Electric bill - about 20,000 units out (I owe them) - How to settle?

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

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I think it equates to about £3,000.

I currently pay direct debit monthly. Obviously, no meter reads for a while, oops, my bad and missed meter readers when they have come over the years. Supplier did send letter etc. Not their fault and I have been paying the bill each month but obviously, over the years, it adds up :D

If I just rock up with the meter reading will they just say "right, your monthly direct debit is now £400 a month" or will they just want the backlog amount in one go?

I have asked them if I can make BACS payments owing to bank problems for my account to them so I can syphon some extra in for a few months... maybe they wont notice if build up a big enough credit then give them the real reading?

Moral of the story, submit a meter read each month :D
 
May as well just not tell them for a few more months and save up the money. Don't really see the difference a few extra months will make. I would imagine they would be pretty reasoable if you did tell them now though and you could work out a suitable repayment plan. They can't force you to pay whole amount if you don't have money, they would eventually sent your case to a collector and you would be able to work out a repayment plan with them. You would get bad credit rating though and may find difficulty getting a new suppler. You may be able to get a pre-paid card meter installed so that you couldn't go into the red. Depends on your setup.
 
I am happy with the current setup, I just need to stop being a lazy git and submit regular reads so we all know what is going on :p

It seems as though because I keep paying their bill each month they do not care. Sooner or later they will want it back so may as well sort it sooner rather than later.
 
How long a period is the £3000 arrears? Either its a bloody long time or you have been mining for the past 12 months.
 
Ace Modder said:
How long a period is the £3000 arrears? Either its a bloody long time or you have been mining for the past 12 months.
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A few years I would imagine.

I cannot recall when I last sent a read or when it was last read by them (old house, meter indoors).

I want to get the meter put outside so they can read it when they like but oh no, that process is for another thread :D
 
I think if you give them a meter reading they'll probably just ramp up your monthly repayments. I've got the opposite problem where I went through a period of basically never being in my flat aside from sleeping - cooker never got used, electric heating not used as flat is so well insulated etc.. my monthly payments have been £1 a month for a while now as I ran up a big surplus in between readings.
 
Family of three, four bedrooms house, electric shower, oven, tumbler drier and washing machine, dishwasher on daily and we use about 60 pounds of electric per month.
To use your three grand it would take us five years, let alone five years plus whatever you had been paying them.
Are you sure the meter is accurate?
How many years?
What do you use your electric for? Indoor heated swimming pool?
 
dowie said:
I think if you give them a meter reading they'll probably just ramp up your monthly repayments. I've got the opposite problem where I went through a period of basically never being in my flat aside from sleeping - cooker never got used, electric heating not used as flat is so well insulated etc.. my monthly payments have been £1 a month for a while now as I ran up a big surplus in between readings.
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£1 a month don't standing charges tend to come to more than that.

I'm shocked in this day and age how many people still stay with the same supplier for more than a year.
 
If you submit the current reading, their system will adjust your direct debits automatically. Its happened to me after we've moved so I would suggest avoiding that unless you can easily afford it.

You can change your plan online to get a better deal but a lot of suppliers want your latest readings first.
 
Get smart meters installed in place of your current meter, no need for it to go outside and no need for you to send readings or them send someone to read it. It automatically sends meter readings itself.
 
Just ring them up and offer them £50 a month for the next 6 years , i know someone who owed several thousand due to same circumstances as you.
They dont have to accept your offer though .
 
I'd submit readings so you end up paying 4x what you use. That way you can end up catching up on the 3k. If at some point they do do a reading at least you might have it down to much less.

If you use 70 quid a month pay back 250. In a year it would be down to 1k..ish
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
What do you use your electric for? Indoor heated swimming pool?
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I work from home in a conservatory (no other room available) and in the winter, the oil filled radiator chews electric :D

I tried coats/jumpers etc but sometimes, you just need some warmth :D

Might look at getting a portable gas heater for the coming winter.

413x said:
I'd submit readings so you end up paying 4x what you use. That way you can end up catching up on the 3k. If at some point they do do a reading at least you might have it down to much less.

If you use 70 quid a month pay back 250. In a year it would be down to 1k..ish
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That is what I was thinking. Seems the best way of sorting it. Thumbs up.

They have just DECREASED my payments by £30 a month so I desperately need to start getting a handle on it else who knows where it will be in a few more years :D
 
meandu229 said:
Have a read through
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/...-energy-bills/energy-back-billing-your-rights


You may only need to pay off the last 12 months if they havent been charging you properly.
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Chase this up first.
Energy suppliers are only required by law to read meters once every two years.
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https://www.resolver.co.uk/consumer-rights/energy-meter-not-read-complaints--2

Also check your bill and meter and confirm they aren't trying to charge you in metric if you have an imperial meter, or vice versa. A little more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/gas-meter-readings-and-bill-calculation

Once you've got your balance settled, I'd seriously consider moving to a supplier who can and will install smart meters for you. This way you can avoid surprise bills in the future. Although they don't stop meter readings calling round still, your energy provider will at least receive regular meter readings. The frequency will depend on your own personal preference - monthly, daily or every half hour.
 
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