E-On refusing to accept meter readings

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

mattcanary wrote: »

What a load of rubbish. So a customer reading is not better than estimates??!!

Come off it, Eon! And if you aren't willing to accept the OP's explanantion, surely you should be going out there to take a reading yourself?

Hi mattcanary,

I don't think my post was very clear, sorry.

A customer reading is always better than estimates and we always try to encourage customers to give us their readings.

But I think the problem with this account is the tenants paid an estimated final bill (as they did't take any readings)and no one took any accurate readings on the day they moved out, so we don't have any customer reads to bill to.

This is why I have suggested the OP contact E.ON and discuss re-estimating the tenants final readings using the accurate readings from when they moved in and the OP's actual readings from 2 weeks later. Depending on the account they may be able to do this.

We can read meters ourselves, but we would need to arrange an appointment if it was for a specific time (tenants moving out).

We can also accept readings from the letting agents to close and open accounts.

Helena

michymo

I have repeatedly told E-on, the tenants and stated here that I do take responsibility for the meter readings realise that it is not an ideal situation. Stupidly as these people were friends and there had been no previous issues I had thought that everything would be carried out properly obviously had this been foreseen I would have ensured that a third was there to verify meter readings and I simply was not on holiday but working out of the country. I am looking for advice on the situation not criticism for what I know is not the best way to have handled the matter.

I am happy to pay for usage while the property was vacant but my issues are

1 E-on have estimated 800 KWH of usage for 5 months from December until May for the tenants and 2300 KWH from the estimated move out reading for the tenants until 3 months later over the Summer while the property was empty so there clearly is an issue

2. E-On have stated themselves that the estimated bills have been excessivelty low and below average based on previous consumption at the property but are still unprepared to adjust the final bill for the tenants

So I am not just shaking off responsibility - simply looking for a fair arrangement to be made which seems to be impossible from this company!

Mrs_Arcanum

Perhaps for future reference E-On should insist on an agreed customer reading signed by both parties. As in effect they have colluded to defraud the landlord by accepting an estimated reading to close an account and then passing the shortfall on to the Landlord without their agreement.

Should not be able to use estimates to close accounts.

spiro

I'm sorry I have to agree with E-On, this is a third party dispute. On the change of tenancy the old tenant advised the supplier they were moving out and a final bill was produced based on previous estimates. You as the new tenant did not agree the moving out/in reading with the old tenants and have now been caught by the 'catch up' bill. As a LL thats you fault. For all they know you could have had the heating on 24/7 since you took the property back and are trying to land you old tenants with some of the bill.

There is no point writing to Consumer Direct unless and until you have raised a formal coplaint with E-On and they have responded to it and you have not been able to agree a solution between the 2 of you.

Annouck

Beware of energy companies providing excessively low 'estimated readings'.
I had a similar situation with Scottish Power, who were supplying me with estimates. When we discovered that the meters had been messed up they told me that what I had, in fact, been paying was accurate for a 1 bedroom empty apartment - useless.
I'm sorry that doesn't help you michymoo, but if the energy companies provided ACCURATE estimates in the first instance, and not INACCURATE ones then your problems would have been much reduced.
I'd say that your next step is to contact previous tennants and advise of their outstanding bill, threatening dispute if you cannot come to an agreement - be prepared to compromise.
Don't expect the energy companies in this country to help you AT ALL.

Annouck

Just read Mrs Arcanum's post and agree 100% - energy companies should not be able to close accounts on estimated readings. Michymoo you must be at your wits end. Once this is resolved take your business elsewhere - I'm looking at this forum as I'm switching from Scottish Power and I'll give Eon a swerve too.

Premier_2

michymo wrote: »

As I was out of the country on the day these people actually moved out I did take the readings a couple of weeks later. Stupidly we did trust these people as they were "friends" - that does not happen anymore!

I do not have any issue paying for utilities while the property was vacant the issue is that E-On will not accept the readings I took when the tenants moved out and so are billing me for their "actual" usage as they only ever paid estimates.

In this instance the tenants contacted the supplier to transfer the account into my name which was done and hence the bill being landed with me! I cannot see how this is allowed at all!

You appear to have learnt your lesson.

Being a landlord is a business and not something to take lightly.
Business is all about contracts, and always best to get these agreed in writing. Don't ever think as the other party as friends (even if they are) - treat them as though they will turn you over at the first possible event (which they usually will if possible - friends or not). For that reason get everything agreed in writing.

If you were not available to run your business at the time, then you really should get someone to do it for you (an agent)

Mrs_Arcanum

Funny thing is you also have to provide an up to date reading when you switch suppliers, so it could be argued this is much the same in that you are switching payers.

Premier_2

Annouck wrote: »

Just read Mrs Arcanum's post and agree 100% - energy companies should not be able to close accounts on estimated readings. ...

So what would be your solution where there is no meter reading available? :huh:

If neither party could be bothered to contact the supplier to provide a meter reading over the phone, what chance of success do you think a supplier has on getting both parties to provide written testimony to the meter reading?

Who do you think should pay for this extra work and responsiblity you expect the suppier to take on? The Landord or the tenant?
(Remember than that any increased overheads incurred by the Landlord will almost certainly be passed onto the tenant in higher rental costs)

nomoneytoday

If the house was empty then why not take the known reading, minus a nominal amount to cover minimal usage for 2 weeks, and then bill the tenants?

Empty houses don't use a huge amount of energy, mine used maybe £10 a month for alarms, security lighting, low heating etc?