Reading versus estimate

SunriseSunset_2

Hi,

a guy came round our house to read the meter. Twelve days later we got a higher bill than his reading was, and this bill says it's an 'estimate'. The company says the reading didn't sound right because we've got a three bedroom house, but this shouldn't make a difference. Lately my parents have cut down electricity usage e.g. no tumble dryer for clothes, low voltage lights, no TVs on standby, etc. I'm at uni half the year so my room sits empty those times. My sister is rarely back home and her room's been packed with storage stuff for over a year, so no one's stayed in there.

My parents want to know how to contact an ombudsman to have it investigated, because this sudden jump in cost happened last year as well- then it was a whopping £1000. If you need more information, just ask and I'll ask them.

Thanks for the help.

SwanJon

Phone up with the current reading as this will lend weight to the MRs read. (find freephone/local number first)
If you want to raise a complaint you need to give the supplier a chance first.
Tell them you are raising a complaint. They have 8 weeks to resolve the complaint to your satisfaction before the Energy Ombudsman will accept your case. If you tell them you are aware of all this it might make the shift faster.

It is a matter of moments to correct something like this, so go back to them.

molerat

As above, phone the company and tell them the actual reading and tell them you want to be re-billed on that figure.

Cardew

This really is a case where companies just rely on computers. The computer program rejects any meter reading that it 'thinks' is incorrect and substitutes an estimated reading that it 'thinks' is more appropriate.

All this happens without any human involvement. So as suggested above, phone in with a correct reading which will be entered manually.

Vestra

Cardew wrote: »

This really is a case where companies just rely on computers. The computer program rejects any meter reading that it 'thinks' is incorrect and substitutes an estimated reading that it 'thinks' is more appropriate.

All this happens without any human involvement. So as suggested above, phone in with a correct reading which will be entered manually.

Is that an assumption or do you know this as fact?

Cardew

Vestra wrote: »

Is that an assumption or do you know this as fact?

Stated plenty of times by Utility company employees on this forum!

Also by posters who have been given this explanation when querying why their meter readings and sometimes those of meter readers(as in the OP's case)

Haarlem

SunriseSunset wrote: »

Hi,

a guy came round our house to read the meter. Twelve days later we got a higher bill than his reading was, and this bill says it's an 'estimate'. The company says the reading didn't sound right because we've got a three bedroom house, but this shouldn't make a difference. Lately my parents have cut down electricity usage e.g. no tumble dryer for clothes, low voltage lights, no TVs on standby, etc. I'm at uni half the year so my room sits empty those times. My sister is rarely back home and her room's been packed with storage stuff for over a year, so no one's stayed in there.

My parents want to know how to contact an ombudsman to have it investigated, because this sudden jump in cost happened last year as well- then it was a whopping £1000. If you need more information, just ask and I'll ask them.

Thanks for the help.

This sounds a strange response from the supplier.

As I understand the process, it is:-

Supplier requests a Data Collector to get a reading.

The Data Collector is supplied with the parameters the expected read will be within.

If its outside the parameters the meter reader has to enter confirmation that he/she has checked the reading, and it is ok.

The parameters are the same as the billing program, so the reading should not be ignored.

It sound as if in these circumstances the meter reader did not enter confirmation when prompted for it.