Airtricity bill over €1000

ted1

brianomc wrote: »

Airtricity emailed me a few days before every bill was due to ask me to submit a reading myself. I did. I was never overcharged.

I don't work for them and am no longer a customer but only because I got cheaper rates elsewhere. The previous year they offered me a lower rate than anywhere else to renew and I wasn't locked into a new contract. If someone else had a better offer I could leave at any time. I wish I stayed, My current provider are cheaper but have no web login to your account to see bills/submit readings etc

I work as a energy manager and run bill validation for large multi nationals with bills in excess of 100k a month. I've seen Airtricity mess up bills on several occasions. Bear in mind that the meter records data every 15 minutes and uploads it

ted1

Byron Scarce Spectacle wrote: »

It you had 3 estimates up to this then the total of 2100 in total is not excessive.

It is. My heating bill is 600 for the year. That's with 5 people living in a semi d built in 84

Also if it's estimated then he would have been paying some money towards it

topmanamillion

Johngoose wrote: »

I take your point on the phone I think I was caught off guard,but I do intend on ringing tomorrow to clarify a few details.At present I do think a certain amount were estimated,but not all.i will keep people posted updated.I'll admit I don't have all the facts right now,but I'm sure most will admit that €1200 euro of a bill is on the extreme side.Would the heating have to be on 24/7?

As has been said, Its fairly easy a figure like that could accumulate if you were being estimated for long periods.
The best thing is to ring tomorrow as you've said and find out the story.
If it turns out to be correct I'd look into getting a few euro taken off it (a lot of companies will oblige when an unexpected bill like this appears).
Also, see what you can do to stop a repeat of a similar bill in the future. For instance you could regularly send in your own readings.

slimjimmc

Do Airtricity normally notify customers of their routine bill by phone? Or have you missed any payments?

roadrunner16

Menas wrote: »

You would need to look back at your old bills and see what was estimated and what not. If you have had lots of estimated bills in a row and then they did a reading you could get this nasty suprise.
Or they have estimated something nuts this time around.
Or there is something caputt in your house that is burning electricity. Have a look at the meter with most of your appliances turned off and see if it is spinning madly.
Ultimately the meter never lies.

I've heard that before, My Dad told me a story years ago when he used to do nixers as an electrician, an Old lady called him in to put in some sockets or something like that and mentioned to him while he was there that the bill always seemed to be more than it should, he said the same the meters dont lie.

She went around the house and turned everything off, literally everything, he went outside to check and sure enough the meter was ticking over still counting up,

He looked around and found that and old NTl box was connected on the wrong side of the meter, (I don't now what the box was for or how it worked but it was providing NTl signal to the whole estate and for some reason needed power) anyway he went and told the lady and she wanted him to disconnect it, he said , sorry can't , so he called NTL and explained the situation and was basically told "Get Fcuked that dosent happen", so he went ahead and dissconnected the box, not exactly how it was worked out after that but there was a big settlement for the Little old dear.

dudara

I've deleted a slew of unhelpful and off-topic posts.

Please do not reply further to this thread until (a) the OP returns or (b) you have something new to add to the discussion.

Any further off-topic discussion, speculative or repetitive posts will be deleted and will incur mod action

dudara

wandererz

OP,

I've been hit with Bill shock several times in the past.
Mostly (if not always) its been during or just at the end of the winter.

Part of the problem has related to estimated bills for a long period of time and to me not submitting actual readings.

To remediate this i have taken to:
1) Submitting regular readings
2) Opting for spread billing over the year.

This has worked out fine. I pay €139 per month all year round.

Every quarter i check my meter and the estimated usage as per the bill and update if necessary. Sometimes i've paid slightly more than i have used, but that's ok as it balances out over the year.

This includes running about 50 downlighters, a full size freezer, full size fridge, wine cooler, 55" TV, NTL box and a shed load of computer equipment.
All while keeping the entire place heated at a toasty 19-20 Celsius and all with electricity from Airtricity.

So, do check the meter readings against your bill and if confirmed then get onto a monthly billing plan.

As for Christmas, well, a lot of companies are wrapping up for the Christmas period at the moment. This means that people are finalising what they have to do by year end, sending out the statements they have to etc.

It's the end of the financial year as well for many companies, so if they've billed you, they are owed that money and can include it in their financial statements.

It's not you personally that they're doing this to, they're just tieing up the loose ends.

the groutch

it's always a risk with LevelPay or similar plans where you pay the same estimated amount each month.
they don't take into account higher usage at certain times of year, and this isn't the first (or last) story of high bills because of this.

I wonder though why they rang you rather than post/email the bill.
Are you in arrears?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Johngoose

Airtricity has told me that my gas meter has not been checked in the 3 years that I have been living in the rented house. The asked me where my meter was, as in was it hidden away or protected by some vicious dog? The meter is at the front of the house inside the front wall. There are two gates accessing the front lawn that are always open, there is no vicious dog or anything like that. they are admitting that it highly unusual that the meter wouldn't be checked for 3 years. They said that officially it should be checked every 6 month by a meter reader, regardless of estimated bills in between. i feel they have been highly negligent and that they are now royally screwing me over. They are now putting the blame on Gas Networks Ireland,saying they contacted them and that that particular company couldn't find my house. Typical Irish attitude of passing the buck, kicking the can down the road?

Johngoose

I've cancelled my direct debit with Airticity at the bank, until I get the energy Regulator to look into my case.

slimjimmc

Johngoose wrote: »

I've cancelled my direct debit with Airticity at the bank, until I get the energy Regulator to look into my case.

Keep making regular payments towards the bill otherwise you may be giving them grounds for disconnection.

Johngoose

I appreciate your concern thank you.The way things are going I'll have no heating anyway, I'd be afraid to put it on with what they charge...

whomitconcerns

400 a year seems pretty reasonable...I don't see how you think you don't have to pay...it's very remiss on the provider not doing any readings though...

Johngoose

whomitconcerns wrote: »

400 a year seems pretty reasonable...I don't see how you think you don't have to pay...it's very remiss on the provider not doing any readings though...

What 400 per year? 1200 euro for two months is what I'm being charged!

Stheno

Johngoose wrote: »

What 400 per year? 1200 euro for two months is what I'm being charged!

Is that based on a meter reading?

Johngoose

Johngoose wrote: »

What 400 per year? 1200 euro for two months is what I'm being charged!

Are you not just being charged the difference between estimated and actual readings? Will this 1,200 not be a once off? As other posters have said, keep making some payment. Don't just dig your heels in, keep in contact with them and come to some arrangement for payment.

melekalikimaka

Johngoose wrote: »

Airtricity has told me that my gas meter has not been checked in the 3 years that I have been living in the rented house. The asked me where my meter was, as in was it hidden away or protected by some vicious dog? The meter is at the front of the house inside the front wall. There are two gates accessing the front lawn that are always open, there is no vicious dog or anything like that. they are admitting that it highly unusual that the meter wouldn't be checked for 3 years. They said that officially it should be checked every 6 month by a meter reader, regardless of estimated bills in between. i feel they have been highly negligent and that they are now royally screwing me over. They are now putting the blame on Gas Networks Ireland,saying they contacted them and that that particular company couldn't find my house. Typical Irish attitude of passing the buck, kicking the can down the road?

Bord gaid are responsible for reading your meter , not airtricity, your issue is with BG. You'll get disconnected then have to pay disconnect and reconnect on top of it

HeidiHeidi

You still haven't said how the bill reading compares to your actual meter reading. Did you evercheck that?

Johngoose

just to let you know I've been paying hundreds every two months for the last three years for estimated bills. The 1200 euro bill i got last month is on top of all the previous money i have paid.

TitianGerm

Johngoose wrote: »

What 400 per year? 1200 euro for two months is what I'm being charged!

I assume what the above poster means is if the meter hadn't been read in 3 years you've been under charged by the equilivant of €400 a year (€1200/3 years).

Johngoose

melekalikimaka wrote: »

Bord gaid are responsible for reading your meter , not airtricity, your issue is with BG. You'll get disconnected then have to pay disconnect and reconnect on top of it

Do you work for Airticity/ Bord Gais?

Johngoose

emmetkenny wrote: »

I assume what the above poster means is if the meter hadn't been read in 3 years you've been under charged by the equilivant of €400 a year (€1200/3 years).

Somebody with sense, thank you

HeidiHeidi

Johngoose wrote: »

Do you work for Airticity/ Bord Gais?

Why would you ask this?

He's right, airtricity are only your gas suppliers, GNI are responsible for maintenance of the network and doing (or not doing) readings.

Johngoose

Presume they won't disconnect overnight. Anyway will be keeping jumper and gloves on as can't pay their extortionate bills/ afford to turn on the gas boiler...

Stheno

Johngoose wrote: »

Presume they won't disconnect overnight. Anyway will be keeping jumper and gloves on as can't pay their extortionate bills/ afford to turn on the gas boiler...

They'll disconnect fairly quickly if you fail to engage with them. No electricity would be unpleasant

HeidiHeidi

Johngoose wrote: »

Presume they won't disconnect overnight. Anyway will be keeping jumper and gloves on as can't pay their extortionate bills/ afford to turn on the gas boiler...

It's been explained to you that most likely that huge bill is simply an arrears bill, why do you persist with the "well I can't afford their bills if that's what they're going to charge me" line?

Johngoose

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Why would you ask this?

He's right, airtricity are only your gas suppliers, GNI are responsible for maintenance of the network and doing (or not doing) readings.

just that a mate told me that big companies have online profiles to attack anybody dissing them in discussion forums.

Kovu

Johngoose wrote: »

Presume they won't disconnect overnight. Anyway will be keeping jumper and gloves on as can't pay their extortionate bills/ afford to turn on the gas boiler...

It's not exactly extortionate when you break it down. 1200/3= 400 per year so €33 per month underpaid over three years.
Did your bills not say they were estimated?

Mezcita

Johngoose wrote: »

just that a mate told me that big companies have online profiles to attack anybody dissing them in discussion forums.

Brilliant.

HeidiHeidi

Johngoose wrote: »

just that a mate told me that big companies have online profiles to attack anybody dissing them in discussion forums.

I'd give up on the "mate" and start listening to some of the sound advice being given to you in this thread, tbh.

You seem hell bent on provoking a row, no matter what people tell you.

There are easier ways of doing things, you know.

andekwarhola

Anybody with airtricity (or presumably any other provider) is mad if they don't just set up an online account. You can see which readings are actual or estimated, and provide your own readings for every bill (and be reminded to do so by text or email).

Companies don't particularly care if you're one of the few customers that end up on the end of an error like this (for services you, however, genuinely owe for) so why not be proactive and check yourself if the facility exists?

Slippin Jimmy

I've used the service but how dare they charge me for it. Some bloody nerve I tell ya.

Coles

Johngoose wrote: »

just that a mate told me that big companies have online profiles to attack anybody dissing them in discussion forums.

That might be true (or it mightn't), but either way you were being offered sound advice. Before you opt to refuse to pay the bill you need to consider the costs associated with disconnection/reconnection.

Maintain good communication with the company, explain your predicament, and try to arrange a payment schedule to reduce the outstanding balance.

At the same time, reduce your consumption of gas/electricity in any way you can to get through this period. I know it sucks, but that's the way it is.

Best of luck with it.

Saipanne

If you stop paying now you are basically ruling out any hope of a judge looking upon you kindly, should it go that far.

Regards

A Corporate Shill

Johngoose

I'm sure they would be more efficient at getting somebody to cut me off, than getting somebody to check my meter...

Johngoose

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

I've used the service but how dare they charge me for it. Some bloody nerve I tell ya.

Slippin jimmy I like the Better Call Saul reference, good user name

HeidiHeidi

Johngoose wrote: »

I'm sure they would be more efficient at getting somebody to cut me off, than getting somebody to check my meter...

It's. Not. Airtricity. Who. Read. Your. Meter.

What bit of that do you not understand?

Do/did you ever check a bill to see if it's a reading or estimated?

andekwarhola

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

I've used the service but how dare they charge me for it. Some bloody nerve I tell ya.

To be fair, it's a little remiss that somebody isn't informed about the inability to get the correct meter reading for so long. Obviously the service was used but it's hardly nice to be slapped with a thousand + euro arrears bill in January.

Hence the necessity of keeping track of readings yourself.

Johngoose

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

It's. Not. Airtricity. Who. Read. Your. Meter.

What bit of that do you not understand?

Do/did you ever check a bill to see if it's a reading or estimated?

Is it not their duty to get somebody to check my meter? Reminds me of the Shaggy song "It Wasn't Me."

DARK-KNIGHT

Our gas bill was estimated by calor gas for a number of years and a year ago we got a bill for 3000

Prepay meter installed now

Laziness on their part

EagererBeaver

Johngoose wrote: »

Typical Irish attitude of passing the buck, kicking the can down the road?

More like typical Irish attitude of "**** that, I don't want to pay because I don't want to pay. How do I get out of my contractual obligations?"

OP doing anyone with a genuine issue with a utilities provider a disservice.

DARK-KNIGHT

Do what I did and install a solid fuel stove never looking back and calor gas will be repaid in around the year 2035 only thing I use gas for now is the hob

TitianGerm

Johngoose wrote: »

Somebody with sense, thank you

You've said yourself your bill has been a couple of hundred Euro every two month's.

Say you've been paying €300. This was an estimated bill every two months for the last three years.

Now it's come to light that you've been estimated for so long and obviously a reading has been taken and shown a shortfall, in your case €1200.

So instead of paying €300 every two months you should have been paying €369 every two months for the last three years.

Now Airtricity are looking for the money which should have been paid all along.

As above posters have said ring Airtricity and see will they agree a payment plan. They might agree to €20 a month for the next 60 months(just a guess at a figure). If you get cut off for non payment/refusing to talk to them you will be hit with a disconnect fee and a reconnect fee once this is all sorted.

Something else to note is that the utility companies do allow you to submit your own meter readings via email/text phone or online. I put my own in every 4/5 months just so I don't get a nasty surprise in the future.

slimjimmc

Johngoose wrote: »

just that a mate told me that big companies have online profiles to attack anybody dissing them in discussion forums.

And if you suspect someone is posting in that capacity use the report post facility and let the mods investigate. Commenting on thread is annoying and can be provocative even if unintentional.

HeidiHeidi

Johngoose wrote: »

Is it not their duty to get somebody to check my meter? Reminds me of the Shaggy song "It Wasn't Me."

No it's not, as it happens.

And even if it was, are you completely incapable of fully reading a bill and seeing that it's estimated every single time for thee years?

You're beginning to remind me of that song yourself with your attitude, if the truth be told.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Kovu

Johngoose wrote: »

Is it not their duty to get somebody to check my meter? Reminds me of the Shaggy song "It Wasn't Me."

Did all your bills not say they were estimated?
If so, common sense at some stage should have meant you checked your meter to compare.

HeidiHeidi

Have you checked your meter now, op?

(As in since you started this thread)

andekwarhola

EagererBeaver wrote: »

More like typical Irish attitude of "**** that, I don't want to pay because I don't want to pay. How do I get out of my contractual obligations?"

OP doing anyone with a genuine issue with a utilities provider a disservice.

The OP's attitude isn't great (as is their seeming inability to check their own readings or take advice) but it's pretty sloppy business practice not to inform an account holder/address of the inability to procure a actual meter reading for 3 years.

You can say blah blah cough up what you owe (I would of course do this) but an arrears bill of that size could present quite a financial difficulty and could have been avoided.