Suppliers must read their meters periodically- legally what does this mean?

inventors

undaunted wrote: »

I suspect it probably won't open a huge cans of worms as far as past occupiers go - they'll probably just write this off as impossible to unravel - but as to you now getting billed fairly I've no idea how they will manage that or even that you would have much justification for or success with any complaint processes whatever they come up with under the circumstances (& this despite the fact I also blame the supplier for letting it happen)

I'm hoping I can get the check in inventory which should include a meter reading, if not the check out from the previous tenant who only moved out a week or so before. Otherwise i guess it'll have to be estimated and as long as that's done realistically then that's fine.

inventors

does anyone know any reasons why, if the meter in question comes up on the ecoes database registered with a supplier, it has never been billed?

undaunted

inventors wrote: »

does anyone know any reasons why, if the meter in question comes up on the ecoes database registered with a supplier, it has never been billed?

According to what I was told in the past if you don't ring them they don't know you are there / have an account set up for you / the property & therefore no bills get raised. (As I said two quarters in my case & though I new nothing about "deemed contracts", transfer objections, databases etc back in those days it amazed me that someone could just supply electric & not want to bill it to somebody / do anything to find out who if you didn't contact them - past tennant had even given them my name, moving in / out date, the meter reading etc)

Cardew

inventors wrote: »

does anyone know any reasons why, if the meter in question comes up on the ecoes database registered with a supplier, it has never been billed?

With 30+ million accounts in UK, millions changing suppliers each year, properties unoccupied for years, properties demolished, etc etc. it is simply not possible to track 'who supplies what to whom' in all cases. Especially when there is an incentive for people like yourself to obstruct and not pay.

Essentially the system depends upon the customer informing the Utility company they are in residence and using electricity/gas - initially on a deemed contract.

Don't forget the 'deemed contract' provision was imposed on Utility companies. It would suit the companies to have gas and electricity disconnected when the old customer left. Then a new occupant would have to contact the supplier to be reconnected after they had entered a contract.(and no doubt paid a re-connction fee.)

The Deemed Contract provision has opened the door to people like yourself who take advantage and hope that they can get away without paying for electricity/gas for years.

Frankly I am getting a little fed up with all these 'barrack room lawyer' excuses and attempts to lay blame on the Utility company. The simple fact is that you didn't pay for your electricity for the whole period of your tenancy.

You say firstly you thought your landlord was paying(really?) then you are happy to pay, but you seem to be exploring every possibility of evading your moral and legal responsibility.

Your whole approach is disingenuous. Why not state the position frankly and ask how you can evade payment and dispense with all this bulls**t.

inventors

currently i'm in the process of- with the help of the landlord- getting the backbilling sorted out. I'm not looking for a way to get out of it, if i'd wanted to do that I would have just left the property and not told anyone. The reason I asked the question was because I'm trying to find out if at some point in the past someone could have set up an account with the supplier or if something that is registered on a database could still be missed. obviously it can, thanks for the info.

undaunted

Cardew wrote: »

Frankly I am getting a little fed up with all these 'barrack room lawyer' excuses and attempts to lay blame on the Utility company. The simple fact is that you didn't pay for your electricity for the whole period of your tenancy.

I'm not sure whether any of that relates to my comments or the origianl poster alone. However, I would have to say that whilst there is certainly an inescapable truth in the section I bolded you must surely also acknowledge

A) that the supplier continued to supply for 5 years without ever billing anyone

B)Seemingly did so without ever doing anything to correct matters in any way?

C) That is not what Ofgem would expect to happen - they apparently "expect" any deemed contract will be turned into an express contract.

You yourself have relied upon quoting legislative acts when convenient to support your own point of view. It is therefore surely unfair to criticise anyone else doing so.

Cardew

Frankly I am getting a little fed up with all these 'barrack room lawyer' excuses and attempts to lay blame on the Utility company.

Re the above post - I rest my case!

undaunted

Cardew wrote: »

Re the above post - I rest my case!

:money:So that's just a way of avoiding stating that you can't deny those simple facts then!

Horasio

We supplied a meter reading 2 weeks ago and a meter reader turned up to read ours. He was rather ignorant towards us when I told him this.

I thought they had to inform you and make an appointment so they catch you at home.

deanos

CCStar wrote: »

We supplied a meter reading 2 weeks ago and a meter reader turned up to read ours. He was rather ignorant towards us when I told him this.

I thought they had to inform you and make an appointment so they catch you at home.

Can you imagine if they made a appointment for every single meter before they read it, it would be chaos , just because you rang in the reading does not mean the meter reader will not come and read it, if its scheduled to be read by them it will be.