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Original poster

How am I going to pay this?

57 replies

Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 12:00

'm not sure if you know but the energy prices in the UK have increased twice this year. I believe the went up in April/May and they went up again Yesterday.
I'm currently with Bulb. I moved from a 2 bed house to a 2 bedroom flat in December.

They quoted me about 2 weeks ago that I need to increase my payments to £99 per month 'to decrease my chances of going into debt' with them. I rang spoke to someone to find out why it has gone up so much. They explained its estimated and that nothing will change.

I went on this morning to see that I am almost £130 in debt to them and that they want me to increase my monthly payments to £130 per month.

I don't understand where the debt has come from and of course the day I get the email, is the day they are closed and I can't contact anyone to talk about it Hmm

I have already restricted myself as much as I can to afford to buy my sons school uniforms and that doesn't stretch even far enough to be able to pay what they want each month.

For years I have been asking them for a Smart metre but they have said they don't have them yet because 'they are waiting for the servers to change'

I really don't know what to do? If this is what its like now, what is it going to be like in December when its freezing?

Any advice would be really appreciated

Thanks

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 28/08/2021 12:38

Is it gas and electric or just electric in your flat?
Do you give regular meter readings and are you on the appropriate tariff e.g. economy 7 if you have storage heaters?

dementedpixie · 28/08/2021 12:39

You will be in debit if the amount you were paying did not cover the amount you were using. What were you paying before they asked you to increase to £99?

Authenticcelestialmusic · 28/08/2021 12:41

Do you change/review your tariff each year? Are you currently on a fixed rate tariff with bulb?

DappledOliveGroves · 28/08/2021 12:57

Do they have up to date meter readings? Make sure you provide them as it may be their estimates are wrong?

NotMyCat · 28/08/2021 13:00

That seems really high

I'm with bulb, and they do seem to want to increase direct debits rapidly
My latest bill - I have gas heating and hob, electric oven, 2 bed apartment

How am I going to pay this?
How am I going to pay this?
dementedpixie · 28/08/2021 13:04

I'm with Octopus and can amend my direct debit up and down by myself. I give a reading every month and within minutes can see my up to date balance and how much gas and electric I have used

Dazedandconfused10 · 28/08/2021 13:06

Bulb definitely do smart meters they used to email and text me all the bloody time about them. They kept trying to increase my DD when my consumption has not changed. I left them.

Mantlemoose · 28/08/2021 13:06

You need to submit actual meter readings on a monthly basis.

PotteringAlong · 28/08/2021 13:09

That’s really high! I have a 4 bedroom house, pay £95 a month for gas and electric and am in credit! Check your tariff and change supplier

BadgeronaMoped · 28/08/2021 13:12

I second actual meter readings (regularly), also, get on uswitch or similar if you don't do this each year. I was really disappointed by the huge price hike and have just had to switch providers again, it's such a pain in the arse!!!

Miniroofbox · 28/08/2021 13:14

Why aren’t you submitting actual meter readings?

EBearhug · 28/08/2021 13:15

I'm about £300 in debt, because they haven't changed my payments for about 3 years. They used to do adjust it about every 6 months. However, I'm fortunate in that I can afford higher payments. It would have caused me much more stress about a decade ago when my finances were more finely balanced. I do have a smart meter, but that doesn't seem to have made any difference.

I may change suppliers when I'm back from going away (too many other things to sort out before.)

Groovee · 28/08/2021 13:15

We pay £90 with bulb for and end terrace 3 bed and garage with electric. Dh submits meter readings monthly.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 28/08/2021 13:16

What were your payments before, and how often do you submit meter reads?

MNHQ
MillieMumsnet · 28/08/2021 13:18

Hello everyone
We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask users to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong. We strongly advise against parting with any cash or giving away your personal details, and if you receive a PM which makes you uneasy - report it to us and we’ll take a look.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon. In the meantime, you might find some useful information on our guide for dealing with financial difficulty

Name12341 · 28/08/2021 13:39

Have you applied for the warm home discount from the gov? If you qualify it will pay an annual £140 payment to your energy company each winter

Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:11

@Milliemumsnet
I'm confused what you mean. What has my post been reported for?

I'm not asking for money of any kind just some advice.

x

OP posts:
Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:12

@alldementedpixie It is for both gas and electric. I have been giving meter readings when they have asked for them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:13

@dementedpixie I currently pay £46 per month as they told me a few months ago that I could reduce the payments x

OP posts:
Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:14

@DappledOliveGroves Yes they have an up to date meter reading. They normally ask for a meter reading about every 2-3 months.

OP posts:
IsolaPribby · 28/08/2021 16:16

If it's a flat, is there any chance that you are being charged for the other properties in the building?

Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:16

@NotMyCat I did call them a week or so ago when they wanted to up the payments. they told me it was estimated for the winter usage but my amount wouldn't actually change unless I did it.
I expected maybe to have the account empty but not to owe that much money.

OP posts:
Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:18

@Mantlemoose when we first went over to submitting a meter reading when we moved in in December, I did try to submit a reading the following month but they told me that they had all they needed and they would let me know when they need a reading.
As soon as I get a notification I send them it straight away.

OP posts:
Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:19

@PotteringAlong I use to live in a 2 bed house and it was never this much! I really don't know where it came from.

OP posts:
Original poster
Muminneed123 · 28/08/2021 16:21

@Miniroofbox I am submitting meter readings as soon as they ask for them. I did try to submit them monthly when we first moved in and was told they would tell me when they need them.
This may have been because we had just moved in but that always use to be the same at my previous house.

OP posts: