Meter readings

Qwiksilver

Not too sure if this has been raised before therefore apologies in advance if it has.
If you recieve an estimated bill from a utlilty company and discover after checking your meter reading that it is wrong are you within your rights to write to the company refusing to pay an incorrect bill?

victor2

Normally what will happen is that you contact them with your reading and they issue an amended bill.

Qwiksilver

Thanks victor. I am aware that this is the normal course of action however I am trying to establish if it is lawful to refuse to pay an estimated bill. (may not have explained it very well sorry)

victor2

I see where you're coming from now.
I would think if you look in the T&C's of your contract, they're entitled to use estimated readings under certain circumstances and bill you accordingly.

macman

If you refuse to provide them with an accurate reading, or to allow them access to do a reading, then they're entitled to expect you to pay based on an estimate.
They are only required to read your meter every two years.

Qwiksilver

Thanks for the replies.
Perhaps a representative of one of the energy companies could explain the legal position regarding estimated bills.
If it helps my provider is EDF and my meter can be accessed externally at any time.
Sorry to go on, but I just want to know the definitive legal position regarding estimated Bills and my rights regarding payment and if I have a legal obligation to read my meter on thier behalf.

Qwiksilver

Just to clarify a little. I am in no way,shape or form looking to avoid paying my utility bills. I am merely trying to find out my legal position regarding paying estimated (therefore incorrect) bills and my legal obligation to provide those readings on thier behalf.

jalexa

Qwiksilver wrote: »

Sorry to go on..

Yes I can see you are trying very hard on a very narrow "pointless" point in the face of helpful and/or practical advice.

One point is clear and has already been mentioned, the supplier is only required to make every effort to read the meter once every two years, but most manage more frequent readings.

You focus on a very narrow point, the legality, but legal issues are not always "black and white", if they were there would be no need for lawyers. If you are an online customer at the beginning of the "billing window" you should receive an email reading reminder. Up to you what you do, but if you "refuse" you will receive an estimated bill. At that point you still have a choice, if you submit a customer reading within the billing window, the bill will automatically be replaced with an actual reading bill.

If you are a "paper bill" customer, there are clear options stated on the bill regarding the provision of a customer read and if you do that within the billing window the bill will be similarly replaced with your customer reading.

The bill becomes payable in accordance with the terms of your tariff, either a debit from your account which - ha - you can do nothing about, or payable by a due date. In that case you still have a choice. You can choose to refuse to pay, in which case you will get a reminder. If you continue to refuse to pay, adverse payment markers may appear on your credit report, debt recovery may commence and/or a pre-payment meter may turn up.

You have a right to contest the various "nasties" which are now happening to you, but you will not get a "black and white" answer to your question without (somehow) asking the question of the judicial system at your expense and your risk. Hugely in excess of your "contested" bill, likely having trashed your credit record for 6 years but still owing the money. But hey, you will have your answer.

Personally I think that makes the answer to your question a no.

Qwiksilver

Jalexa. So sorry to have upset you.
I have indeed read the answers given by others and have thanked them accordingly. I also noted above that I have no intention of not paying my bills. I never will refuse and have always supplied regular meter readings. However I am becoming heartily sick of the constant estimated bills I recieve and that it is expected of me to do so on thier behalf. This obviously saves them the cost of doing so themselves.
If I thought that these savings were being passed on to us the customer it would make it worthwhile doing.

chanz4

Think of how many millions of customers they have, most reads come from the same meter reading companys. It is not possible to read every quarter. If you want provide your own reads each month

t0rt0ise

They read my meter regularly and I still get estimated bills.. now that is a source of frustration.