My pre-payment electricity meter was recently updated by the meter reader to reflect the rise in electricity, and I now seem to be paying through the nose for my electricity. I've always been a Low-usage person, but I seem to have gone through £5 in just over 24 hours.

The pence-per-unit reading seems to be okay, but I've noticed a reading on the meter now that says "STDCHG/WK £15.26". This isn't telling me that there's a standing charge of £15.26 a WEEK is it?! That's almost £800 a year BEFORE taking into account the electricity used!

Or have I got the wrong end of the stick with what it means?

I live in a rental house but I've been there for over a year so I know there's no debt, and the meter has been in the house for ten years.

Should I be phoning up the supplier and start shouting at them?

Dixie68,

Can you confirm exactly what it is that the meter says.

I would expect this to be a quarter more than anything as standing charges are usually circa 20p per/day.

If it does say per week then the meter has clearly been set incorrectly and you need someone to reset it ASAP.

I've checked and it's "FIXCH/WK" and it is set to to £15.26.

It seems that Scottish Power has taken over the supply without my knowledge or the knowledge of my landlord, and are now trying to recoup £500 they say they are owed! How can they do this? First of all they didn't inform either of us that they were taking over supplying the electricity, secondly they put this charge on the meter without telling either myself or the landlord, and thirdly I have been paying for cards and entering them into the meter for a year - so who's been getting that money?

And £500?! I've checked their own prices online (Scottish Power) and a year comes to approximately £330 - and that's for a Medium user, whereas I would class myself as a light user because I'm at work for most of the day and there is no-one else in the house. And the house has been on a card meter for the last ten years.

I am feeling very angry about this - and ripped off!

Dixie68,

This isn't right at all.

Who was your previous provider?

Have you spoken with Scottish Power?

You really need to speak to Energywatch about this ASAP and get them to pick up your case. Tel: 08459 06 07 08.

If you are in debt to a provider they need to agree a payment scheme not just add £15 a week on to your energy bill without you knowing. This type of practice results in customers paying too much for their energy and ending up in fuel poverty.

Please let me know how you get on with this.