SSE bill jumped £600

[sorrylittlelot]

Hi Everybody,

Long story short, my partner has been living in rented house for 18 months. SSE is utility supplier (gas and electricity) she was £109 behind but resolved this by getting payment card and paying so much a month. Then yesterday out of the blue an SSE engineer came round and said she owes over £700 and she either pays it then and there or has a token meter thing fitted and agrees to pay £3 a week off the arrears. Having 3 kids she agreed to this.

Basically what they said is that the meter was wired up wrong and they’ve estimated the bill on the average consumption of a 3 bedroom house.

No letters other than the one she received less than a month ago stating she owes £190 have been received.

Just wondering if there is anything we can do as she is besides herself.

Thanks guys

[raydetinu]

For a start they cant go back more than 12 months ( by law ).

When was the meter actually checked?

She should not have agreed to anything until it was put in writing. Don't pay any more until it has been sorted out.

Also as it is theirs or who ever installed the meter error, they cannot charge her ( check with LL when meter installed ).

Suggest she write or email SSE to get it sorted.

[Mike_hawk]

SSE are usually pretty quick (in my experience at least) to investigate and resolve billing issues.

 

Try Hayley.Maddison@sse.com or Sarah.Phelps@SSE.com

 

Both very helpful managers in its customer service team, also quick to offer compensation when in the wrong.

 

Sorry, 2 d's in Maddison.... Bliddy predictive text! Now amended above

Edited August 14, 2013 by Mike_hawk

[sorrylittlelot]

sse checked the meter yesterday. the installation sticker on the meter says "date of last inspection 7-4-2011 recommended date of nect inspection 7-4-2021"

 

She hasnt agreed to pay it as such, they have said that each time she tops the key fob up they will deduct £3 to go against arrears (which would take almost 5 years)

[raydetinu]

As said do not accept that,

Write and get that changed, it is not right.

[rebel11]

Don't let them estimate anything, try to get hold of previous bills, maybe send them a SAR Request, it will cost £10. That maybe a better way to get a proper estimate of usage.

 

Fact sheet Meter Accuracy & Billing Disputes The ... - Ofgem

[sorrylittlelot]

thanks guys, i shall compose a letter and send the SAR. could somebody please tell me what the law regarding going back 12 months is please.

[raydetinu]

Here it is:

http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43/412.html

[sorrylittlelot]

thank you, so i should basically tell them that and sar them?

[sorrylittlelot]

hi guys I was going to send the email today but I received this letter. Not sure if this changes what I should say?

 

[raydetinu]

As said before they can only go back 365 days from when error was discovered, as its not your fault.

[sorrylittlelot]

I still don't like the estimate amount, we are barely home, only in the evenings and the first few months I was in and out of hospital for weeks so I wasn't there at all

[Mike_hawk]

I still don't like the estimate amount, we are barely home, only in the evenings and the first few months I was in and out of hospital for weeks so I wasn't there at all

 

How much have you paid over the period?

 

Assume you noticed the cheeky beggars are estimating at current tariff, didn't SSE hike its prices by 9% last October.

[raydetinu]

Agree they can only use rates correct at the time.

Do your own estimate on what you have used since you got the correct reading to now! then pro rata that by the number of days.

[Feebee_71]

I don't think it's very fair to charge the current unit price for all assumed usage considering prices have risen regularly.

 

Feebee_71

[sorrylittlelot]

im at a loss really what to put in my initial letter to them now lol

[sorrylittlelot]

reading through http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43/412.html and i cant really establish anything about "bypassed meters" maybe i should step away and read again with clear head in a bit lol

[Mike_hawk]

Try clause 5.. I'd interpret its correspondence as knowingly failing to set up or maintain accurate data. It acknowledges you inherited a bypassed meter but failed to bring the matter to your notice.

 

Have you calculated how much you've paid over the period in question?

 

Have you taken your own readings over say a 5-10 day period to enable you to calculate average daily usage?

 

Have you checked historical tariff rates?

 

Its better to make your own calculations and provide it with an alternate remedy which both parties can agree upon.

[sorrylittlelot]

thanks hawk, as to your questions, its a no on all fronts. We did have to send them a reading when we first moved in though. I have sent an SAR today