Fake gas reading-is it worth making a fuss?

Somerset

Situation resolved. Revised bill received. British Gas took 6 calls before I spoke to a 'manager' who knew what to do about the phantom reading. The reading company was Accuread and they called after about a week with an explanation.

Story goes .... some flats in the house have their meters in a cabinet in the basement that 'readers' can get to. Other flats (including mine) have their meters inside the flat so readers have to gain entry to get a reading. All meters are numbered so the property address corresponds with the meter. Apparently a meter was read in the basement cabinet but the reader was a 'short guy' who wasn't tall enough to see/check the number and for whatever reason 'assumed' it related to my flat.

Anyway panic over.

Richard_III_2

The same thing has happened to me. Last bill was 2 months ago. I pay by DD so I wasn't too concerned. After all I'd be getting the gas at a pre price rise value.

Well I was too clever and its now coming back to haunt me.

Problem is I'm in the process of switching, so I'm not too sure what will happen when the final meter reading is taken. It'll look like I've been round the meter. That'll be one hell of a bill.:eek:

Somerset

Well they've done it again - meter read 17th May ( they didn't )

Resulting bill £ 982. 42 !!!!

I actually searched for this post to see when they last did this ( Sept 2006 ). So the people British Gas use can not or will not read my meter - they just read anything and put it against my details. For god's sake, my meter has a serial number, whatever they read has a serial number, they obviously don't check that serial number !!!

I am seriously p****d off with these people.

Richard_III_2

Sucks doesn't it.

I had a card through the door yesterday saying they had missed me, but would be back tomorrow (today). Luckily I have taken the morning off for a Doctors appointment.

Two chaps came round. An old guy and a younger one. The old guy seemed to be training the other guy. At least that is one set of readings which shouldn't be messed up. Interestingly, they had a hand held machine which the guy said would flag up any 'unusual' readings so that the guy could check they hadn't made a mistake in entering readings.

Somerset

They are a bloody nightmare !!

I've been trying to get them to actually read my meter. I had a card through the door saying they'd called and would I call them ( mobile number hand written ). I called and he said he didn't work for British Gas any more ! Then I saw a guy walking round the square knocking on doors etc with a clipboard/meter thing - I asked you he was reading for, he said B Gas, I said great, will you read mine as I'm here now - checked his list against my address and he said no, you're not with B Gas ! I assumed I just wasn't on his list but he was adament he had all the B Gas customers on his list to do a meter read and I wasn't a B Gas customer !

I'm not bothering with the call centre again ( rang this morning ). I spent 45 mins on phone, 2 mins talking to someone and 6 mins music while he checked my notes, rest waiting. Didn't seem bothered by the non-existent reading just kept asking for my reading - I gave them one 6 weeks ago which has 'vanished' ( although it resulted in an over-estimated bill being cancelled ).

I just complained to Energywatch - I can't be bothered wasting time on them any more.

peter999

Cardew wrote: »

If there was a 'huge under-estimation' on 12/08/06 wouldn't that mean your bill would be too small?

If readings are stupid & under previous readings they are rejected by system & readings are then estimated.

Migrant meter reader, barely able to speak English, read gas & electric readings.
Got bill, they had 2 estimated readings & 1 actual reading, which was surprise as I was present when meters were read.

Phoned up, they said 2 readings were stupid & under previous readings, so those 2 readings were rejected & had been estimated.

Everyone should always check the readings.

peter99

oldwiring

deanos wrote: »

Trouble is most gas and electric meter readers get paid per read so some of them may guestimate the reading to hit there targets, i would definately complain as some other people may be experiencing the same and if nobody says anything the reader wont get caught out and will continue doing so.

Not all readers are like this but there are some rouges about and its all becaue its not done in-house and contracted out with agency staff being uses some of the time.

As rouges they should have red faces:D : as rogues they should be reported:mad: