General Chat

I might have got that wrong Winterwitch.....but I know I used to be both gas and electric with Eastern.

Powergen , when it owned the companies seemed to be forever estimating the bills ( I think they only sent someone to read them once a year ? )

I know that my meter has been read each quarter for the past two years as I watch the chap doing it.
If your meter isn't being read you can always read it yourself and phone in the reading.

I think "they" are making up the estimated bills off the top of their heads , certainly not based on past usage.

Winterwitch........I have never actually changed fuel provider.....it keeps getting taken over by other companies....e-on was powergen was Eastern gas ( if I remember rightly )........my meter must have stopped working back in April 2005 ( when it was powergen )........it beggars belief that it is only being queried now .

Merlin.......I will be on high alert when the chap comes to change the meter.......lol....I already have taken photos of it......lol

Ali....if and when they "catch up" with you.....remember, if it is a faulty meter it is their problem / fault not yours.

I am waiting for the day EDF catch up with me!, since I can remember we have been paying a debt off using prepayment, but over the last year, we don't seem to be using that much gas a month (even though it's on), and the debt is being taken off at pence instead of pounds. They have wrote asking if I could get in contact, as there seems to be a problem with my card'... why do I want to do that!, if they think I have a problem, then they should make more of an effort to fix the problem!, like send me a new card, or make arrangments to change the meter!!...I know I will end up in the wrong, but add it to the rest!!!

Make sure you get the Number of the Meter they take out and the Reading on it at the time,also the Name of the Person removing it,and that the "New Meter" is at Zero when installed.May come in useful late for queries.**M**.

I'm pleased to hear that Claire : )

I don't see how they can charge anything if they have no idea what a person has been using.

BigRon.......I think I'll take your advice and write them a letter asking them to document their info probably in writing.......they did tell me the dates etc over the phone and I wrote them down but it would be a good idea to have it from them in writing....thanks for the advice : )

I'll also take a pic of the meter ( with its current reading ) just in case " they " loose it.........lol

Liz.....glad your son got his bill sorted as well .

The bill has arrived & as expected I was NOT charged for the 1/4 when the meter was out of action

My son recently got a bill for gas I think it was, for about £900! He had received bills, but estimated ones and not bothered to send correct readings, silly lad. They came round to check (it's a one bedroomed flat with double glazing) and decided his meter must be faulty so a new one installed and they are adjusting his bill, apparently should be nearer £90!
Hope he will keep a check on it in future - he is at last listening to me and wearing an extra sweater instead of turning the heating up.

Amanda, hope you get everything sorted out without too much trouble and expense.
Lizx

Amanda you need to get from them in writting what has happened and from what date the reading was the same from, Also you need to get in writting just what action they need or are going to take on this matter. Will they give you a written letter saying sorry for any upset caused. Then if they still say you owe the £5042.59 inform them your going to seek legal help while also going to the Trading Standerds and informing them as to what has gone on. They may even get the whole thing removed for you.
Hope this helps.

My electric meter was read in March then I got an estitmated bill in July. When I checked the meter I found it was stuck, it still showed the same reading as March. I called my supplier & was given a new meter a few days later. Now I've just had another reading taken & should get in the bill within a few days.

I will book mark & let you know what happens.

Even backdating the bill to 2006. there's no way you could have used that much!!!
I had a similar problem many years ago as a 'youff' in a rented flat - the gas meter didn't move.
Every time the gas 'foreman' came around he found an electric fire in front of the gas fire - I insisted I hadn't used any gas!! (I was a good liar LOL)
He never got his money!

Personally, I would change company and then tell the old one to take me to court if they think they have a leg to stand on.

A local business has just received an Electric bill for over £38,000. They claim he has been charged at the wrong rate since 2003, even though they have changed his meter several times since then.

Thats a good idea Willow......thank you....I'll do that in the morning.

Hi

Your right the back-billing rule is 12 months....so long as you can prove that you wasnt at fault, i.e you was getting no bills etc but they had your correct details.

Contact consumerfocus I believe there the new merged energy watch.

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/

Oh and before they take the meter, take a photo of the meter, when I had a problem with my meter I just took a reading but the energy company conviently said the meter had gone missing so couldnt confirm my reading!

Indeed SS...........I hope that is the decision that they reach too...........lol

Getting the letter did make my hair stand on end for a moment or two.........lol

Well, since the meter remains unchanged you obviously don't owe them anything LOL. They've no way of proving how much gas you have used. It's about time they started learning that their incompetencies cost only themselves.

Thank you SS.........I'll certainly be looking into getting help if they try to push for such a ridiculous amount of money .

Obviously I must owe something but I'm not going to be lumbered with that cost !!

Our local newspaper have an action desk and it's not that long since I remember someone having a similar sort of situation, think it was british gas though. Anyway, a pensioner (I'm sure it was) had this huge bill and got in touch with the action desk... they gas company ended up apologising and wiping out the debt. I dunno if your local paper has something similar but it's worth looking into, because you obviously won't have paid anything over the last two years and even if they can only demand the one year back, that's still an awful lot of money. Get some advice from somewhere. Why didn't they notice sooner, as you said.

Thank you Ann.............as if life isn't difficult enough we have to deal with cock ups like this grrrrr.

i said the same ,i realy hope your outcome is differant to mine what worries me is the" change the meter bit"
good luck with it any way