Incorrect Meter Readings from British Gas

hjb123

We have had an absolute nightmare with British Gas, this has been going on for ages and ages and we have had energywatch helping us at one stage aswell - we thought we were sorted so they stopped!

I will give the outline of the story - the full story is far far far too long!

We transfered from TXU to British Gas for our electric supply (we only get electric - dont have gas) in February/March 2002. As we are a business we have 2 meters which each have seperate day and night readings.

British Gas changed the meters in June 2003 and when they changed them they took the old readings.

They have been saying that we owe them alot however all their readings have been estimates (even though we keep having meter readers out to read them - have to keep them out of sight of my dad though!!). As they have been estimates we have taken it on ourselves to read the meters as we often have (British Gas dont seem to bother about our readings!) and have looked and old readings and when we have gone back through old bills etc dating back over 5 YEARS we have come across a big mess up (to put it politely) on the behalf of British Gas!

When United Utilities changed the meters for them - we still have the original card that they left with the handwriting on with the readings on of old and new meter details and readings - they made a mistake when noting down the meter reading.

For the first meter they put down that it showed '146182',
however when we look at the previous bill, it should obviously read 46182, so they have added an extra '1' in front! So they think that we owe them a hell of a lot more than we do.

We have gone back over the past I dont know how many years for that meter and written down the meter readings and worked out how many units a day have been used and it is around the 50 units per day mark until that meter reading when it equates to 250 units per day!

Has anyone else had similar experiences? What happened? Or does anyone know what will happen?

I have rung British Gas and they have told me to ring back tomorrow after 8am, you bet I will!

Bri_2205

They will amend the account, rebilling from the meter exchange. They really should have noticed that.

hjb123

Do you reckon?

I hope they will! My whole family are ready for a fight, my Dad says he is ready to take to the stand in court!

From the meter change the billing has been fine!

beeniemac

Is the 46182 figure from the meter that was removed, or for the new one?

I suggest you fax a copy of the card from UU and write a brief explanation.

Don't be up for a fight, the person on the other end of the phone is less likely to help you if you start getting rowdy/aggressive.

Are you still a British Gas customer?

hjb123

We are still a British Gas customer.

I spoke to them thsi morning and apparently they realised that they had made the mistake of adding a '1' in front and had rectified it ages ago, they said they only owe us about £200 from that. I gave them upto date meter readings as the ones on our bills kept being estimates as the readings they were getting given by meter readers were so far out the readings were reverting back to estimates.

The lady on the phone said the bill is alot higher now but there is the possiblitiy we have a faulyt meter - I am pretty positive this isnt the case - but I never told her this. She is passing it onto anotehr department who were already dealing with it

Hopefully sort it soon!