Faulty meter and billing enquiry - can you help?

badstrawberry

Hi all

I have noticed that the electricty meter in my flat has a fault, in so far as it is stuck. the wheel in the middle keeps turning as electricity is used but the counter showing the amount of untis used is stuck. I know this because I checked it this morning and noted that it is still on the same amount as it was when i did the first reading after moving in. There is no sign of damage to the meter at all and the little tamper seals on the bottom are in place and unadamaged also, so I believe there must be a fault with the meter itself.

Obviously, I know I have to tell the electricity company (nPower) about the reading, but I thought I shoudl take some information/advice first (forewarned if forearmed).

I know it would be lovely to think that as the meter has not changed, I do not have to pay for any electricity, BUT I have decided that I am not living in denial in cloud-cuckoo-land this week, so...does anyone know what will happen to me now?

Has anyone experienced anything similar, and if so what happened to you?

Does the electricity company have any other way of working out how much has been used, maybe another meter somewhere on the electricity supply chain before the one in my house?

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

PS. I don't know if it makes much of a difference, but the flat is 5 years old, and I moved in just under a year ago, so it is almost a year since the initial reading.

spiro

If they are unable to take a Final reading when they remove the meter they will normally ask the Data Collector (company that reads and validates reading) to estimate a final readings base on the consumption history.

littletommytucker

When was your meter last actually read? You could really work this to your advantage (as I would do if i was in your situation).... (but maybe you arent as dishonest as me) And your meter would have to be inside your property where you would have to allow access for a meter reader.

Lets say your meter was last read in November, and the reading was 15575 and today your reading is stuck at 16950, supply a reading every 3 months and just keep adding a few units onto the last actual reading. Keep this up for as long as possible, (untill the false readings you keep giving have nearly reached the actual reading, and just change supplier. Then when you change supplier give them a reading of say 16950, then a few days later call your new supplier and let them know your meter has just got stuck!

There is a real potention to exploit the energy companys with electricity readings, as it isnt like Gas. The Gas meter has to be read every two year. Lets say 2008 your with NPOWER and it gets read in July, and then it isnt read again, come June 2010 you change to British Gas, British Gas would then have 1 month to read your meter and could apply for a warrent to do so if you didnt comply. However, electricity its only every two years that you are with a company it needs to be read. Keep changing companys every 18 months, and you could be giving what ever readings you liked, for as long as you like.

dogshome

Wow ! A really strange one. For the meter to be showing the same mumbers as those when you moved in - you don't say how long ago - it must have failed earlier. The supplier's latest record of the meter's reading will date back to the last time they read it - and even that could be of the same numbers that it is showing now.
When the new meter is fitted, I think you should take a hard line with the distibutor and insist that your account starts from that date, and the charges for your unrecorded period must be based on the same calander period 12 months hence, and charged only at that time
Good Luck

littletommytucker

Another thing you may find helpful, is that my friend of mine had exactly the same situation with wheel still spinning but dials stuck scenario, and she found that hitting the meter unlodged them slightly, and they would start moving around again...but only for a few days before they would get stuck again. So she just hits it once every quarter, and gladly lets the meter reader come into the property and gets actual bills each quarter ( but only really for a couple days worth of elec)

:rotfl:

Joyful

Be aware that what Little tommy tucker is saying is fraud! Also if you have a dial meter and hit it this may move the thousand units dials by a few thousand:eek:. I would contact the company and get them out to change the meter ASAP.

You will also find unlike what he says that many suppliers send someone out to read your meter when you change suppliers.