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Having some issues with British Gas ATM, they are refusing to investigate my electric bill, which I think is excessively high for someone that lives alone and only uses the apartment during the week.  The apartment is two bedrooms in a purpose built block in Queens Park, only 3 years old so not sure why I'm having these issues.

I'm out on average from 8am to 8pm and away on weekends, the apartment is just electric.  Only things I use are the following Refrigerator, Microwave, cooker, lights, shower, Kettle, Iron, phone charger at night, laptop charger occasionally and two storage heaters during the winter.

I don't have a TV and when I'm out I make a point of turning everything off apart from the Refrigerator

My bills are £180 per month and they are claiming that I'm using 710 Kilowatts of energy a month, I've taken a reading myself and it does show this but I think that there is something externally that's not right.

Looking at the bill it shows that I use most energy during the day and very little at night, which again isn't right because I'm out during the day or with the family in Notts

Any advice from the blonde community would be much appreciated.

its high!

Yeah pretty ridiculous only noticed today when I was checking my bank statement, they've been DD £180 a month since March, Cancelled the DD going to contact the governing body because it's just to much for them not to investigate.

I pay about 80 per month for gas and electric for myself if that helps as a comparison

What type of Dwelling?

Newish 2 bad apartment.

man i really hate them 2 bad apartments i love the 2 good ones but they cost an arm and a wheelchair

I live in a 4/5 bedrooms with 3 adults . It's cost me 260 a quarter in summer and £400 in winter fir both electricity and gas . Yours s bit to much I think . That amount is only pay by my mate that have a " plantation in his house " . Get it check mate . I think u paying too much

Maybe you have neighbours with a marajuana factory poncing off your supply lol.

is apartment posh for flat ?

Haha, I suggested that to British Gas, hoping that they'd come out and check...

Yes, do you live in a flat?

yes with an upstairs... nope hang on thats a house...on a residential development...not an estate.. :)

Sorry I meant to put *Cockney accent* My French Plait.

British Gas won't check it so I need to get a private electrician in that will check out what's going on.  Like I said I think the issue is external so they should be liable in checking it to make sure.

I does happen mate I know someone who bought a new place and they marked the meters wrongly, 2 of the apartments were paying each others bill until they sussed it a couple of years later when the people in one place were away for a couple of months but still got the size same bill and asked it to be looked at.

Does seem high though i have a 3 bed house elec is about 80 quid a month

This is what I think is going on. The thing is that British Gas have been really unhelpful, really didn't want to know, tried to push the blame on me by saying things like "Storage heaters take up a lot of electricity" I even said £180 is completely unaffordable for me, to which the agent replied "Well you have paid that for the last 4 months without complaining" It was a British call center too ffs

Do a quick test and see if the counter turns faster when you turn all the lights on, iron, kettle etc

Used to work for British Gas when I left school and I seen this happen a lot back in the early 90s. Generally meant someone was connected to your electric...Seen next door neighbors connect under the floorboards etc etc...esp common in rentals.

Way OTT Steve. I pay £138/month for gas and electric in a 5 bed detached 2 adults and 2 teenagers who have yet to master the concept of OFF.

Get something like this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/OWL-micro-Wireless-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B007W0SQ3Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377798384&sr=8-2&keywords=electricity+monitor) and track what devices are using through a process of elimination.

Woodsey has the answer IMO.

Are your bills £180 a month or is your direct debit £180 a month? The two may not be the same and you might be in credit with British Gas.

If not, check the timers on your water - make sure it's only on as much as it needs to be.

It's also not unheard of for things to go odd in apartments that were converted from houses - I knew someone who lived in a flat for 5 years and never got one electricity bill.

The bills work out to £179 and change, £180 is what they're taking.. Apartment is in a purpose built block, but there is defo something fishy going on.  Most people on my floor know it's a pierre de terre so someone maybe stealing the power.

Great idea, ordering one now. Thanks

Switch off the main fuse switch to isolate everything and see if its still ticking!

Really don't know why I never thought of this, great idea... Thanks  :respect:

save any work on your PC first ;0)

don't leave it too long for the freezer to defrost :0)

Have a torch handy  (etc etc)

Was talking to my old man, first thing he said was "I bet some c*nt is growing marijuana and using your electric"

bill does look high

would suggest tweeting them

companies seem to have more manpower on twitter these days than anything else

Sure you will at least getting somebody calling you about it

Just had my annual statement happy to share as a comparison.

Std variable tariff with EDF. Dual bill on DD.

4 bed semi. 4 people in house, 2 kids, 2 adults. They estimate I will pay £2000 next 12 months.

Seems pretty high although it's not impossible to be that much.

Do you have gas?

Do you have underfloor heating?

Do you have air conditioning?

Do you have an insane amount of fancy spotlights all over the place?

If the first answer is no and the other 3 are yes (which would be normal in a swanky apartment) then it seems pretty reasonable.

No gas just electric, no to everything else, apartment isn't swanky at all, just fulfills my needs for the week while working. I hardly use the place to be fair, I'm usually out for 12 hours + a day and not there on weekends, that's why I'm pretty surprised at the amount. 

Not growing Marijuana either before you ask lol.. 

What about your hair straighteners? You don't leave them on all day do yo? 

Damn forgot about those..

Blimey.  Our electric is only about £14 per month...and I'm home all day, every day.  Ooops.  Jack's just reminded me, we have solar panels which I make good use of, but your bill is still miles too high.

Sick brag...  rotflmfao

Do you have a storage heater? They are designed for split rate meters as they work consistently when off peak, I had an issue with being on ring tariff, done us pretty bad

Also can you switch supplier? Tell them your leaving, that dept far more helpful

I pay £168 per month for electric and gas and £220 in December.

I have a fan on 10pm - 6am every night and about 15 or so electrical items always being used plus a load in standby mode, so defo think you are being charged too much.

Seems high for an apartment. My house I always have a television on a night and during the day. It drains. My electric is super high and I pay like £130 dual fuel for gas too. Who are you with?
When I signed up 3 years ago it was £30 for both, after 3 months it ended up being £70, and obviously increases when the company directors want to build a new house on their private islands.
Get a little monitor (EON and British Gas do one) to see what is causing it!
My friends how have flats pay about £65 a month. Update your reading incase your on an estimated bill buddy.

All those Xmas lights? :)

Sure is Sir. Also missus seems to have the heating on all day everyday.