can't read your meter every month so they estimate based on previous usage (which may be entirely inacccurate), they then reconcile against actuals when they read the meter (once or twice a year maybe)

AdladUK · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:41

paradigm said:
If they've been undercharging you, isn't that their problem?

I said that. They pretty much replied "well it says on the back of your bill to send in readings" or something of that nature and they also came out with the phrase "you have used the electricity, but just not paid for it."

To be fair the lady was rather nice about the whole ordeal

KNiVES · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:41

Time to pay a visit to the CAB.

Dutch Guy · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:41

You did not use 116kwh a day from 16/6 tm 18/8
It's 30 times more than the periods before that, looks like they misread the meter.

Even if they were underestimating it's still >8000kwh for not even a year, that is a lot :eek:

Aeleys · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:41

sounds about right to me, is that for a year?

but you should complain a bit, since you wasnt to know...

Basher · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:42

When did they read the meter last (i.e. before they just have)

AdladUK · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:42

ColdAsIce said:
When was the last time you paid a bill and how much was it then?

3 bills in total since I moved in Oct of last year. They were roughly £30, £80 and £50

AdladUK · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:42

KNiVES said:
Time to pay a visit to the CAB.

CAB?

K.C. Leblanc · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:43

Dutch Guy said:
You did not use 116kwh a day from 16/6 tm 18/8
It's 30 times more than the periods before that, looks like they misread the meter.

This check the meter yourself.

Also do you have a record of what the meter showed when moved in? How long have you been living there?

ColdAsIce · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:43

Well alarm bells should be ringing then, something has gone wrong somewhere :S

AdladUK · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:43

Basher said:
When did they read the meter last (i.e. before they just have)

In October of last year apparently. Since then it's just been estimated readings

paradigm · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:44

Basher said:
If you used the electricity, you have to pay for it. They can't read your meter every month so they estimate based on previous usage (which may be entirely inacccurate), they then reconcile against actuals when they read the meter (once or twice a year maybe)

I'm not denying that he has to pay for the product used, however it is beyond reasonable that they would expect payment in full for such a hike.

Imagine for example you fill your car up with petrol once a week for a year, the price at the pump stays the same, however for the first 49 weeks they only charge you half of the value *by accident*. On the 50th week they then charge you an inflated price per litre just to make up the deficit.

You'd be livid, no?

Pretty sure they have to accept the back payments at a rate that is comfortable to you, regardless of how long that takes.

AdladUK said:
CAB?

Citizens Advice Bureau

AdladUK · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:44

So the reading on my tenancy agreement was 51621 when I moved in (Oct 2009) and I just took a reading now and it's 59663

Basher · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:44

AdladUK said:
In October of last year apparently. Since then it's just been estimated readings

In which case check they have taken the meter readings right. If they have then you must pay it and would have no case for not doing so.

KNiVES · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:46

AdladUK said:
CAB?

Citizens' Advice Bureau

They're a public service located in most towns, which dispense useful legal advice and can help you with murky situations where corporations and other people just want to bend you over, especially when it comes to money.

Basher · 2 Sep 2010 at 11:46

paradigm said:
I'm not denying that he has to pay for the product used, however it is beyond reasonable that they would expect payment in full for such a hike.

Imagine for example you fill your car up with petrol once a week for a year, the price at the pump stays the same, however for the first 49 weeks they only charge you half of the value *by accident*. On the 50th week they then charge you an inflated price per litre just to make up the deficit.

You'd be livid, no?

Pretty sure they have to accept the back payments at a rate that is comfortable to you, regardless of how long that takes.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Yeah absolutely, they should up the monthly Direct Debit to take the total cost in over a reasonable period.