meter reader mis read meter

tibawo

I know that i am not perfect but today i had a letter from npower wanting to confirm my meter serial no and readings as in there words i might owe them £10000s. A bit of a shock.
I thought this was strange as i input my own readings on line as i like to know my usage etc.
When i went on line i note that i have put a reading in for 5731 and then 11 days later the meter reader has put one in for 5710. If this was one of the spinning dials then maybe at a push i would understand but it is a straightforward number dial. He has done this for both my gas and elec readings.
This has now really stressed me out.
Has anyone had any dealings with this? Do you this mean i should now ask the meter reader to tell me his readings so i can check? Do the suppliers accept that their own meter readers can it wrong or is this now going to turn into a nightmare for me?

JC_Derby

tibawo wrote: »

I know that i am not perfect but today i had a letter from npower wanting to confirm my meter serial no and readings as in there words i might owe them £10000s. A bit of a shock.
I thought this was strange as i input my own readings on line as i like to know my usage etc.
When i went on line i note that i have put a reading in for 5731 and then 11 days later the meter reader has put one in for 5710. If this was one of the spinning dials then maybe at a push i would understand but it is a straightforward number dial. He has done this for both my gas and elec readings.
This has now really stressed me out.
Has anyone had any dealings with this? Do you this mean i should now ask the meter reader to tell me his readings so i can check? Do the suppliers accept that their own meter readers can it wrong or is this now going to turn into a nightmare for me?

Its mre likely that someone has misread or mistyped the meter readings. Dont worry, but do send in a new reading.

rogerblack

If they persist in claiming that you've used a ridiculous amount of energy, then note the fuse rating.
Typical fuse is 100A in the UK.
This can use 24kW from the mains, or about 3 pounds an hour, 70 pounds a day.
If the amount claimed exceeds this, since the last reading, it's simply not physically possible for you to draw this from the mains.

[Deleted User]

They can send another meter reader round for a check read, thats the usual routine. Everyone makes mistakes. but if you are saying hes put the same reading down for both gas and electric its very odd. The suppliers have seen enough mistakes from us to realise not to take a ridiculous bill like that at face value

OhReally_2

So what is your current meter reading?

chanz4

sacsquacco wrote: »

They can send another meter reader round for a check read, thats the usual routine. Everyone makes mistakes. but if you are saying hes put the same reading down for both gas and electric its very odd. The suppliers have seen enough mistakes from us to realise not to take a ridiculous bill like that at face value

How does the op know she hasnt read wrong, as does happen

jalexa

This thread is nothing to do with "misreading a meter" but about a billing process seeing a register overflow when a consecutive reading is (only slightly) less than the previous reading. The letter wording is "ignorant" in its cost warning. In fact I'm surprised that the meter reader reading could have been validated. If it wasn't validated the supplier should have ignored it and obtained another meter reader reading not a customer only reading.

The billing process described is truly not fit for purpose but should anybody be surprised?

Wolf3

i also think the cost warning is in relation to the meter going "round the clock" and any energy company which did send a bill out for this kind of money would be bonkers!!! the letter is probably automated due to the Data Retrieval reading being less than the last validated read. So NPower are asking the OP to confirm the serial number (in case there has been a meter exchange they dont know about) and current read (so they can correct the billing and validate a correct reading) the DR read should have failed the validation check and they're asking the customer so they dont have to pay for another DR to read the meter again
On a side note a meter can run backwards if someone has Solar PV panels installed at a property and the existing meter does not have a backstop installed