Utility suppliers, how do they?
May 17th 2011, 4:07 pm
#1
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Utility suppliers, how do they?
Back in March we picked up a demand letter from the electricity company for 57€. Just back in the UK and opened our post which we picked up on the way to the airport (po box) A demand from the water company for 64€
Now both of these suppliers read their own meters and take the money by direct debit from our bank. So how on Gods planet do we owe anything never mind be in arrears?
Seems they have us over a barrel, we paid the electric bill and now it seems we are going to have to pay the water bill, this is the best bit, its for supply during 2009 and 2010 ! two small amounts. But its the principle here, they say they are owed the cash, but we have no way of contesting what the cash is for unlike in the UK where you can ask for an explanation .
Now both of these suppliers read their own meters and take the money by direct debit from our bank. So how on Gods planet do we owe anything never mind be in arrears?
Seems they have us over a barrel, we paid the electric bill and now it seems we are going to have to pay the water bill, this is the best bit, its for supply during 2009 and 2010 ! two small amounts. But its the principle here, they say they are owed the cash, but we have no way of contesting what the cash is for unlike in the UK where you can ask for an explanation .
May 17th 2011, 4:20 pm
#2
Retired and loving it!
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Ontinyent - Valencia region (campo)
Posts: 5,093
Re: Utility suppliers, how do they?
Back in March we picked up a demand letter from the electricity company for 57€. Just back in the UK and opened our post which we picked up on the way to the airport (po box) A demand from the water company for 64€
Now both of these suppliers read their own meters and take the money by direct debit from our bank. So how on Gods planet do we owe anything never mind be in arrears?
Seems they have us over a barrel, we paid the electric bill and now it seems we are going to have to pay the water bill, this is the best bit, its for supply during 2009 and 2010 ! two small amounts. But its the principle here, they say they are owed the cash, but we have no way of contesting what the cash is for unlike in the UK where you can ask for an explanation .
Now both of these suppliers read their own meters and take the money by direct debit from our bank. So how on Gods planet do we owe anything never mind be in arrears?
Seems they have us over a barrel, we paid the electric bill and now it seems we are going to have to pay the water bill, this is the best bit, its for supply during 2009 and 2010 ! two small amounts. But its the principle here, they say they are owed the cash, but we have no way of contesting what the cash is for unlike in the UK where you can ask for an explanation .
May 17th 2011, 4:45 pm
#3
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Re: Utility suppliers, how do they?
The bills have been paid Snikpoh. What both letters seem to say is that they have undercharged us at some point, how they do this we're at a loss to explain. as I said, they read the meter, say 100 units at a 1€ each is 100€. How can they come back at a later date and then say we owe more? that surely means that they have cocked up the meter reading earlier or are trying to charge more than the units actually are.
But if the meter was under read, surely this should just be added to the next bill to make up the difference, not sent out as a seperate letter threatening legal action if its not paid?
But if the meter was under read, surely this should just be added to the next bill to make up the difference, not sent out as a seperate letter threatening legal action if its not paid?
May 17th 2011, 4:58 pm
#4
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Location: Javea / Xabia
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Re: Utility suppliers, how do they?
It could be that there was no balance to pay those bills in 2009 and 2010. AMJASA in Javea tend to do this; if there is no money in the account to pay a specific bill then they leave it; when the next bill is due - and there is money in the account - they take the amount due for that bill only rather than backdate other bills. Somewhat inconvenient.
May 17th 2011, 6:36 pm
#5
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Re: Utility suppliers, how do they?
It could be that there was no balance to pay those bills in 2009 and 2010. AMJASA in Javea tend to do this; if there is no money in the account to pay a specific bill then they leave it; when the next bill is due - and there is money in the account - they take the amount due for that bill only rather than backdate other bills. Somewhat inconvenient.
That may well be true for some, but in our case we always have a balance of 300-400€ in our account, its the only safe way to ensure bills are paid and you should not end up in the situation as above. There has only once been less then this, it was when the bank decided to 'levy' excessive charges of nearly 200€ last November. At least we got that back.
