AIBU to feel like I am being harassed by electricity company?... how much do you use?

[1Catherine1]

Today I received my electricity bill. Somehow they always manage to time it so that it arrives on a Saturday so I can't phone them and explain to them what a bunch of incompetent fools they all are.

I live in a 2 bed flat with my OH. The bill I received runs from 19th October to the 19th January. The bill for this period is £362.12 for 3826 units. Anyone else think that sounds a little much?

This is not the first time they have harassed me in this manner. In November they sent me a bill for £300+ for a property I used to live at, knowing I had paid it already I ignored it. At the end of the November they sent me a final demand and threat of a court summons from the previous address but this time only for £100, they then also sent me a notice of disconnection for my currant property if I didn't pay the £90 they claimed I owed them - I didn't owe them this as I was waiting for a revised bill since I wasn't paying 3 estimated bills in a row. Anyway, after hours on the phone calling their expensive 0845 number and being left on hold 20 minutes at a time I fixed it all. Without sending them a penny the demands for £390 turned into a cheque for me of £46. Looks like I was right after all. I still believe they owe me more than this but the bills and documentation I requested seem to have been lost in the post.

Unfortunately my meter is located in next doors property (I live in rented and we share a landlord). I don't know them and I don't feel comfortable invading their house to check my meter every time my bill arrives.

AIBU to expect the company to send me a reasonable bill? I'm sick of chasing them and paying for their mistakes via my phone bill.

I could join in with my own tales of woe.... but I do have to bring up a couple of things.

Firstly, that bill sounds perfectly normal to me. I pay around £25 - £30 a week electricity, and I'm out at work all day while the dc are at school. I don't have a tumble drier either, which I understand eats loads.

And secondly.. they're not 'harrassing' you. They're sending you a bill.

Your meter might be faulty, but it is very hard to convince your electricity company to replace the meter.

We used to pay £270 a month for electricity. Eventually they agreed to put in a new meter. We now pay £15 a month.

Also - 0845 numbers are charged at local rate, they're not expensive.

Have the electricity company actually read your meter or is it an estimated bill?

3 months for 360?

Sounds about right. Either go in and get meter number to check or pay.

Not reay sure there's a current issue here. Sounds like they were shit with your last property.

Is it an estimated bill or an accurate one?

I would say that does sound too high.

We live in a 3 bed house, with pc's on all day, oven, washing machine, and all other appliances pretty much on the go constantly, and our direct debit is only £75 a month. We are always in credit.

And - electricity companies are open on a Saturday. And a Sunday.

I also live in a 2 bed flat. We have lots of computers, electronic equipment, tumble dryer, electric oven etc.. and pay around £175 for 3 months.

We pay £30 a month 2 bed house PC and games system on all day usually and we're on pre pay meters.

Sounds like a lot of you are paying way too much for your electricity. I have a 3 bed house and pay £80 - 90 a quarter and I live in NI which has higher electricity costs than the rest of the UK. We don't have games consoles or a tumble drier but I do work from home on ocassion and we have to use our immersion in summer for hot water. Do you turn stuff off when you're not using it?

your meter is located in next doors property and you share a landlord - are you sure you shouldn't be sharing this bill?

Wow - I'm amazed at how much you're all paying. We rent, and have one of those horrible pre-pay meters that we have to top up with credit at the local shop. We top it up with £40 at the start of the month and usually have a few pound left on it when it's time for the next top-up. That's with me being at home all day with the baby, lights on, TV on, washer/dryer pretty much constantly on... And I thought I'd be getting ripped off because I pre-pay!

OP - YANBU. It sounds like your electricity company is incompetent. Can you switch?

3 of us in a 3 bed, lots of computers, tumble dryer, dishwasher, tv on a lot. My, just received bill, was for £97 for 3 months.

Yours sounds excessive. I am sure the neighbours wouldn't mind you going in 4 times a year to check your meter!

YABU... if you want to contest a bill or correct an estimate you need to read your meter. Disturbing a neighbour a few times a year is surely a better option than being threatened with disconnection? Daft.

That dosen't sound right....I have a feeling you may be paying your neighbours bill, we pay 50 a month at the most, and that includes lazy cow slattern tumble dryer usage

Just got mine, 3200 units, £345 for 3 bed house with tumble drier. Always think mine is too much but surprisingly the electricity company say it is normal.

Oh that is for 6 months btw

You definitely need to check the meter. Next time they make mistakes and you need to contact them, just send an email through their complaints page - they usually pick up on this quickly. 0845 numbers can get expensive if you are on a mobile.

I agree that electricity & gas companies and Orange are a nightmare!

And their incompetence is to their advantage financially

Blimey. I pay £30 a month for electricity and £30 a month for gas. On my quarterly bills I am usually around £10 in debit with gas and £10 in credit with electric!

Adding, 2 bed freezing cold mid terrace with tumble drier, laptop, consoles, aquarium and whatever else!

Our bill was £192 for November - February, and there are five of us in a 3bed, with dishwasher, PC etc, as well as a very active tumble drier on almost constantly.

Southern Atlantic Electricity and gas - not the cheapest (but not excessive) but definitely the best utility company we have ever used. Would definitely recommend, customer service is very good too (and no, I don't work for them!)

My mum had a new meter put in and her bills went through the ceiling, she worked full time yet and had no central heating, tumble dryer or pcs etc yet her bills were more than her friends who had a huge 5 bedroomed place and electric heating, they refused to replace the meter, when she eventually moved her bills went down to about £30 a month !

We live in a four bed with the tele, pc, etc on and we pay around £40 a month.

I second what Ivy said. Try and find out if your neighbour ever has a bill.

Is your heating electric or gas? That makes a huge difference to the amount of electricity you would use.

That definately sounds too much to me, we live in a 2 bed terrace, have tumble dryer which is on every day at least 2 loads, and pay £70 per month for gas and electric combined.