Moving supplier - Meter readings

stphnstevey

If you move supplier, you just tell your old company what the final meter reading is and give the new company the new starting reading. What stopping you given a slightly inflated reading to the new company or a lower reading to the old company? (I don't think they send out anyone to read the meter when you switch)

Jeannine

Because the suppliers "talk" to each other. In my case, the new supplier was given the readings by me, and then passed them to the old supplier. Simple!

hopingforahouse

Officially the new supplier gives the new reading to the old supplier. If you give them different readings, the only outcome is to hold things up re. your new/ final bills etc. Whatever reading your new supplier passes to your old supplier they have to use - but if you've given your old supplier a different reading, they might dispute the one from your new supplier. It'll only cause you probs in the long term.

anniecave

They don't "have" to use the reading you give them if it's clearly incorrect for example.

The "new suppplier giving the meter reading to the old supplier" process means it is processed as a customer reading but the reading is validated by a computer that checks it makes sense against the previous old supplier readings.

If for example you were moving to a cheaper supplier and you used a reading that was a bit too low then you'd probably get away with it, as both suppliers would use your reading and unless they sent a meter reader around on the correct day then they wouldn't know any different. But I'm not advising that as that would be dishonest ....

Gal

plus if you meter is outside there is chance that someone will actually come round and read the meter on the day of changeover - And a Meter Readers reading will always be used over your reading if thats the case.

It will always catch up with you one way or another.