Large Gas Bill - Meter Not Read for 3 years

dank_2

Just received my latest gas bill from Southern Electric for the period of 11 Mar 2010 to 10 Jun 2010, and it's rather hefty!

According to them, I have used 819 units in this period, compared to 374 in during 29 Oct 2009 to 10 Mar 2010. All because the latest one was taken from a recent reading, while the others were estimated.

They last took a gas meter reading in 2007.

As a result, I have gone from being £235.78 in credit, to owing them £358.19 and my direct debits will be increased from £47.00 to £91.00 per month.

I don't really know what to do. I can't really afford such high payments. Shouldn't they conduct meter readings a bit more often than three year intervals?

Andy_WSM

dank wrote: »

Shouldn't they conduct meter readings a bit more often than three year intervals?

They should do it at least every couple of years, but if you weren't in to give them access they might not have been able to etc. You should read your own meters more often though. I do mine Monthly, so get no huge surprises.

gordikin

savemoney wrote: »

I assume this is for electric only if not £47 a month would be quite low for dual fuel

Title of thread does say:-

Large Gas Bill - Meter Not Read for 3 years

undaunted

Andy_WSM wrote: »

They should do it at least every couple of years, but if you weren't in to give them access they might not have been able to etc. You should read your own meters more often though. I do mine Monthly, so get no huge surprises.

Whilst it's perhaps arguable as I understand things they have a legal obligation to read / inspect meters a minimum of every two years (not just to try & do so if you happen to be in when they call without appointment?).

Whilst the likes of the Ombudsman may suggest it would be reasonable for you to read the meter in their opinion as far as I am aware the customer has no actual legal obligation to read a meter do they?

They are not allowed to backdate bills 3 years if at fault (maybe one or two) so there may be room to dispute this bill. Have a look at Energy Retail Association codes of practice & whether your supplier is signed up.

dank_2

undaunted wrote: »

Whilst it's perhaps arguable as I understand things they have a legal obligation to read / inspect meters a minimum of every two years (not just to try & do so if you happen to be in when they call without appointment?).

Whilst the likes of the Ombudsman may suggest it would be reasonable for you to read the meter in their opinion as far as I am aware the customer has no actual legal obligation to read a meter do they?

They are not allowed to backdate bills 3 years if at fault (maybe one or two) so there may be room to dispute this bill. Have a look at Energy Retail Association codes of practice & whether your supplier is signed up.

Well... called Southern Electric after checking the meter, and sure enough, the readings coincided with what they were saying.

Apparently someone did try to take a reading last year, but was "unable to access the property" despite the fact the meter is outside and easily accessible.

They've decided to lower the payments from £91 to £70, which although not ideal, is just about manageable.

Do you think I should pursue this further then?

NeverInDebt

Are you incapable of reading your own bill and picking up the phone and telling them?

5 minutes is all it takes, I suggest in future you do just that.

undaunted

dank wrote: »

Well... called Southern Electric after checking the meter, and sure enough, the readings coincided with what they were saying.

Apparently someone did try to take a reading last year, but was "unable to access the property" despite the fact the meter is outside and easily accessible.

They've decided to lower the payments from £91 to £70, which although not ideal, is just about manageable.

Do you think I should pursue this further then?

I may be feeling particularly beligerant at the moment but I would pursue this yes. You can get answers like the one above but equally where they so incapable of picking up the phone and asking you politely you would be kind enough to read the meter for them or whether they could make an appointment to read it themselves some time within the three years - strictly speaking it's their job to do so, not yours after all.

I merely suggest that you should be seeking an assurance this will not be allowed to happen again not necessarily any further financial gain or recompense but I honestly believe that it's about time we had a decent regulator & energy companies were given the message loud and clear that they can't just do as they please despite what they seem to be accustomed to.

Premier_2

undaunted wrote: »

Whilst it's perhaps arguable as I understand things they have a legal obligation to read / inspect meters a minimum of every two years (not just to try & do so if you happen to be in when they call without appointment?).

Whilst the likes of the Ombudsman may suggest it would be reasonable for you to read the meter in their opinion as far as I am aware the customer has no actual legal obligation to read a meter do they?

They are not allowed to backdate bills 3 years if at fault (maybe one or two) so there may be room to dispute this bill. Have a look at Energy Retail Association codes of practice & whether your supplier is signed up.

It's not a backdated bill. The bill was very recent. There have been regular bills.
The latest bill is large as it is effectively a catch-up following a period of estimated bills.

The customer is not obliged to supply an actual reading, true, but thre is an onus on a customer to help the supplier provide bills if they later want to try and invoke the 12 month back billing rule.

I suggest you try taking a read yourself
(second post today you've given inaccurate advice about the 12 month back-billing rule)

savemoney

agreed Op is just playing catchup. I really wish people would learn to read the own meters this would avoid this sort of situation

I do 3 meters, gas/electric/water each 25th day and then go on utilities web site and submit meter readings.

Sandrock

OP: Why have you not read the meters yourself?

I take mine weekly for both gas and electric, it takes all of about two minutes. I enter the details into https://www.imeasure.org.uk and my own spreadsheet to keep track of things - will immediately pick up any abnormalities. Every 3/6 months, I enter the readings online which usually generates a bill within a week or two.

The only one I have problems with is the water meter, but that is mainly due to a really awkward access situation.

undaunted

Premier wrote: »

It's not a backdated bill. The bill was very recent. There have been regular bills.
The latest bill is large as it is effectively a catch-up following a period of estimated bills.

The customer is not obliged to supply an actual reading, true, but thre is an onus on a customer to help the supplier provide bills if they later want to try and invoke the 12 month back billing rule.

I suggest you try taking a read yourself
(second post today you've given inaccurate advice about the 12 month back-billing rule)

Please see my comments in reply to your post on the other thread. As to this one perhaps it's more a matter of interpretation?

As you ackinowledge no customer is obliged to supply an actual reading - they merely do so out of goodwill or even ignorance.

The energy company however does have an actual duty to read the meter a minimum of every two years, to bill the account accurately etc which they have clearly failed to meet in this instance.

Consumer Focus state on backbilling timescales to recover charges

" For customers who have been receiving estimated bills the supplier would need to be able to prove that it had been doing all it can to get accurate readings and informing the customers that the bills are estimated."

I suggest that anyone who has not read their meter in 3 years or made contact with the customer and asked whether they would do so has not done "all it can" and is therefore not entitled to back date those charges regardless of whether they have provided estimated bills or not.

Why so many people and organisations persist in excusing such sloppy practices by so many energy companies and thus sadly allow them to continue is utterly beyond me. This is after all a money saving forum not an energy company support line!

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/energy-help-and-advice/your-energy-questions