Readings at the end of fixed deals.

terryya

I've just come to the end of a fixed deal with Southern which had prices about 30-40% lower than they are now. I have now rechecked the market and started the switch to the current cheapest provider.

The last bills before the fix ended were estimates though, which were quite a lot under. Fortunately I noticed and managed to get the correct reading in before the price jumped. Afterwards I thought that I could (should?) have given them a much higher reading so I could have paid less in advance for units I haven't used yet. If I then give similar inflated reading to the new supplier when they commence providing me my old supplier would be none the wiser and I'd be quids in.

Just wondered if anyone else has/would done/do this and if it would really be that bad considering that were are constantly shafted by the 'energy giants', especially as they would have no qualms about under billing me at the reduced rate then making it up the new price.

KimYeovil

Theft through fraud is illegal.

Your statement about under billing is not true - 'giants' calculate adjusted bills to span changes pro rata.

Gavioli_UK

KimYeovil wrote: »

Theft through fraud is illegal.

Your statement about under billing is not true - 'giants' calculate adjusted bills to span changes pro rata.

I find it interesting that this forum is highly critical of those who suggest inflating their readings to their advantage, whereas the MSE Public Transport forum on a daily basis has tips and ways to break, (mainly rail operators) Terms & Conditions and get away with it. I have never seen a posting on the Public Transport forum point out it is fraud.

Obviously a better class of citizen contributes to this forum.;)

terryya

KimYeovil wrote: »

Theft through fraud is illegal.

Your statement about under billing is not true - 'giants' calculate adjusted bills to span changes pro rata.

I don't think that is 100% true! If my company under estimate me and send me a bill a week before my fix ends they won't change that when an actual reading is taken in three months time. Assuming the bill covers a 12 week period they would only give me 1/12 at the old price with the rest at the new price despite the fact the approx 50% would have been used at the old rate.

The giants aren't quite as charitable as you suggest, are they?

Plus thousands of people make genuine mistakes when submitting their own readings every day so I think they'd struggle to prove it in court!

scope

Just tell them you mis-read the meter IF they find out, or tell them it was a customer estimate, not unlike their "estimates".

Also I wouldnt mis-read it too much, as they do come around every now and then to take meter readings themselves.

KimYeovil

Gavioli, I don't disagree. These forums are riddled with some of the lowest form of hypocritical self-serving cowardly exploitative bullies imaginable. It's always amusing to read some idiot suggesting Martin Lewis should champion some equitable idea when fairness is the last thing he or many of us want.

And Terryya, the ease and safety of the theft are the very things that make it unpleasant. There is something very grubby about people who only steal when there is little risk.

Premier_2

As the estimated consumption was "quite a lot under" the actual consumption, there is a risk that if you had given inflated figures, the supplier would not have believed you. If you insisted it was correct, they might have decided to send a meter reader round.

terryya

Just to clarify all I did was send the correct reading in and the rest is all hypothetical.

To be honest though I'd have no qualms about doing it to these sorts of companies - I'm sure if I'd rung up in three months and said that you under estimated my last bill before the fix ended, they would have told me where to go.

It might be considered grubby by some but I'd also say that it is sensible to make sure you've little risk of getting caught! Also I'd be quite happy to pay an under estimated bill just before prices come down - if they ever do.;)