Quantum Meter Rip Off

dawney_monty

Nearly a year ago, my grandmother was sent bills from both swalec and british gas informing her that she owed an extortionate amount (cannot remember the exact amount!) and this was due to them both claiming to be undercharging her for a long period of time.
Being a pensioner, she was obviously unable to pay them and was eventually forced to switch to quantum meters. Since then she on average puts around £60 p/w into both meters and comes out with very little to no credit left for gas.
We as a family are outraged that this has happened to her and wondered if there is anything that she can to as it was not her fault they undercharged her.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated, as this problem has to stop, she is afraid of even switching on a light and even putting on a hob!

Many thanks.

Fire_Fox

There have been other similar queries if you read through this board. Basically the energy supplier is not supposed to charge for energy from more than one year previous and not previously billed.

Vestra

Fire_Fox wrote: »

There have been other similar queries if you read through this board. Basically the energy supplier is not supposed to charge for energy from more than one year previous and not previously billed.

This doesn't sound the case, this sounds like she wasn't paying the bills, was she paying by direct debit? Find out how much arrears are left to pay and if possible clear it and get rid of the meters, as not only is she paying money every week on the debt she is also on the most expensive tariffs.

Premier_2

On what basis were the suppliers allegedly undercharging?

It's not normal for a company to charge at the wrong unit price, even less so for 2 different companies to make the same error.

On the same basis, it's unlikely that both meters were found to be faulty and reading low.

I suspect the undercharging actually relates to low estimated usage readings and the OP'd GM never informed the company of the actual readings. In such instances, the 12 month rule does not apply and the supplier is entitled to be paid for all actual recorded consumption

Cardew

Fire_Fox wrote: »

There have been other similar queries if you read through this board. Basically the energy supplier is not supposed to charge for energy from more than one year previous and not previously billed.

That only applies when a no bill has been raised - not for undercharging as the OP stated.

As said by the last 2 posters, the very common scenario is a Direct Debit set too low and/or a series of bills based on underestimated meter readings.

They will be 'clawing back' this debt on the new meters.

For the OP. The time to have dealt with the problem was over a year ago when the debt had built up - companies will normally make a goodwill gesture and give a reduction off the outstanding sum and time to pay back the debt.

Utility Companies argument is that a customer has a responsibility to check her bills - they don't of course know she is elderly and probably doesn't understand the finer points of their billing system - as many others don't!

All you can do is write to BG and see if they will reduce the debt - or pay it off.

I suspect they will be reluctant to put her back on credit meters, however you could offer to pay a returnable deposit.