Meter Mix-Up, Scottish Power want more money after closing our account

jr33

Hi,

I am having problems with Scottish Power.

Myself and my 2 flatmates have recently moved out of our student apartment. Due to our arrangements my name had been on the electricity and gas bill with Scottish Power. Upon moving out of the property We were under the impression that we had settled our bill with Scottish Power as they closed the account (I was no longer able to access our account online with them) and refunded us the amount we were in credit (around £125 i think).

We have been out of the property since 1st July and our Landlord has contacted Scottish Power saying that the reading on our meter did not match the readings on the final bill that we had to produce to him so that he would release our deposit. Scottish Power are now saying that we owe them £440.

The whole time we lived at the flat we provided up to date meter readings almost every month, and these were never queried by Scottish Power. SP claim to have a policy of sending someone out to read the meters within every 12 months... we were supplied by SP for 18 months and were never made aware that anyone had tried even attempted to visit, furthermore the meters were outside the property and did not need access to the flat.

It seems as if we have been reading off the wrong meter the entire time we have been living at the property however we have been paying regularly by direct debit (£30 a month to start with, then reduced to £8 a month after SP took £130 from my bank account roughly in january without notifying me). Is there anything we can do to get out of this situation??? Or at least reduce the amount we have to pay??? We have clearly been paying for somebody's electricity usage, unaware that it was not our own meter....

Any help would be greatly appreciated

chanz4

No if its your error, not much you can do

jalexa

chanz4 wrote: »

No if its your error, not much you can do

Well possibly. The statutory period for supplier readings is at least once every two years. But most suppliers manage at least once a year, sometimes more frequently.

Anyway the type of reading will be stated on the bill. If there is a meter reader reading on any bill during the period of supply then Scottish Power have some explaining to do, as they also will (while not a proven statutory failure without sight of the previous occupier's bills) if there is no meter reader reading on any bill during the period of supply.

The other thing which needs some Scottish Power explaining is the account take-over (from the previous occupier). That can't be done without identifying the meter serial number and/or the MPAN. I very much doubt that information would have been provided by the new occupiers. There are two potential occupier victims of the meter confusion. But only the supplier is required to be "technically competent".

So I cannot totally support your sweeping remark without more information.

One thing I would say if the OP is reading, I'm not convinced enough was being paid for a refund, even assuming the mix-up can be sorted.