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Original poster

Electric bill problem, I think I owe £15k :o

407 replies

electricbills · 05/04/2022 10:56

This is not a begging thread before anyone piles on. But I am in a flap over discovering the above.

I've had some health issues, plus building works at home which combined together meant I've not been able to read my meter for a few years as it's in an awkward spot. I can't remember the last time either I gave a reading or anyone came out.

I can now access the meter and with all the stuff about electric prices rising I thought I should start with a clean slate. I couldn't access any of the previous readings online but submitted my figure of 31460.

I've since had a bill (obviously generated before my reading) and according to this my last estimate was 52440. I can't access any bills or readings online further back than 12 months and I don't get paper bills haven't for years.

So by my rough calculations based on kwh of I think 21p, I owe about 15k. My usual bills are about £300-400 per quarter. I feel sick.

I can just about pay it if I completely empty my savings and sell some stuff. But it's such a huge amount of money. I couldn't pay it in one go.

What do I do now?

OP posts:
3WildOnes · 05/04/2022 11:37

By my calculations you are 4.4K in credit. Just call them.

Flatbrokefornow · 05/04/2022 11:39

I’m with everyone else. They owe you. They love it when they hold onto your money and come up with and come up with all sorts excuses to to do so.

Meter cupboard keys are not proper keys. They’re just triangle or hexangonal (or square) latches. You can buy them on eBay. A neighbour will likely have the same type and you can borrow theirs.

ReadyToMoveIt · 05/04/2022 11:40

@electricbills

This is not a begging thread before anyone piles on. But I am in a flap over discovering the above.

I've had some health issues, plus building works at home which combined together meant I've not been able to read my meter for a few years as it's in an awkward spot. I can't remember the last time either I gave a reading or anyone came out.

I can now access the meter and with all the stuff about electric prices rising I thought I should start with a clean slate. I couldn't access any of the previous readings online but submitted my figure of 31460.

I've since had a bill (obviously generated before my reading) and according to this my last estimate was 52440. I can't access any bills or readings online further back than 12 months and I don't get paper bills haven't for years.

So by my rough calculations based on kwh of I think 21p, I owe about 15k. My usual bills are about £300-400 per quarter. I feel sick.

I can just about pay it if I completely empty my savings and sell some stuff. But it's such a huge amount of money. I couldn't pay it in one go.

What do I do now?

You say you’ve since had a bill. What does this bill say you owe, currently?
museumum · 05/04/2022 11:41

You are in credit. It can be difficult to get the cash back but you can enjoy not worrying about energy bills for a while :)
Do you have a “dual fuel” supplier? If so you need to get a gas key and read the gas meter asap! (You should anyway).

StaplesCorner · 05/04/2022 11:41

OP is there anyone in RL that you can ask to look through the figures with you? I know you said you have panicked but I'm a bit surprised you can't grasp that your readings are skewed - if those are correct then they owe you money and you'd been overpaying for years.

Citizens Advice have a special helpline service for energy debt (although I imagine its going to be busy!) - may that would be an option to talk it through?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/get-energy-advice/

Puffalicious · 05/04/2022 11:41

Just call them! It's not difficult. Otherwise you'll be flapping and upsetting yourself until you do. Why wasn't this the first thing you did?

WilsonMilson · 05/04/2022 11:45

This thread is absolutely ridiculous.

They clearly have overestimated for years and your actual reading is much lower. There is NO was it’s exceeded the clock and gone round again - that would take many decades. You have overpaid because all bills have been on estimates and are now owed money. Simple.

Original poster
electricbills · 05/04/2022 11:47

The bill I've had is based on another estimated reading, not the figures I gave, although the bill is dated today I imagine it was processed last week so hadn't factored in my payment.

That bill is for about £450, the starting estimate on that was the 52440 and the other figure was also estimated, 5something (sorry I'm on my phone and can't easily tab between screens to check the other figure on the estimated bill.

I will get one of those keys though for the gas meter. None of our neighbours have external meters so can't ask them but will look on ebay now. I stupidly thought they weren't available to the general public Blush

OP posts:
stairgates · 05/04/2022 11:49

Agree with everyone else they will owe you money, do you know what your gas meter says?

Chewbecca · 05/04/2022 11:50

It sounds to me like the actual reading is much lower than the estimate so hopefully you have a nice big refund on its way, or perhaps a payment holiday if you prefer. Give them a ring!

DietOrDie · 05/04/2022 11:51

If you have a huge electricity bill then it's worth knowing about the Ofgem back billing rules - basically, they can't go back more than a year if you've never had an accurate bill and haven't done something illegal / obstructive

DietOrDie · 05/04/2022 11:51

www.ofgem.gov.uk/check-energy-back-billing-rules

Tippexy · 05/04/2022 11:51

If a restaurant estimates you’re going to spend £100 on food but in the end you only order £40 of food, you do not owe them the missing £60!

Silverclocks · 05/04/2022 11:51

FWIW my gas meter cupboard "needs" a key, but a screwdriver works just as well. Worth a try.

Febrier · 05/04/2022 11:53

Just call them! It's not difficult. Otherwise you'll be flapping and upsetting yourself until you do. Why wasn't this the first thing you did?

This Confused

Fluffy40 · 05/04/2022 11:53

I’d take a reading today then work out how many units per day you’re using. Take it from there , and yes they can only back bill for 12 months.

ifonly4 · 05/04/2022 11:54

It's worth taking a photo of your meter, so you can prove that is roughly the same as the reading you gave.

Either way, it sounds like they certainly owe you money.

What are the estimates on previous bills?

Backtomyoldname · 05/04/2022 11:57

From what you have written ……

You have been paying their estimated bills - so no problem there.

The estimated figure of 52k of your consumption is

A what they get their estimated bills from.
B in excess of what you have actually used.( 32k)

From this it looks like you’ve been over charged.

So you need to phone them up and explain. Have all the figures on a sheet of paper.

Never mind what other neighbours have/haven’t used. Or past guestimates on your part.

Meter keys are available from B&Q, iron mongers etc.

We built up a load of credit - they didn’t make it easy to get a refund and so we cancelled our direct debit and are running off our credit with them. ‘Free’ lecky for a few months!

BarbaraofSeville · 05/04/2022 11:59

In this case I think I'd start by looking to see if I had any previous accurate bills or meter readings.

Also ask the supplier the same question as it can be useful to try and work out the scale of the problem, eg were things accurate 1, 2, 5 years ago? What numbers have they used to work out your bills over this period. If they've gone over by 20000 units in 5 years for example, using an average unit cost of 15 p, that's about an extra £50 a month that you've paid, which I suppose you might not notice if you don't pay much attention to what bills typically cost.

But have they really never sent a meter reader for many years?

They're supposed to see meters for themselves every couple of years at least (but covid obviously) for safety reasons and also to look for evidence of tampering.

But if you've been paying £400 ish a quarter and the estimate has just crept up and up without being noticed by anyone, the situation you describe is not impossible to end up in.

Definitely call them, but be prepared for them to argue and want to examine your meter, in case they suspect that you might have had it 'clocked'.

Aimee1987 · 05/04/2022 12:01

@MadeForThis

Call them. Ask them to refund any overpayment.
This Do not mention the possibility of it having gone around. If they havent read the meter in 10 years that's on them. As far as you are concerned you have been overpaying your Bill's and would like a refund please
Original poster
electricbills · 05/04/2022 12:03

I didn't call them because my first thought was that I owed them money and I thought if I had to discuss repaying £15k I'd probably cry.

Also because I know it's really difficult to speak to anyone at the moment - last week the website was too busy a couple of times for me to even submit my reading.

OP posts:
RedPanda901 · 05/04/2022 12:05

As others have said, just call them!
Yes they will not want to pay you the money back rather they'll prob suggest reducing your DD/bill payment per quarter but INSIST you'd like the money back.

AnneElliott · 05/04/2022 12:05

If yuu can't get through then see what comes back on your next bill. They should just accept your reading and I agree it's unlikely that the meter has gone the whole way round in just a few years.

JinglingHellsBells · 05/04/2022 12:06

@electricbills

I didn't call them because my first thought was that I owed them money and I thought if I had to discuss repaying £15k I'd probably cry.

Also because I know it's really difficult to speak to anyone at the moment - last week the website was too busy a couple of times for me to even submit my reading.

Legally, I thought everyone had to submit an annual reading OR give them access to read your meter- if it's either outside the property or in your home.

Have they never asked for a reading or come and read it?

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