High electric bill with prepay meter?

[roxygirl66]

I moved out of my 2 bed maisonette on 10th April. It had a prepayment card meter for the electric (no gas). Scottish Power have sent a final bill to my new house for the tidy sum of �618.12.

Are they having a laugh? How is this possible?

[redman41]

Did you ask Scottish Power for a final reading on your Meter on your final day as Tenant ? Even though you have a Card Meter it is best to have a final reading and keep your own Record as well as you obviously have received a rather large Bill for whatever reason !
I would definitely take the matter up with them as soon as possible explaining that you have been on a Prepaid Card Meter Scheme !

[buildersmate]

How many Units of electricity did you use? That is the key thing in knowing how big the bill will be. It's that simple.

[roxygirl66]

Thanks for your reply. The meter is in the bin cupboard which my landlady had locked so they couldn't get in to read the meter, therefore it was an estimate. A massive over-estimate I hope!

I just don't understand how I can receive a bill for any amount when the electric is pre-paid. It seems to defeat the object when these meters are usually used by people who struggle to pay a monthly or three quarterly bill to then hit them with an extortionate bill on moving out!

Unfortunately I hadn't read the meter myself as there didn't appear to be any numbers on the meter. Just a button with a digital display - which on pressing showed the different tariffs for day and night use and how much credit I had - and the emergency credit button.

I'll have to phone them. That'll cost me another tenner!

[kira000]

Hiya.

You may find this article from BBC watchdog useful.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/10/th e_backdated_bills_for_prepay.html

[simonruss]

hi there, I work for a large german energy company, (we sponsor the FA cup) i check up on this type of problem every day. it is possible to owe money on pre payment meters depending on what type you have, is it a card you buy from the shops or a plastic key? your meter may be on an old tariff, they need resetting to the new tariff everytime the prices go up, if its been locked away then i doubt this would have been done. the first step is to get your meter read and start from there, any probs I will try and help.

[roxygirl66]

Thank you all for your advice. I can't believe that article, to think I changed to Scottish Power believing them to be cheaper, I won't use them again!

Simonruss, I had a smart card which I topped up in the shop. The meter cupboard door was never locked the whole time I lived there. so they could have come to update the meter any time they liked.

The thing is, I lived there for less than a year (just me and my daughter) so there's no way my bill could have been that high. I always tried to save energy where possible by switching things off at the plug instead of putting them on standby and for about the last 4 months, I was mainly at my boyfriend's house so I was eating, doing washing and showering there.

I hope I can get this sorted. Like I said I moved out 10th April and they sent me this bill and now I've had a reminder too and I'm getting a bit worried because there's no way I can afford that much money, and I really don't believe my bill could be that much anyway!

Can you advise me what my next move should be please? Thanks again!