Being Screwed .... Again

[janot]

Hi Ray, I would challenge this. as others have said with pre payment you should not get in arrears.

When our IVA started i changed to Scottish Power, they email me once a month asking for my meter reading, they then ajust my d/d accordingly, I requested to pay a little more though so i did not have to sit with a candle in the winter.

They have been really good.

Good luck Ray,

[janderson]

Hi all

i have relatives who are on these pre payment meters and are experiencing similar problems. My understanding of this is to do with the calibration of the meter and the prices of the utility. If the price changes as it is constantly now then the meter is not charging the true cost hence the anomoly.

We also have a budget plan set up where we pay a set amount every month, the meter does not get read often but they stick a card hrough the door and we read the meter and leave it displayed in the window. if this is happening I struggle to understand how the companies have outstanding amounts. Are other people leaving these readings for the utility companies.


Thanks


john

[quark2008]

This is completely, stars. stars. stars.Call Ofgen or whatever they are called. BBC Watchdog, I would make the biggest fuss ever, theft is what this is. Are you able to change supplier at all ?

[Wizzard]

This is completely, stars. stars. stars.Call Ofgen or whatever they are called. BBC Watchdog, I would make the biggest fuss ever, theft is what this is. Are you able to change supplier at all ?

Because of this so called 'arrears' I am unable to change suppliers. I have checked what my yearly bill should be and I get the cost per annum to around £700 pa. This is using their own calculator. If this is the case and the arrears is correct (lol) then since January I have used £980 already. I have raised a slight stink with the company and have hinted that I may go to the media if its not sorted. They are quoting a six week investigation during which time the 'arrears' will be frozen. I said they have 5 days then I go public. [:D][:D]

[kallis3]

Good for you Ray!

It's about time someone took them to task so they can't keep getting away with screwing people!

[Skippy]

Good luck Ray. We had all sorts of problems with Numpty Power, but nowhere near as bad as this. I think all the energy companies are useless!

[Julie]

Ray - you need to complain via energywatch. Good luck x

[SharonOR]

I love Atlantic as they give you a nice tidy sum at the end of each year - sort of a loyalty bonus. They pay you back a month's dds plus a little extra for staying with them. They had a dodgy reader once and increased our payments to some stupid limit £130 and £100 so I called them and they were most apologetic, reduced our dds to acceptable level and gave us a £30.00 apology. We told them we were in an IVA and they phone us every 3 months to find out if things are still OK and if we can still keep up the payments. VERY GOOD FIRM - I won't leave them.

[kallis3]

I'm quite happy with Atlantic as well Sharon, and I, too, like my loyalty bonus. Mine is paid in November and so comes in handy for Christmas.

Haven't told them I am in an IVA though. Mind you, they haven't increased my dd's yet. I expect my electric one will go up, but my gas should come down. Since we had the insulation done at the end of last year, the gas usage has come right down.

I'll wait and see what they say.

I quite rate their customer service as well.

[jill109]

Hi, i worked for a company last year that chased debts for pre payment meters. I only ;lasted 6 months. The problem is that the pre payment meters are only set at an estimated tariff, when prices rise, the power companies dont actually go out to the people with the meters and reset the collect rate, I dealt with people who had run up electric debts for 10 years without realising, the problem only shows up if they want to move home or go with another supplier. IT IS VERY WRONG

[Wizzard]

Electricity Supply


A summary of the ongoing saga using only this last two weeks notes

After trying to change suppliers for 7 months and having to chase British Gas every time the change over failed I finally got a call.

08/07/08
Spoke to a Tracey who explained why the change over had failed. She asked me to contact Npower and she would ring me back on 15/07/08.
British Gas holding £163 for Npower
Npower have been paid £530 up to and including 14/07/08

14/07/08
Contacted Npower today and was informed that I am showing arrears of £435 which is why the account change over has been blocked.

15/07/08
No call back from Tracey as promised .... why am I not surprised

17/07/08
Rang British Gas and asked that someone get Tracey to ring me back today
Also rang Energywatch to see if they can offer advice on this mess.
Energywatch Ref No: 168825
Spoke yet again to Npower and got no further. Have advised them I am getting a tad annoyed now as they have never bothered to contact me about these spurious figures nor have I had a statement since I joined them.

[Wizzard]

he he he ... silly me ... this isn't electricity Watch is it .... I'll shut me gob now [:D][:D]

[kallis3]

Ray, it is so bad that you are being given the runaround.[:(]

It also makes me realise that I am so glad I don't have a prepayment meter. They seem to be more trouble than they are worth.

You would think they would change the meters when the tarifs change rather than let customers run up huge arrears. I thought the reason behind them was that you paid for what you were using at the time.

[Wizzard]

They don't have to change the meters Kallis ... the rates can be updated via the key through their systems.

When you are forced into a position where you have a prepayment meter as I was after a long spell in hospital and on the sick (8 years) then its almost impossible to change back, or so I've found. If anyone knows different I'd be pleased to hear it [:)]

[kallis3]

That's even worse then. They should change them so you can keep up with your payments.

I hope you get it sorted out and quickly. You can do without any of this stress.[:(]