Letter from gas & electricity provider......!?!
Letter from gas & electricity provider......!?!
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Discussion

outlaw biker

Original Poster:

2,458 posts

226 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
I've just opened a letter from my gas and electricity provider and I'm shocked. Basically it starts off by saying how UK wholesale prices have risen by 190% for electricity and 230% for gas between Feb'07 and July'08. Blah de blah. Then it says that they regret to inform me that they will be raising their prices by 29.2% and 19.2% respectively. Ok, fair enough....

....but, when I say 'will be', thats not strictly accurate. What are actually proposing is that the increase in price will be backdated to 25th August'08!!! WTF!?! So basically, they want more money for the last two months electricity and gas than originally contracted.

I can however switch provider within 10 working days and that 2 months worth of useage will be charged at the old rate. This information was buried in very small print on an enclosed leaflet.

Unbelievable cheek if you ask me!

Steamer

14,185 posts

243 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Oh Balls...

that will be the letter from Atlantic Electric that I didnt bother to read this morning then furious

outlaw biker

Original Poster:

2,458 posts

226 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Steamer said:
Oh Balls...

that will be the letter from Atlantic Electric that I didnt bother to read this morning then furious
Yep, thats the one! I can't believe it. Surely this can't be legal? Its like having a phone contract and running up a bill for a few months and then being told "Actually, sorry, we're going to charge you a lot more than we originally agreed for those phonecalls."

Steamer

14,185 posts

243 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
I hope someone else can answer that one... but right now I'm thinking about cancelling my DD and moving my provider anyway.

Dover Nige

1,308 posts

273 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Is this from Atlantic..? I had a refund of £109 from them last week..? I guess that'll offset this raise then....

anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Had the same thing from BG, guess they fail to check i'm on a 3 year fixed price plan - shows how much interest they take.



FourWheelDrift

92,324 posts

314 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
So fuel costs go down but the utility companies put their prices up.

nelly1

5,665 posts

261 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Natural gas...


Crude oil...


I hope they'll be as quick in backdating the refunds...


Edited by nelly1 on Monday 20th October 21:51

Balmoral Green

42,561 posts

278 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
That needs to be challenged, legally, Unless there is a clause in your terms and conditions that says that price increases can be backdated, but I doubt it. They have to inform you of new terms & conditions, and with time for you to consider them, settle your account and make other arrangements if necessary. They can no more back date an increase to that extent than can your local petrol station demand extra money for your last two months petrol. You have purchased a product, and used it, at a pre agreed rate, the fact that you didn't pay for it at the time up front is irrelevant. One for the media I would have thought.

Edited by Balmoral Green on Monday 20th October 21:26

robinhood21

31,147 posts

262 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Bit late now, but Dispatches: The truth about your energy bill was on C4 at 8pm. Have recorded it, but yet to view. Might be interesting!

Simpo Two

92,870 posts

295 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Don't forget to allow for your two free 'energy-saving' (ie 'super-dim') light bulbs that they give you to support their drivel about saving the world....

King Herald

23,501 posts

246 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
digimeistter said:
Had the same thing from BG, guess they fail to check i'm on a 3 year fixed price plan - shows how much interest they take.
I had no end of grief off Brit Gas about a year ago, when they had their new computer system put in. Or that was their excuse when they tried to increase my DD by 400%.
I now pay quarterly, by bill, so I can see what they are charging.

Our price freeze expires in 2010. frown

anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
Tell them that you have been on holiday since the 25th August & havn't used any gas since then!.

My fixed rate ends on the 30th Nov, they wrote to me today, hinting that he price will rocket after that date. Maybe I should phone in some meter readings a bit higher than reality, to buy some gas at the lower rate. Or get a gasometer in the back garden!

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

297 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
So fuel costs go down but the utility companies put their prices up.
Cant remember how it exactly works but I think they are 6 months behind for some reason and teh changes dont get passed on for a while... I Didnt see any threads about peoples bills not rising when fuel was biggrin

BB

andyquantum

13,204 posts

234 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
That Despatches thing, I'm not going to spoil it but I had to turn over to something else

I just had a new meter installed today as the old one has been reading 88888 for the last 2 quarters and some random numbers inbetween

Price rise, you say? But how? Meter say 00000. Click, Brrrrr

kingofdbrits

630 posts

223 months

Monday 20th October 2008
quotequote all
robinhood21 said:
Bit late now, but Dispatches: The truth about your energy bill was on C4 at 8pm. Have recorded it, but yet to view. Might be interesting!
Just watched it, and what pissed me off the most was that £75 from every household in the UK goes straight into the pockets of company shareholders, thats about £2Bn.

King Herald

23,501 posts

246 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
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kingofdbrits said:
robinhood21 said:
Bit late now, but Dispatches: The truth about your energy bill was on C4 at 8pm. Have recorded it, but yet to view. Might be interesting!
Just watched it, and what pissed me off the most was that £75 from every household in the UK goes straight into the pockets of company shareholders, thats about £2Bn.
That is the sole reason companies exist: to make money for shareholders. Didn't you know that? confused

People don't start businesses or buy shares because they like that warm glowey feeling in their belly from helping the populace keep warm.

The Ben

1,623 posts

247 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
They can actuially backdate price rises by 3 months perfectly legally unfortunaly!!!

http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?...

jimothy

5,151 posts

267 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
kingofdbrits said:
robinhood21 said:
Bit late now, but Dispatches: The truth about your energy bill was on C4 at 8pm. Have recorded it, but yet to view. Might be interesting!
Just watched it, and what pissed me off the most was that £75 from every household in the UK goes straight into the pockets of company shareholders, thats about £2Bn.
Yeah, and goes into the pension pots of greedy old ladies. Bcensoredtches, let them and their cat starve.

rolleyes

robbieduncan

1,993 posts

266 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
kingofdbrits said:
robinhood21 said:
Bit late now, but Dispatches: The truth about your energy bill was on C4 at 8pm. Have recorded it, but yet to view. Might be interesting!
Just watched it, and what pissed me off the most was that £75 from every household in the UK goes straight into the pockets of company sharelders, thats about £2Bn.
Then buy some shares: then some of it will be going into your pockets...