Beware of estimated readings from British Gas

skeleton_2

I had a gas bill today, and it was a very pleasant surprise - under £20 for the period since April.

Then I noticed that the bill was based on an estimated reading at 19th June. I took a new reading today, which was much higher than the estimated reading. I then remembered that I had had my meter read a few weeks ago.

I rang British Gas to query the bill, and they confirmed that I had had my meter read on 2nd July (the reading being very close to what it was today), but that 'for some reason' that reading had not been used for my bill. BG have now agreed to send me a new bill at the old rate (just over £100).

By billing me on an estimated reading would have enabled them, in the next bill, to charge their new price for most of the gas used in that period April-July, ie 35% higher than yesterday's rate. Thus they are able to 'backdate' their price hike at my expense.

This couldn't possibly be deliberate...

Be warned!

scope

Absolutely, the reason for the low "estimate" is to correct this in the next period, AFTER the price rise.. I say submit a slightly high reading, blame it on your eye sight if they find out.. Play them at their own game.

kjsmith7

Any bills up to the price rise date, including any energy used up to that date, WILL be charged at the old tariff. Just make sure you submit the readings, else risk some of the your usage that was used before the price rises being charged at the new rates.

It probably wasn't deliberate - companies don't read your meter themselves, external distributors do and then submit the readings to BG. One reason it wasn't included could be that the system 'outsorted' it: this means that it was higher or lower than it thought it would be, and so didn't bill it automatically.

Cardew

This theory has been covered time and time again on MSE.

If any company did what you suggest deliberately i.e. as a policy, it would be conspiracy to defraud and whoever was responsible would face a jail term.

It would be absolutely certain that an employee would blow the whistle on the culprit; the higher in management the better.

All the bills are generated by a computer, after the reading has been input. If the person who wrote the computer program also wrote it to defraud - he would face jail.

I would stick to the 'who shot President Kennedy' theories!

WestonDave

It may not be a deliberate conspiracy but the OP's warning is still a good one - given the signficant rises which will impact the next bill it is important to ensure that everything prior to the rise is billed in full and not left to be caught up in the next one.

rheme

Good point. It might be an idea as kjsmith7 advised for all those with British Gas, EDF or other who have not been able to switch to ring / e-mail them with current meter readings in order that the increased price is on actual usage since the increase and not on one averaged out.

Energy company profits are big enough without anyone helping to bump them up unnecessarily.

Gavioli_UK

kjsmith7 wrote: »

Any bills up to the price rise date, including any energy used up to that date, WILL be charged at the old tariff. Just make sure you submit the readings, else risk some of the your usage that was used before the price rises being charged at the new rates.

It probably wasn't deliberate - companies don't read your meter themselves, external distributors do and then submit the readings to BG. One reason it wasn't included could be that the system 'outsorted' it: this means that it was higher or lower than it thought it would be, and so didn't bill it automatically.

Also make sure your supplier uses you actual reading at a price increase.

On the day of the last price increase I submitted readings to Atlantic on the day of the increase. They chose not to use them saying "It was industry practice to only use estimates at a price rise". After taking my complaint to Energy Watch suddenly my readings were acceptable and I was thanked for alerting their attention to an area where their staff needed further training. I got a new bill together with a £30 goodwill credit. So what was originally an overcharge of £5 cost the Company £35.

kjsmith7

Gavioli_UK wrote: »

Also make sure your supplier uses you actual reading at a price increase.

On the day of the last price increase I submitted readings to Atlantic on the day of the increase. They chose not to use them saying "It was industry practice to only use estimates at a price rise". After taking my complaint to Energy Watch suddenly my readings were acceptable and I was thanked for alerting their attention to an area where their staff needed further training. I got a new bill together with a £30 goodwill credit. So what was originally an overcharge of £5 cost the Company £35.

Wow never heard of that... Good call to take it to Energy Watch. Cost the company more than £35... Companies get fined by Energy Watch also!

Cardew

kjsmith7 wrote: »

Wow never heard of that... Good call to take it to Energy Watch. Cost the company more than £35... Companies get fined by Energy Watch also!

I don't think Energywatch have any power(sorry) to fine anyone; the Regulator - ofgem - can.

Of course everyone should check their meter reading on the day of a price increase, but it is nonsense to claim(as so many do) that all the companies set out to deliberately defraud their customers - they don't need to they seem to be able to put up prices as much as they want!!!

Severn Trent got fined £millions for what was a minor offence in comparison to what is being alleged here.