Electricity provider is screwing me on final bill

Partake0486 on 13/02/2018 - 14:56

I just want to regale you all with a story and ask whether I should kick up a stink over it. Personally I think it's unfair but I'm open to being shown that I've missed something and am mistaken.

I changed to Alinta in the final week of my billing period which was the end of Jan. I received my quarterly bill from my current provider on 31 Jan for the quarter to 29 Jan, with a pay on time discount of $217 if paid by 19 Feb or $252 there after. I have direct debit so all good. I received a second bill yesterday for $275 for the period 29 Jan - 7 Feb. This has turned out to be my final bill from my current provider and they've carried over the $252 amount. This final bill is due on 27 Feb.

So the issue is I don't think it's fair for them to carry over the $252 because I don't think I've been given the opportunity to pay the discounted amount of $217.

Am I right or wrong?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • oscargamer on 13/02/2018 - 15:06

    read your pds

    i think you'll find that the 'discount' has some bearing on the next bill……..

    • Partake0486 on 13/02/2018 - 15:47

      Nothing I can see in the PDS, in my contract I can see this:

      1. The discount specified in the contract sheet for paying on time
        (the “pay on time discount”) will be applied:
        a. in respect of those energy charges incurred for energy
        consumed during the billing period; and
        b. only to the usage component of your electricity rates.
  • hamza23 on 13/02/2018 - 15:45
    +3

    Pay the $217 before the 19/2 as per your original bill, when you pay the $217 it should credit $252 (which is what normally happens), then pay the remainder before the 27/2 which I assume is $23 pre discount. If it doesn't calculate properly, a quick phone call to Alinta to explain should do the trick. The only thing that is different is that you've got the next bill before the $252 credit from your $217 payment shows, but that shouldn't mean that it won't still calculate that way as normal.

  • pernunz on 13/02/2018 - 15:46

    Ring them, speak to someone and ask them.

    It sounds like you should get the discount, and it's just a timing issue with when the bills were issued.

  • jsb on 13/02/2018 - 19:39

    Happened the same thing to me last month with optus. Your provider is not at fault here. They simply issued the bill as per their current record. All you have to do is pay old bill before due date and call then after 2 days. They will give you the final amount that you have to pay after considering pay on time discount. You can also ask them to send the updated bill. Don't worry about it much.

  • Partake0486 on 13/02/2018 - 23:03

    Thanks for the replies.

    I've logged into my account and can see the balance is showing correct at $240.75 due on the original bill's date of 19 Feb. So I'm going to leave it and see if that amount does in fact get direct debited on that date.

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