Electricity Bill for a Token Meter?!

[Callithrix]

I recently changed to a new electricity provider, which, according to a letter from them, their supply has begun.

But this morning I also got a letter from my (former) provider, saying:
for the period 14/10/05 to 05/05/06,
Balance on your new bill: (minus) -�30.00,
Your electricity charges: �80.20,
Your total now due: �54.21.

This is not a tax invoice. (?)

Thank you for being a customer.
---
How come I have to pay this when I've been using a token meter - now that I've changed providers I incur this sudden charge?
Also, on the letter it gives a breakdown of all the charges on the back, but it shows a meter serial number that doesn't match the one on my meter.
Why is it such a major ordeal changing providers? Why charges? Is this charge from my former provider avoidable? It seems personal, like, ah so you're leaving us are you? Well *raspberry* :P ~ have a heavy fine.
They ALWAYS seem to get some info about their customer wrong, missing or misplaced, such as no house number, even though I gave it to them when I signed up.
It's been a year since I got into having my own place, and the experience of dealing with electricity providers has very unpleasant when it comes to the provider having to do something, which, for some reason or other, they fail to do, and I get the anxiety. The companies seem completely incompetent. As if they just don't give a damn.
My meter card for buying tokens hasn't arrived yet either, and I've requested one several times over the past several weeks.
I called my new provider today and they said they've sent another one out, and said something about it being because of the meter supplier, I don't know. What a pain.
I'm going to contact them, but I want to know if anyone else has experienced this first, and if the �54 charge is avoidable. Thanks.

[fifi1962fifi]

hi when they set you on a the meter - were you in debt to them? cause they usually set the meter up to pay for the electricity that you arre using at the present time and aportion of the money you put in goes towards paying the debt. ie �5.00 might be �3.00 for the elec your using as your going along, and �2.00 would be set aside for the debt. So if your changing electricity suppliers and still owe part of the debt from the past the �54.21 could be whats outstading to the old provider.

[Callithrix]

All sorted now. Had meter swapped for key meter with my new provider. My old provider said it wasn't my fault and I won't have to pay it anymore.