Am I really forced to accept wrong reading?

Actuary78

Having a nightmare transfering from Scottish Power to EDF, as others have.

The current situation I am in is:

Both have been switiched, and my SP Electric account has been closed no problem.

However for my Gas account I gave both SP and EDF the same reading of 02170 on 1st September.

I rang SP last week to ask why my Gas account hadn't been closed, and they said they couldn't accept my reading and were awaiting a form from EDF with my opening reading for continuity, fair enough.

So I checked my EDF online account and my Gas reading I have them had disappeared. So I rang EDF earlier this week, they say the "industry" rejected my reading. And the eay it works is the "industry" tells them and SP what my final reading was, and EDF had just been told by the "industry" my reading was 02195 !

After trying to explain for a long time that my reading wasnt that high, even now and who the 'eck are the industry. They told me it was Transco, I couldn't contact them, and there was nothing I could do about it the account would transfer at this number. A complaint may be able to raised afterwards, but this would some time and effort to resolve.

Is this really the case???

penrhyn

Actuary78 wrote: »

Having a nightmare transfering from Scottish Power to EDF, as others have.

The current situation I am in is:

Both have been switiched, and my SP Electric account has been closed no problem.

However for my Gas account I gave both SP and EDF the same reading of 02170 on 1st September.

I rang SP last week to ask why my Gas account hadn't been closed, and they said they couldn't accept my reading and were awaiting a form from EDF with my opening reading for continuity, fair enough.

So I checked my EDF online account and my Gas reading I have them had disappeared. So I rang EDF earlier this week, they say the "industry" rejected my reading. And the eay it works is the "industry" tells them and SP what my final reading was, and EDF had just been told by the "industry" my reading was 01295 !

After trying to explain for a long time that my reading wasnt that high, even now and who the 'eck are the industry. They told me it was Transco, I couldn't contact them, and there was nothing I could do about it the account would transfer at this number. A complaint may be able to raised afterwards, but this would some time and effort to resolve.

Is this really the case???

You gave a final reading of 02170, they are now telling you it was in fact 01295 which is considerably lower.

Whats your current meter reading.

Did they send a meter reader round?

jalexa

Actuary78 wrote: »

However for my Gas account I gave both SP and EDF the same reading of 02170 on 1st September.

I rang SP last week to ask why my Gas account hadn't been closed, and they said they couldn't accept my reading and were awaiting a form from EDF with my opening reading for continuity, fair enough.

and EDF had just been told by the "industry" my reading was 01295 !

On the face of it there is an obvious "typo" somewhere along the line. What does your meter read today?

Actuary78

sorry a typo as you say, Transco are apparently saying 02195, when it was 02170.

Today it is 02172 (I don't have the Gas central heating on !!).

I'm not aware anybody has come to read it. They could have, as its outside, but that wouldn't explain the 02195.

I don't want the switch done at the higher reading as the reason I am leaving SP, is they put my unit prices up by 50-60% !

Cardew

OP has now changed his post and 01295 is now 02195.!!

So the discrepancy is now just 25 gas units - approx 280kWh.(assuming Metric meter)

We don't know the difference in price(for Tier 2 kWhs) between SP and EDF but is it is as much as 0.5p the difference is £1.40.

Edit: Posts crossed - the 02195 is probably just an estimate.

jalexa

Actuary78 wrote: »

I don't want the switch done at the higher reading as the reason I am leaving SP, is they put my unit prices up by 50-60% !

Hang on. You could have rejected the Scottish Power increase then this would have been to your benefit. Are you *certain* it still isn't?

And the exact price differential between "old* and *new* units? x280kWhrs won't be much.

Actuary78

Thanks for your replies.

I think the unit price difference was large between SP and EDF, maybe 1-2p, but I guess if that only 275kwhrs, then i'll get over charged by a maximum of £5.

Strange system though, that I have to accept an incorrect reading, even though I gave them the right one.

I didn't know I could reject the SP price increase either?

I find it quite a bizarre world, where
- your energy prices can just shoot up 50-60% in one go,
- you have to accept mythical meter readings, and
- if I understand what you're saying, I could have possibly rejected energy price increases

kathie1101

When we switched to EDF from Eon even though we had given both suppliers exact meter readings for some unknown reason Eon used an estimated reading (think it was about 15-20 units over the exact reading). When I queried it I was told that when it is within a certain range they will not do anything about it and basically you have to accept it. I was a bit miffed at the time given that I had given them the readings but when you work it out, it's maybe a couple of quid if that. Yes it's the principle and it's another thing that annoys me with energy companies but is it worth the hassle?

UncleZen

If todays reading is 02172 as you state. How can anyone argue that its 02195. Gas meters dont go backwards AFAIK. Take a picture and Email it to them.

dogshome

Hi Actuary78 - As others have pointed out the monetry value beween 2170 & 2195 isn't that great, (280 chargeable Kwh if you have a Metric meter, or 788 Kwh for an Imperial meter), and depending as to wether or not you were escaping Scot'Power because of a price rise, you could be in or out of pocket.

It depends on how aggrieved you feel when you know you have given the correct reading, and as your meter still hasn't reached the reading the 'Industry' thinks it has, your best bet is to photo the meter with a copy of that days newspaper in view, and send it to EDF with a letter of Complaint

Quentin

If the OP gave notice of his intention to move away from SP before 1/8/11, then it is to his financial advantage to have to pay them for more gas than they supplied.

(As the deal with SP was no-one leaving would be charged the new rates providing they informed them of their intention to leave)