gas bill = factually impossible

katyshaw

I live in a one bed flat in Brighton. The only thing that uses gas is my boiler and heating. Even then, the flat only has three radiators. I have been home for only ten days during the last quarter due to working away. The boiler was switched off for all of this period. I have just received a gas bill for this quarter for £340. It is an estimate - but checking the meter it is an underestimate, the real reading should be nearer £800!
How can this possibly be? I have rung British Gas but they say there is no explaination unless I want to pay to have someone come out and make sure the box hasnt been tampered with. How can it be correct though and what can I do to prove I havent used the gas? I am at my wits end and dont see why I should have to pay such a huge bill

spiro

There are two other possible answers:
1) Does the bill say you meter is metric or imperial and what is marked in the meter (ft3 or m3)? If these dont match it can cause an issue.
2) You say the bill is an estimate, is the first, last or both readings estimates? If the first is an estimate then this is a 'catch up' bill because previous bills have been based on estimates.

ManieGlossono

@OP: hey, thanks. Nice topic, i have been searching these info for ages.

katyshaw

will check meter for type - cant see how this would lead to such a disparity though?

both were estimates - start no was round about correct, hence me not correcting it on the last bill, end no is way off (5800 when the real reading is 6120!) this makes me wonder even more because there is no way that much gas could have been used in ten days when I only had the heating on for two of them! Even my shower is electric!

Cardew

If it is not inside flat, are you sure it is your meter?

Is it a digital display meter or dials? the latter is easy to misread.

katyshaw

outside and dials. im reading it left to right. am I being thick?

macman

Is it metric or imperial (it's marked on the meter, cut ft or cu m)?
Then go back to your bill and confirm the no. of gas units and the no. of kWh you've been billed for.
Also confirm the opening reading (we know the closing reading is 5800).
If it's wrong it will cause more than a disparity-if in BG's favour then it will triple your bill.
PS: how do you calculate that an additional 320 units should add £460 to your bill? With a metric meter it would add about £146, with an imperial meter about £375. Please recheck your figures.
PPS: if your boiler has a frost stat then this may have come on during the very cold weather we had before Christmas, this normally triggers at around 5C.

Cardew

katyshaw wrote: »

outside and dials. im reading it left to right. am I being thick?

The dials turn clockwise and anti-clockwise so are easy to misread - it is not like a clockface. This link gives a picture.

http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-your-home/my-account/how-to-read-your-gas-meter.shtml

Dial meter

If you have a dial meter, please remember the following points when you take a reading:

• Adjacent dials rotate in opposite directions
• Ignore dials marked ‘100 per rev’ and the large dial
• Ignore red dials
• Read the other dials from left to right; write down the number that the hand has passed
• If the pointer falls between two figures, write down the lower figure. If the pointer falls between 9 and 0, write down 9

Also check the serial number of your gas meter against that on the bill. Do this after confirming which meter is for your flat.

katyshaw

The meter reads 6665 today. I have no idea whats going on. Its metric (says m3 on it) and im reading the nos left to right. British Gas are saying its not faulty, my boiler has been off since jan and its the only thing that uses gas. Im reluctant to pay the bill for something I think I havent used. Have I any other options?

victor2

In post 4 you said the real meter reading is 6120, now you say it is 6665. Bit of confusion there - when did the 6120 refer to?
If your boiler is shut off, you shouldn't be using any gas, so check the meter tomorrow and it should be the same as today's reading.

PNPSUKNET

Does every other flat have its own meter?