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Meter Reading Dispute - Help!

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We moved house last november and changed our supplier for gas and electric from Southern electric to EDF. We have had no issue with our gas bill but huge issue with electric.

Has this happened to anyone else? How did it get resolved?

The issue is as follows,

Changed to EDF paid final bill with Southern all ok or so we thought. First quarters bill from EDF showed £0 even though we'd given them meter readings (normal & low rate - have economy 7). Continued to pay direct debit thought they would resolve it and that it was just an error. Next quarters bill came - still no charge, continued to supply readings to no avail.
In June rang EDF customer services, they raised dispute with Southern Electric. Basically our electric account was closed/opened on a figure which is higher than we have now. I'm guessing its a typo. Having repeatedly phoned EDF to resolve it they keep saying Southern Electric are refusing to query it. They have now told me to ring Southern Electric and raise a dispute with them which I shall do. The woman at EDF said it had to be sorted within the year which is only 4 weeks away. Does anyone know my next option if Southern Electric refuse to help?

I'm just worried we are going to get a massive bill because of someone else's error. Any help or suggestions would be welcome.

Comments

  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,059 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    It is EDF's problem to sort out.

    They can confirm(if they want) that the meter reading used for switching was higher than that currently on your meter.

    However I am not sure why you feel it is a problem?

    If Southern are happy that you have paid them, and EDF have their account starting from a higher meter reading, it means you have have free electricity.
    e.g. if you paid Southern to meter reading, say 25000 and EDF want to start it at, say, 25300, then you have gained 300kWh free electricity.

    Or have I misunderstood something?
  • Problem is our day reading is ok but our night reading is out no one at EDF will confirm or deny anything. They just say that our readings don't match and our account is in dispute, therefore if we want to change supplier we can't as they won't agree anything!
  • spohie_2
    spohie_2 Posts: 2 Newbie
    edited 22 October 2009 at 11:51PM
    The post arrived yesterday , my wife opened the bill from n power . And when she read the outstanding amount due , had a asma attack . The amount they were asking for was £841 never in our life have we had a bill of that amount . Once the wife was sorted I set about sorting out the bill . I read the metres . The bill showed a actual reading of 65136 for the electric , which was taken by there agent . Yesterday I read it and the figure was 63398 a difference of 1738 units . The gas was 82 units out .
    They also forgot to apply the dual fuel allowance of £100 to the account . We are awaiting a revised bill for around £350 . They have offered to send my wife a bunch of flowers in the way of an appolagy .

    So please check your bills very carefully .
  • spiro
    spiro Posts: 6,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you disagree with the reading that is used for the Change of Supplier contact your current supplier and ask them to dispute the reading with the old supplier. They will then have to resolve the dispute and if they agree to change the reading used then you will get a revised final bill and a revised initial bill. If you receive a revised initial bill (which you agree the opening read for) and its asking for lots of money you should expect a refund of a similar amount from your old supplier. If you have not received a revised final bill within a week of the revised intial bill contact your old supplier and advise them that they have not issued a revised bill and they ahve effectively double charged you. Given them 7 days to resolve (so you have the money to pay your new supplier) and then raise a complaint in writing. You might want to copy in your new supplier.
    IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.

    4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).
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