Unfair Gas Estimate (EDF Energy)

bwals92

I was with EDF when I first moved in but was very reluctant to use any gas because they hadn't sent me a letter or anything explaining at what rate I will be charged. In fact, I didn't even know I was with EDF Energy until I switched to Scottish Power.

They sent me a bill based on meter readings I had provided when I had switched. This was a bill for 2 months at £83.25. I thought this was very high considering I had hardly used any gas (my girlfriend and I were freezing through the these times)!

Later, I noticed my meter was mixed up with my neighbours - this could have been the answer to my problems. When I told them of the problem, I provided a meter reading. A week later, (today) they asked for another, so I provided it.

In doing this, they gave me a call after about 5 minutes saying they have estimated the bill at £84, so there was no point changing it.

At present, I am using a lot more gas than I did when I first moved in, as I'm now aware of how much I'll be paying for how much I use.

I do not like the estimate because it doesn't take into account the fact that I had restricted gas usage heavily when I had first moved in (when I was actually with EDF energy). And yet, I'm being asked to pay a price which I know is too high. If I knew I would have had to pay this much, I would have used much more.

To summarise, my bill has been estimated on the grounds of how much I use now, not of how much I was actually using when I was living in fear of being hit with an unexpected bill - as a cause of not knowing who my supplier was, or how much they're going to charge for gas usage.

What do you think I should do?

spiro

Your problem is you can't prove to them that you used less before. Also now its a lot warmer so you will using less than 2 months ago anyway. £40pm at the end of the coldest winter for 100 years is not much anyway.

liam8282

bwals92 wrote: »

I was with EDF when I first moved in but was very reluctant to use any gas because they hadn't sent me a letter or anything explaining at what rate I will be charged. In fact, I didn't even know I was with EDF Energy until I switched to Scottish Power.

They sent me a bill based on meter readings I had provided when I had switched. This was a bill for 2 months at £83.25. I thought this was very high considering I had hardly used any gas (my girlfriend and I were freezing through the these times)!

Later, I noticed my meter was mixed up with my neighbours - this could have been the answer to my problems. When I told them of the problem, I provided a meter reading. A week later, (today) they asked for another, so I provided it.

In doing this, they gave me a call after about 5 minutes saying they have estimated the bill at £84, so there was no point changing it.

At present, I am using a lot more gas than I did when I first moved in, as I'm now aware of how much I'll be paying for how much I use.

I do not like the estimate because it doesn't take into account the fact that I had restricted gas usage heavily when I had first moved in (when I was actually with EDF energy). And yet, I'm being asked to pay a price which I know is too high. If I knew I would have had to pay this much, I would have used much more.

To summarise, my bill has been estimated on the grounds of how much I use now, not of how much I was actually using when I was living in fear of being hit with an unexpected bill - as a cause of not knowing who my supplier was, or how much they're going to charge for gas usage.

What do you think I should do?

You provided the wrong reading, so it was your fault the bill was wrong not EDF.

Presumabley you do not have the correct reading from the correct meter, so there is nothing for EDF to calculate the bill from, unless they use an estimate. This estimate can only be based on the usage they have actual meter readings for.

I would just let it go if you cannot provided them with the actual meter reading from the start of your usage.

bwals92

liam8282 wrote: »

You provided the wrong reading, so it was your fault the bill was wrong not EDF.

Presumabley you do not have the correct reading from the correct meter, so there is nothing for EDF to calculate the bill from, unless they use an estimate. This estimate can only be based on the usage they have actual meter readings for.

I would just let it go if you cannot provided them with the actual meter reading from the start of your usage.

I didn't provide them with the wrong readings, the serial numbers were mixed up on the meters when I moved in, and I knew nothing about it until I contacted GTC pipelines to alert them that something seemed wrong. I was given the wrong meter to read off, EDF told me that this was my meter.

It's frustrating knowing that my bill now is £17 a month for Gas from Scottish Power, and I'm using more than I did then, and they're charging me £40.

£40pm may not be a lot, but I still don't see why I should have to pay it, when I know I didn't use that amount. I was just going off the meter with the serial number they had provided me when I had moved in.

As you have said, I cannot provide proof that I didn't use this amount - so they win? Despite the fact that they can't prove that I used £40pm - and I'm obliged to pay it? I'm not willing to let money fall through my fingertips on the basis of something I'm being accused of using, when I know I didn't.

dogshome

Hi bwals92 - I'm afraid that not reporting your moving-in date and the meter reading to EDF at that time leaves you with little to stand on.

As EDF were the existing supplier, the chances are that your bill was based on Final meter reading given by the previous tenant when they moved out, but of course being winter the landlord would probably have kept the heating running to avoid frost damage to an empty flat, but because EDf were not told you had moved in - you have the entire bill from when the old tenant moved out untill you gave a meter reading to Switch.

If you want to take this further you could WRITE to EDF asking for the Final Meter Reading given by the previous tenant and it's date, but in my opinion it's a lost cause