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Having some issues with Flow Energy currently that I need some advice on.

 

Basically I switched to them via the compare the market website in July 2016, but in November / December 2017 they contacted me to tell me I'd not been paying them enough via Direct Debit, and unbeknownst to me the bill had risen to about £1100. I admitted the fact I hadn't really looked at my bill, and hadn't submitted enough meter readings. But I challenged them on the fact my direct debit was clearly too low, and that they were also aware of the national average (As they had used this as an example to me to demonstrate why my direct debit was too low) and why had they allowed it to continue knowing my direct debit was too low.

 

To compound matters they had also given me a price increase in July (which I hadn't noticed, or missed). We finally agreed that they should re-bill me for that period at the old rate I was on prior to July, and this took the bill down to about £900.

 

I have now received another E-mail saying they're increasing my prices.

 

So, I really need some advice on how to approach this as Flow seem to be keeping me in a kind of debtors prison where they are the jailor. Can it be right that they increase my bill knowing I'm 1. struggling to pay anyway and 2. being aware of my financial difficulties (I gave them a brief income and expenditure). The current payment per month is £101 across 24 months.

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Between July 2016 and November 2017, had they been relying on your readings? Estimated readings? Or their own readings?

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Between July 2016 and November 2017, had they been relying on your readings? Estimated readings? Or their own readings?

 

I believe I gave them at least one meter reading during that period, but their website is pretty poor and doesn't display all the meter readings given.

 

Outside of that, they were using estimates.

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  • 5 months later...

Hi all,

 

I would post a new thread, but I started this one a while ago but it didn't see much response.

 

I'm still having issues with Flow.  Due to moving properties, I contacted them to switch addresses and checked my statements (I don't receive regular bills, and it relies on me logging in).  Stupid of me to leave it so long but there's a lot going on at the minute.  I noticed that in October 2017 the charge for Electricity went up to 17p and gas rose to 4.82p.  This is inclusive of the standing charge and kw/ph charge.  My debt to them because of the increase they implemented is now £1100, and the direct debit agreed as part of the payment plan is still not high enough to pay the debt down.

 

I queried with them why this was and that I felt the increase is unfair because I'm in debt and have already communicated to them that I was financially struggling.  They responded basically saying that there have been market wide energy price increases and the increase was justified and that they can continue with the payment plan of £101 per month.  I replied and said this was a waste of time because the direct debit is still clearly not high enough to cover the increase they implemented midway into the payment plan we agreed.

 

Having checked on-line I can also see that the national average for electricity is much lower as well as the gas, so I think blaming this on price increases is being dishonest - Unless anyone can disagree with me?  Looking on-line, the average for gas and electricity is a lot lower, so I don't see how it's fair to charge me more than the national average, and allow me to accrue such a large amount of debt.  Also, surely if they are blaming price increases technically I'm still paying for energy and gas I consumed before any price increase?  (As this has been ongoing since 2017)

 

Any advice?  Their last note was to inform me that they would pass this on to debt collector.

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Greetings Jase, at those prices you must have been sheepish, because Flow Energy were fleecing you!

 

Iresa Energy; V4; 02 May 17 - 02 May 18; Direct Debit in advance £80; usage £77.75
Gas = £0.02642 per kwh, Standing charge £0.1696 per day 12500 kwh per year = £411.76 (£34.31 per month).
Electric = £0.108 per kwh, Standing charge £0.1766 per day 4000 kwh per year = £521.28 (£43.44 per month).

 

Iresa Energy; V5; 02 May 18 - 02 Aug 18; Direct Debit £80 in advance ; usage £81.07 ( Ofgem  Rules no DD changes)

Gas = £0.028 per kwh, Standing charge £0.1696 per day, 89 kwh per quarter = £29.97 (£9.99 per month).
Electricity = £0.1142 per kwh, Standing charge £0.1766 per day, 972 kwh per quarter = £117.11 (£39.04 per month).

Andrew

ASI Industries = As i in does tries!

 

As i in does tries!: My definition.

I will try, i may never succeed in the goal, but at least by trying i have a greater chance of success than never trying at all!

 My opinions are my own & occasionally may offend, but it is not my intention to cause offence in the first place!

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I agree, but to be fair I signed a 24 month payment plan and the costs were set at 12p for the electric and almost 3p for the gas.  Flow then increased the charge midway through the payment plan, which I have only just noticed.

 

Any ideas of how to deal with this?  Their position is currently that they'll send it to a DCA.

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Greetings Jase, do you know if the plan was fixed or variable?

 

If it is fixed they cannot change it mid-term!

 

Debt Collection Agencies usually send's you a threat-o-grams, full of words like "If you don't pay us we may visit your

property, we could get you Arrested, you might loose your possetions", DCA's have less powers than your next door

neighbor.

 

Edited by ASIIndustries

Andrew

ASI Industries = As i in does tries!

 

As i in does tries!: My definition.

I will try, i may never succeed in the goal, but at least by trying i have a greater chance of success than never trying at all!

 My opinions are my own & occasionally may offend, but it is not my intention to cause offence in the first place!

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Hi, I'm on "Flow Fixed January 2020".  I think this was amended to flow fixed until 2020 when I set the payment plan up, but I was unaware of the fact the charges were higher.  Had I been, then obviously I would have queried it there and then... 

 

I know about DCA's; i'm not concerned in the slightest about whether they send it out to someone because the bill is in dispute.  I'd just rather Flow dealt with it honestly now...

Edited by Jase1982
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Greetings Jase, the easiest way to get rid of DCA'S is tell them the account is in dispute.

 

You should always take readings of your meters at least once a month, I tend to a reading on the 2nd of every

calendar month, then I work out exactly how much that energy cost.

 

You could take a meter reading today and another around the same time tomorrow, then subtract yesterdays

reading from today gives you your usage then multiply that by 31 this gives an estimate of a 31 day month,

and do the same for all fuels.

 

You could switch energy provider, however it will cost you £30 per fuel and Flow Energy may block your request

if you are £500+ in arrears.

 

New energy provider:
Peoples Energy; Fixed 1 year 2Months Up front ; ; 18 Apr 19 - 18 Apr 20 Direct Debit £100 in advance ; usage £97.10
Gas = £0.031639965 per kWh, Standing charge £0.2226 per day, 13000 kWh per year = £517.20 (£43.10 per month).
Electricity = £0.13398 per kWh, Standing charge £0.2226 per day, 4000 kWh per year = £648.03 (£54 00 per month).

 

£155 (G £91 E £64) Worst case scenario
31 day Winter Gas usage 2500kWh x £0.031639965 = £79.0999125  + £6.9006  = £86.0005125 + 5% = £4.300025625 == £90.30
31 day Winter Electricity usage 400kWh x £0.13398 = £53.592 + £6.9006  = £60.4926 + 5% = £2.91703 == £63.52

 

Old Energy provider
Bulb Energy Variable ; ; 02 Oct 18 - 17 Apr 19 Direct Debit £120 in advance ; usage £101.58
Gas = £0.0366 per kWh, Standing charge £0.2339 per day, 13000 kWh per year = £589.23 (£49.10 per month).
Electricity = £0.1286 per kWh, Standing charge £0.2339 per day, 4000 kWh per year = £629.76 (£52 48 per month).

 

£166 (G £104 E £62) Worst case scenario
31 day Winter Gas usage 2500kWh x £0.0366 = £91.50  + £7.2509  = £98.7509 + 5% = £4.937545 == £103.69
31 day Winter Electricity usage 400kWh x £0.1286 = £51.44 + £7.2509  = £58.6909 + 5% = £2.934545 == £61.63

 

Bulb estimates my Electricity 440 - 560  a month, yet to date I have only ever consumed 344 kWh in any 31 day month.
Bulb estimates my Gas within 20 units plus or minus of actual usage.
Even although I issue my monthly readings, Bulb still prefers to use their own estimates over my actual usage!

Bulb will send an email stating "you are all set, we will get the next reading in 3 months time"
then they will apply their estimates each calandar month.

At the moment I am in arrears with both fuels, paying £120 per calendar month, but using £140 in a 4 bed semi-detatched house!

 

My last years usage : Gas is in kWh

Gas 13269 kWh, Electricity = 3791 kWh
Winter: December, G 2092, E 344 January, G 2013 E 344 February G 1507 E 273.
Spring: March G 2193 E 339,  April G 1226 E 295
Summer: May G 326 E 340, June G 236,  E 296 ,July G 438,  E 336, August G 236, E 306, September G 281, E 317.
Autumn :  October G 1248, E 300, November, G 1473 E 301.  

Edited by ASIIndustries

Andrew

ASI Industries = As i in does tries!

 

As i in does tries!: My definition.

I will try, i may never succeed in the goal, but at least by trying i have a greater chance of success than never trying at all!

 My opinions are my own & occasionally may offend, but it is not my intention to cause offence in the first place!

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