Wrong meter reading

Cambsboy

Hi,

Last year (July) we moved house and did the usual submission of meter readings for Gas and Electric to British Gas. When the first bill came in I noticed that the day reading on the electric hadn't changed since we moved in. I rang BG straight away and they asked me to check while I was on the phone and it appeared that the day reading meter wasn't recording usage. I asked the BG guy if I would be having to pay back the difference and he said 'no', so we arranged a time for someone to come and see me and also inspect the meter. After rushing home from work on the designated day, nobody appeared (which annoyed the hell out of me!) and no phone call from BG, so I assumed that it had been sorted as the box is accessible from outside. I've had a customer care call from BG in the last week querying our monthly electric bill and saying that it seems quite low. I've checked the meter again and it seems nothing was done. Q: What should be the next step and are they in their rights to request back payment (I'm over £150 in credit at present!) as I did notify them as soon as I received the first bill. Advice would be welcome.

victor2

Keep records of all contact with them and your meter readings and dates, even if the meter isn't recording anything. Write to them detailing the history so far and make clear the trouble you've gone to to get the matter sorted. Keep it civil though, ranting at them will do no good. I can't see how they could charge you for electricity they have no record of you using, but good that you are in credit, just in case. Might be best to send the letter recorded delivery, and obviously keep a copy for yourself.

spiro

Several points
1) You are due £20 (I think) for a missed appointment.
2) You are due a 2nd £20 if they did not pay the 1st £20 within 2 weeks (account credit counts).
3) You will be liable for what you have used (they will estimate) but I would argue that you reported it on dd/nn/yy and the engineer failed to turn up so I would argue for longer to repay what is owed as they have not rectified the issue (you dont say how long ago you phoned).

Cambsboy

Thanks for the advice. In response to Spiro, the call was made after the first bill arrived - so from memory it would have been Oct/Nov. Is the £20 appointment missed charge something they have hidden in their T's & C's or is this something that is widely known?

spiro

Cambsboy wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. In response to Spiro, the call was made after the first bill arrived - so from memory it would have been Oct/Nov. Is the £20 appointment missed charge something they have hidden in their T's & C's or is this something that is widely known?

The £20 is an OFGEM introduced thing under Guaranteed Standards of Performance, all suppliers shoudl know about this, ditto the £20 if they dont pay you automatically within x days of missed appointment.

dogshome

Hi Cambsboy - In the case of failed meters, the usual practice is for the supplier to Estimate the consumption during the meter's dead period, and bill you on that.

However this meter appears to have been dead on the date you moved in,in July 10, and despite your efforts, 8 months have passed and the meter has yet to be replaced

Don't accept the estimated demand at face value - Pay it only with written confirmation from BG that the costs of whole dead period will be re-assessed on the basis of what you use from July 2010 to the anniversary date of the new meter being installed - Far be it from me to suggest that you are particularly frugal with the light switches and power sockets over this period