EON Meter Fault - Help please

HelenC_2

Hi there,

We have just moved from our flat and phoned Eon to give our final meter reading. The lady at Eon said it didn't sound correct and confirmed that our meter has been on a night rate since 2004 and that it looks as if we will have to pay the bill for the last twelve months (apparently they can only claim 12 months worth back from us). We have always paid our bill by direct debit of £40 per month, which seems about the correct amount, not as if we were paying a really low amount each month. Because we lived in a block of flats our meters were stored in a cupboard in the block and Eon actually came out and read the meters to get the readings for our bills and no one has ever picked this up. Do you think we can dispute having to pay this? Up until this was pointed out our account was always in credit from paying £40 per month.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

Helen

spiro

They should be reading the meter every 2 years so should have spotted this before now. Are you on a 1 or 2 rate tariff? Has your bill shown 1 or 2 readings? If you are on a 1-rate tariff there should be no issue. If you are on a 2-rate tariff then your bills will have been showing no consumption against 1 of the 2 registers (readings) on the bill. You should have spotted this if this is the case.

Cardew

Unfortunately the paying back(backbilling) for 12 months only applies if you have not had a bill of any sort, not an incorrect bill.

I am not clear what you mean by on a night rate.

If you were on Economy 7 then your bill would have had a rate for daytime kWhs and another for night kWhs - in addition their would be a high rate for tier 1/primary units or a daily charge.

What are they suggesting you pay?

brysiewysie

The most likely situation is the readings are round the wrong way. What sort of heating do you have? If it's night storage heaters it's unlikely £40 would be anything like the right sum.

You can test (if you've got a 2 rate meter) if it's registering rates round the right way by taking a reading during daylight hours (this will make sure you're during the supposed day rate) on both rates, boiling a kettle and taking a reading again. The rate that moves is the day rate and you can compare this to your bill to see if that is showing the day rate correctly.

If it is the case the readings are round the wrong way they will back-bill you for all of the balance.