Meter reading problems

obprestige

I moved into my flat 2 yr sand 3 months ago. The person that lived there before me died but I was still getting bills for the period before I moved into the flat. I contacted scottish power to inform them of the date I moved in and they stopped the bills coming in his name and started me from scratch in my name.

The problem I have now is that I provided them with a meter reading that has given me a bill of £1800.:eek: Since I moved in my bills have been an estimate but I was unaware of this as this is my first flat since leaving home. If the amount was for gas and electric that I have used then I am happy:mad: to pay it, but hopefully over a repayment plan but without me providing a reading when I moved it it is impossible to know how much of the bill is from my usage and how much is from the guy that lived there before that died and also how much the landlord used when he was doing up the flat in the period inbetween the guy dying and me moving in(not sure how long this period was)

I am in a real pickle here and would appreciate some advice.

thanks

Magentasue

You need to contact SP and arrange a repayment plan. You realise now that you should have provided a meter reading and in the circumstances, i think you'll have to accept the estimate unless you have grounds to suspect that is is inaccurate.

In future, provide readings when bills are estimated and make sure you're on the tariff that is cheapest for you.

Premier_2

If you didn't provide a meter reading when you moved in or get it recorded on your inventory/statement of condition you agreed with the LL when you moved in, you really have no idea what the meter reading could have been.

How do you know if the supplier's estimate at that time was right or wrong?

Their guess is probably better than yours in this instance, as they would have based your start reading on last reading they had for the previous known account holder. If someone had used energy in the inbetween time, sure you would be paying for that energy, but without any proof it's going to be hard for you to prove that it is someone else that owes the money and not you.

All the supplier knows is that the energy has been used and wants to be paid for it. If you think it wasn't all used by you, you need to provide some form of evidence which you don't appear to have.

Look on the bright side. So far you've had over a 2 year interest free loan by failing to provide the energy supplier with your details. That may be even longer if you can negotiate a repayment plan to pay off the debt. But like with nearly all debts, they eventually catch up with you.

obprestige

Is there any sort of requirement for the energy company to ask for a reading when you change the account holders name or to check the meter every year??

I have just read this on a website

Suppliers are required to read and inspect your meter(s) at least every two years - although some suppliers may visit more frequently.

This has never happened!!

Also without a reading from when I moved in and the energy being cheaper back in 2007 the bill I have at the moment is based on all the energy being consumed at the current and high rate, is there anything that can be done about this??