If you went through a letting agent, they should have done this (and have a record)

If you registered as a new payer of the account they should have the starting reading on the account.

Sparky.

Unfortunately, we did not take a meter reading when we moved in.

It was our 4th appartment to rent in the past 5 years and we've never had problems with a bill (and never took meter readings), so.. basically we were inexperienced in dealing with such situations.

Hi Deni,

Did you take a meter reading on the day you moved into the studio? If so, and this is the correct meter reading from which their original billing commenced to you, then the reading in between, whether actual or estimated is irrelevant. You will be owing the amount due.

PS: Make sure their "actual" reading is in fact correct.

I am in the process of a battle to rectify my own account with them. They took an "actual" reading in Feb 2009 which is 2500 units higher than the reading was in June 2009. Since then their meter has become "stopped" and not acumalating units. After 2 prearranged visit where they had not turned up nor called to cancel, leaving me with 2 halfdays less holiday, they have this week again sent me a quaterly bill with an "actual" reading being 100units higher than the one in June. I went to check my meter, and hey presto, its still stuck on the same reading as it was in June 2009....

So it doesn't leave much to the imagination of what the litracy levels of their meter readers are, but I am certainly contesting this one to the death... and now got the energy ombudsman involved as well.

Good luck!

deni_:

We were not late for the March bill,

Still - 160 pounds for a small studio, for 5 days, during the summer, when nobody was at home during the day and all of you think this is perfectly normal because estimated have been corrected with actual readings?

What I said was "were 3 months late with the £108.29 and hadn't paid the 20 March bill by 23 June." Please recognise I'm being factual, not judgemental.

Regarding the "silly" reading, the problem is caused by the previous estimated reading being low. It's not £160 for 5 days its £160 plus the previous bill for the previous bill period plus 5 days.

Perhaps you are saying that electricity is an expensive way to heat a home, even on Economy 7. There I agree with you.

We were not late for the March bill, because after 18th December we were not contacted by Southern Electric until 20th or 25th June when we called them to ask for the bill because we were leaving the appartment. And this breakdown was sent because we requested it, otherwise they were like "ok, let me check in the system, you owe 1200 pounds, can I have your bank account details please, thanks for calling". I was like "uuuh.. excuse me... can we at least have an actual bill".

Still - 160 pounds for a small studio, for 5 days, during the summer, when nobody was at home during the day and all of you think this is perfectly normal because estimated have been corrected with actual readings?

deni_:

Ha, I must have edited my own post.

I'm afraid the bills posted show that (1) your were 3 months late with the £108.29 and hadn't paid the 20 March bill by 23 June. On the evidence of the bills Southern Electric are being very patient.

The "silly" bill is caused by an estimated reading being corrected by an actual reading. Nothing else.

I'm not going to be judgemental, I just interpret the facts. Possibly you would be better (and would save 5%) by paying by fixed monthly direct debit.

The problem with the last bill:

24 JUNE 2009 - 30 JUNE 2009 (6 days!) - 160.32 pounds

Is that it went from an estimated bill to an actual reading, this is not how much you used on those days.

It looks like you have used this energy but you are on an economy 7 rate, where you are not using much energy during the night, and much more during the day.

Unfortunately you do owe this amount.

Sparky.

I only have the breakdown from 18 December unril 25 June. I don't have the previous 2 bills.

Here it is

http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/2202294/img/Picture-Box/scan0001.jpg

http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/2202296/img/Picture-Box/scan0002.jpg

http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/2202299/img/Picture-Box/scan0003.jpg

Deni

deni_:

What can we do? What could have gone wrong.. Southern electric belive there is nothing wrong

reposted in correct sequence

Hello! My name is Deni.

Me and my boyfriend used to live in a very small one bedroom appartament in Chiswick (London). And by small I mean... SMALL. It was almost like a studio. The lettings agency told it was it was around 20 sq m. I know... SMALL.

Our electricity was with Southern Electric (we did not have gas at all). Our first bill was for 3 month and amounted 80 pounds (July 2008, August 2008, September 2008), our second bill was for 3 months as well and teh amount was 110 pounds (October 2008, November 2008, December 2008).

Then we stopped receiving bills until July 2009. And the bill was for 1200 pounds! How is that even possible? For a studio appartment...... I was in shock. I have the breakdown here with me and it is ridiculous:

18 DEC 2008 - 20 MAR2009 - 938.53 pounds
21 MARCH - 23 JUNE 2009 -248.11 pounds

and here comes the most ridiculous of it all

24 JUNE 2009 - 30 JUNE 2009 (6 days!) - 160.32 pounds

Taking into account it was summer, therefore no heating... and I can say no cooking, because we were appartment hunting during the whole day... and no waching machine usage... too busy.. and again - it was a studio-sized 1 bed...

On the breakdown it is written though YOUR BILL IS BASED ON AN ACTUAL METER READING

My question is.. What can we do? What could have gone wrong.. Southern electric belive there is nothing wrong... yeah right.

Thank you,
Deni