Gas/ Lecky Bills

[jim360]

Been at parents' home for Easter. Came back to a bunch of post including some more spam from Virgin Media (no I'm fine thanks, I don't want a TiVo really), but also my first ever Gas and Electricity bill. I'm living in a shared flat where all of the old tenants moved out shortly after my arrival. No, honestly it was a coincidence. Really! But that's meant that I've somehow wound up as head of the household, bill-payer, and nagger-to-pay-me-the-rent-already-please-other-people!

So yes, my first gas bill arrived... for 54p. Right... couldn't you just have tagged that onto the proper bill in June? Now I have to sort out a way of getting some small change to SSE. 54 bloody p! Sheesh...

[factor-fiction]

Do you pay your bill;s by cash then, jim?
With a 54p bill presumably you have taken the no standing charge option

[jim360]

Best I can figure it I'm on the proper direct debit tariff now... but they decided to start that from a day after the old account for this house ended. So the 54p bill is for the day in between... Utter waste of my time to sort out, and yet presumably I have to because I'm sure there's going to be like a £500 surcharge for late payment...

[factor-fiction]

I think your estimate of £500 for the surcharge may be around £500 too high.

[tonyav]

Send them a cheque ( if you still have a cheque book ), or a postal order.

[jim360]

Well, all I'm saying is that it's a pretty silly bill to send and to have to sort out. I could put a 2nd class stamp in the envelope I suppose.

[factor-fiction]

Once your first monthly DD payment is made your account will be in credit. I doubt there will be a problem if you don't pay the 54p. But for peace of mind you could just do a cheque and pay by post or over the counter at the bank- it's a pain but shouldn't happen again now your're on DD

[Old_Geezer]

You get no logic fro the power companies.
What got me recently was one lot who sent an estimate which I disputed and gave them a reading. Did they simply replace the bill like a normal person would ? Of course not. They sent a correction bill stating amounts impossible or near impossible to work out where they came from trying to justify corrections to the old disputed bill and coming up with a final fantasy figure one could not even understand let one dispute.