Everyone do a meter reading!

lewt

I also did this when the elecy bill came and it was 220 less than estimated. next time im going to estimate i owe them [EMAIL="f@ck"]f@ck[/EMAIL] all

loopyloulou_3

im with scottish power at the mo and have not read my meter

i need to get on top of mine really, so if i do a monthly reading (how on earth do i do it anyway?!) do i phone them and tell them it?!

2Princess_Mum

I have a pre-payment card for gas and a key for my electric. On that basis do you still need someone to read your meter? I've only ever had a meter reader in once. I'm concerned they may rig the meter to make consumption more expensive (sorry if this seems daft but I don't know how these things work)

2PM

jaws77

With scottish power you enter your meter readings online.

loopyloulou_3

ooooh i have never done that!

amosworks

2Princess_Mum wrote:

I have a pre-payment card for gas and a key for my electric. On that basis do you still need someone to read your meter? I've only ever had a meter reader in once. I'm concerned they may rig the meter to make consumption more expensive (sorry if this seems daft but I don't know how these things work)
2PM

I think you will typically find prepay meters have been installed at properties where there has been a credit problem in the past such as a huge outstanding bill that's not been paid. Often this is the case in rented accommodation where you get tennants that move out without paying a bill and eventually they send someone around to replace it etc.

Because of this, when a prepay meter is installed and you have to charge your card/key to put in the meter, part of what you pay does go to the outstanding debt. Typically though the energy is the same unit price for whichever tarrif you're on (single, dual or triple rate or staywarm etc). When you charge your card/key along with the information verifying payment there is additional information for the meter which will update itself with the latest details of the unit price, the amount of debt outstanding and so forth. Because the debt is cancelled at the meter there's no need to give meter readings, as the meter is billing you there and then and not at the electric company.

Most this information in the card/key that's given to the meter can be accessed from the meter itself, usually just press a button and it will cycle through the information on an LCD screen.

If you moved in to a property with a prepay meter that still had debt on then it's not your debt and you have no legal responsibility to pay it, so you can claim back any money you have paid. However, if you opened a new account with the supplier then when charging your key it should tell the meter that there is no longer any outstanding debt also. Basically if you didn't do this you've been paying off someone elses debt!

Often you can ask the utility co to replace the meter with a normal single rate, economy 7/10 or any other compatible meter type for your tarriff provided they don't think you're a risk. So if you moved house and bought your account with you this won't be a problem.

The meter itself will contain information that can be read by a meter reader or someone working for the utility co themselves (they have field reps but the meter readers are normally outsourced to another company). If you've got concerns they can come round, hook up to the meter and check things out for you.

HTH

tanith

Loopyloulou if you go to Scottish Powers website and register you can simply put your readings in online , they will even remind you to do it quarterly.... but if not just ring them and give them the readings.....