Estimated Bill

pleaseplease

Dear forum users

Could somebody please give me some advice.
My parents have recieved a letter from npower saying that because the energy bills have been estimated since 2006 they owe over £1000.

We know for a fact the meters have been read, and the person from npower seemed to look at some previous readings to calculate the new monthly payments.

My parents rang npower to question this and after some meter reading tests over the phone (i.e take a reading, use an appliance take another reading.) npower decided that they had miss calculated and that it was only £500 they owe.
The person from npower also calculated the monthly payments, which turned out to be £40, this also just happens to be what they where already paying.
My real question is how can npower think my parents owe £500 when the payments are correct, surely this would mean that another £500 bill is due in another couple of years.

Maybe I have not explained this very well, please ask any questions

I really appreciate any help, thanks in advance.

DVardysShadow

Are the readings on the bills correct?

Cardew

The computer system in many utility companies is programed to ignore actual readings(either by meter reader or customer) that it 'thinks' is a wrong reading.

Typically if the reading given is lower than the previous reading.

If this happens once, it is likely to be repeated and a debit balance build up.

It is not until there is some human intervention in the billing system, and a confirmed meter reading accepted, will the true position be known.

Don't forget if your parents latest 'catch-up' bill is xxxxkWh, they should not be billed for them at 2009 rates as gas/electricity was cheaper in 2006/7/8