British Gas customer but Scottish Power want to check my meter.

DoraTheExplorer_3

I have been a BG customer ever since moving to this house 3 years ago. This is for both electricity and gas and we are on a capped tarriff (if this makes any difference to what i am about to say....)

In the past year Scottish Power have been to the door about 3 or 4 times. They are asking to check my meters as they have had reports that others in the area are set incorrectly and over charging people. They explain that although i am not a customer of their's, they are the local supplier and I have to let them check.

This is all fine and i have allowed them to check (meters are out front anyway so couldn't stop them) but they never do. They instead want to see my bills and paperwork. Since this is all in my husbands name i have refused and since they also refuse to state what information they require from them (i have offered to look and tell them the answers but they insist on seeing it for themselves).

Am i being overprotective about my paperwork and should i just let them check? (i have never had a problem with what i am being charged by BG) Why won't they tell me what information they want? Do you think they have any ulterior motive for seeing the bills?

Firewallrob

Please beware !!!

You know it's dodgy :eek:

At best they are trying to get info to persuade you to change supplier.

At worst ..............

DoraTheExplorer_3

Thank you! Confirmed what i was thinking but thought i was getting a bit paranoid and they were actually trying to be helpful. Silly me!

jd87

Only one company reads the meters in each area, regardless of who your supplier is, so your usual meter reader could well be from Scottish Power.

However a genuine meter reader won't ever ask for any other information, so you are right to be suspicious.

DVardysShadow

DoraTheExplorer wrote: »

... Am i being overprotective about my paperwork and should i just let them check? (i have never had a problem with what i am being charged by BG) Why won't they tell me what information they want? Do you think they have any ulterior motive for seeing the bills?

basically they are out to get bill info from you so that they can 'slam' you [take over your supply and allege that you made the request]. If they want any info make them write to you.

Ignite

Please contact Consumer Direct and make a formal complaint about this kind of behavior. They are trying to take over your supply and their actions are illegal. Next time, get the name and details of the person who comes to your door before telling them to go. This will help out the investigation.

Scottish_Power

Hi DoraTheExplorer

It may be the case that the sales rep has spoken to your neighbours and that there have been billing errors identified through investigating bills. What I would say is that if you do allow a sales rep into your property to discuss your gas and electricity, obtain all of his details before you let him in (name, ID number etc). Also, if you are not happy to transfer supplier based on the information the sales rep provides to you, do not sign any paperwork.

Hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower

macman

OP, are Scottish Power actually the regional supplier in your area? If not then these guys are slammers, get their ID and report them to SP.

DoraTheExplorer_3

Thanks everyone, all very helpful!

How do i find out the suppier in my area?

Its usually BG who come out to read the meters and they have still been coming regardless of the SP callers. Totally different approach too, BG have a machine, ask to see the meter, punch in a few numbers and then leave, SP on the other hand don't actually seem interested in seeing the meters, just the bills.

kjsmith7

On the second page of your BG bill (I view mine online, so it might be a separate page or it may be on the back of the first page), on the right hand side, you'll see "Your Electricity Supplier Number" with a box with some numbers underneath. It'll say something like you are in the "Norweb/Scottish Power/London Electricity/SWEB pricing area". It might say another region, they are just examples. It will also say "COMPANY X read your meter".

DVardysShadow

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

Hi DoraTheExplorer

It may be the case that the sales rep has spoken to your neighbours and that there have been billing errors identified through investigating bills. What I would say is that if you do allow a sales rep into your property to discuss your gas and electricity, obtain all of his details before you let him in (name, ID number etc). Also, if you are not happy to transfer supplier based on the information the sales rep provides to you, do not sign any paperwork.

Hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower

Although your basic advice, to take IDs is sound, I am surprised that you are not saying that any metering discrepancies of the nature you describe would first of all be dealt with in writing and if someone was to call that a letter would be sent first.

Basically by not providing those assurances, you are leaving the way open for dodgy 'representatives' from your company to slam customers. Do you really intend to provide cover for slamming and slammers?