Under Estimated Bill - PAY UP NOW!

oldwiring

Perhaps some think responses have been harsh; that is a judgement they have made, which their right. However, as a nearly-septuagenarian, who worked in banking and revenue, I know that both people and firms have to be confronted with the truth no matter how unpalatable that may be. I do not know what the charity is for in this case and my comment that follows is neutral. If it were revealed that one I contributed to had similar problems I'd need consider if my support in the future could be justified. In essence bad organisation can result in self-inflicted damage to a cause IMHO.

To Burningmad. I hope that things get sorted out, and that the charity can get on with doing the good it does without further problems. I trsut others here think the same and are willing to endorse my sentiment.

Maybe you'll drop by to give us some good news in due course.

Wig

badtimes wrote:

thats not quite accurate. as i said in the above post, utility companies are only required to ATTEMPT to read the meter every 18 months.

Sorry mate you are not quite accurate.

The Gas Meter Reading and Inspection Code - November 2000

4.2 Gas suppliers have a legal duty to undertake an inspection of their customer's meter and associated installation at intervals of not more than two years.

Definition: Meter Inspection

Standard Condition 23 of the Gas Suppliers licence, requires that an inspection of the meterbe carried out every 2 years. The inspection shall be carried out by a person of appropriateexpertise and shall include the following tasks -

a) reading the meter;
b) inspecting the meter and associated installation for evidence of tampering;
c) inspecting the meter and that installation for any evidence that the meter has not continuously been in position for the purpose of measuring the quantity of gassupplied;
d) arranging for any information in respect of any gas leakage in the vicinity of themeter to be passed to the National Emergency Co-ordinator on 0800 111 999 orthe consumer’s gas supplier;
e) inspecting the meter for any evidence of deterioration which might affect its duefunctioning or safety, and
f) where necessary and subject to the consent of the owner of the meter, changingany batteries in the meter

All utlility companys have no control of meter reading outwith their own area and are dependant on a third party sending them these meter readings.

All companies are REQUIRED to put into place appropriate measures to ensure meter reading & inspection takes place, irrespective of where they are based and where their customer is. Unless the customer has opted to read their own meter by prior agreement with the supply company. A customer may also appoint their own meter inspection agent (appropriately experienced)

Wig

oldwiring wrote:

I know that both people and firms have to be confronted with the truth no matter how unpalatable that may be.

You were the one of the people who chastised bm to "cease the special pleading; it custs no ice!" In fact you were right about one thing

PG are entitled to be paid.......Yes Correct.

But the OP was looking for advice on how to make the payment more palatable because PG wanted it in one lump sum.........They are not entitled to it in one lump sum because it is "an Unexpected burden" so you were wrong to take such an attitude with bm, because the "special pleading" certainly does "cut ice".

smartie1976

I know it's a charity and all that, but in all honesty it does only take a couple of seconds to see if an bill is an estimate, and a further few seconds whilst on the premises next time to read the meter(s). You can even call up your energy supplier and make a complaint if you believe that the meter reader is purposely not coming onto the premises to fulfill their contractual obligation of reading the meter where available.
I always think that what I would look out for myself at home, I will look out for with my other responsibilities.

The problem is now that the bills are required to be paid, irrespective of how they came about, and your only recourse is to arrange a pay arrangement to deal with the debt. Think about what is a manageable amount to pay off monthly and suggest to PG. Remember to be reasonable - £5 a month won't cut it, but £50 probably will be accepted. I would suggest you contact them however, and question why they have failed to comply with the law (see section quoted by WIG), and ask them why you should not report them.

You could, I am sure, negotiate a discount (prob of around 10%)

oldwiring

The special pleading I stoold against was that a charity should be treated more leniently than any other Joe Soap. Joe has to keep his affirs in order and so should any other body. The fact that a third party has failed in some way does not lessen that duty. The pay in seven days does seem harsh but it is the standard way in business of dealing with bad and doubtful debts, setting in motion the first leg in starting recovery proceedings, but generally companies will negotiate as it is their intersests to do so. Pull the rug and all the other creditors will get to know and the debtor could be made insolvent. Once all the secured and preferential creditors, toghether with the insolvency practitioners have had their bites, their is ofen little left for the unsecured ones, amongst which would be any energy suppier.

TBH what dismays me with public bodies and the likes of energy suppiers is that thy have no finesse. Why can they not make the formal demand but a the same time invite contact? In the bank I worked for this was not uncommon when a guantee had to be called in etc.

Wig

I also think the OP should make a complaint against PG for their lack of service, the fact that it was 3 years speaks volumes. Complain to Energywatch.

royalsteve

oldwiring wrote:

Aren't people taught to read meters and work out how much they owe and put money aside these days???? Fackless, lazy, ignorant???

people like me have more important things to do than do the job an electricity or gas company should do......what next should i tell my mobile network operator how often ive used their network?

royalsteve

espresso wrote:

:mad:

How do you work that out? Your friends have accepted these estimated invoices for three whole years without question!

On every energy invoice that I have ever seen, it states that if these readings are incorrect, please supply correct readings and your invoice will be re-calculated!

Powergen is not a charity!

:eek:

Well deregulation working at its best. I worked at SE to help them prepare for the Dereg market and I didnt think it would work.

Customers arent getting a good deal and meters arent being read (which used to be read by the local Electric/Gas company).

I think the regulatory body should make it mandatory that all meters are read regulary every 6 months by a subsidary of all these companies with costs split amongst all parties.

royalsteve

badtimes wrote:

thats not quite accurate. as i said in the above post, utility companies are only required to ATTEMPT to read the meter every 18 months.

All utlility companys have no control of meter reading outwith their own area and are dependant on a third party sending them these meter readings.

this didnt used to be case, they used to have an obligation to read electricity meters them before deregulation in 1998. Same applied to Gas later.

well they dont...been with Scottish Power and they have NEVER read or attempted to read my meter in more than 2 years. SP are dreadful, much worse than BG!

Wig

royalsteve wrote:

this didnt used to be case, they used to have an obligation to read electricity meters them before deregulation in 1998. Same applied to Gas later.

well they dont...been with Scottish Power and they have NEVER read or attempted to read my meter in more than 2 years. SP are dreadful, much worse than BG!

They still do have an obligation, see my post above, if I were you I'd be asking them why they are failing in their duties.