Bogus meter readings :mad:

alhajeri

Bought a property in the spring, had storage heaters and NO GAS, electricity supplied by Eon. Remained with Eon on a non-contractual basis whilst renovating the property.

National grid fitted a new gas supply to the property over the summer, with the gas meter WITHIN my four walls. Since then I still haven't had a boiler fitted, so the gas should be inactive.

In October I finalised a switch to Scottish Power on a Dual-Fuel Tariff. I was instructed by Eon to provide my final meter readings to my new supplier, who would pass them back to Eon and any final debit/credit would be resolved.

I've now received a bill from Eon 6th December, saying I am still their gas customer, and I owe them £70 odd pound since on 16th November my gas meter was read at 00132. I've always taken photos of the meter when doing readings, so I get a date stamp.
The gas meter hasn't changed from 99998 since the day it was fitted in the summer. And just to throw it in there, I work on oil rigs and was in the middle of the North Sea until 19th November, so nobody home to allow a meter reading to take place.

Anybody experienced bogus meter readings? I've asked Eon to provide me with proof that my meter stated that figure on that day, and how the reading was taken. Do I have grounds to complain to Ofgem? Any feedback would be much appreciated!

macman

Are you sure it's not an estimated reading (clearly marked on the bill, E, A or C)?
If the register has not increased since the last (install) reading, the system will probably reject it as an error and substitute an estimate. Especially since last time it was just two units off going around the clock, which is what the estimate appears to show-it's estimated 134 units used.
Why do you need to go to Ofgem? Just give them the actual readings.
'Bogus' doesn't arise unless it's shown as an agent reading. The bills are produced entirely by the system, no human hand is involved.

alhajeri

Cheers for the response macman, Eon assured me that the correct person has been e-mailed inhouse and I'll get a call to resolve all my issues...

I was told it was an actual reading, they also gave me the fella's name who took the reading.

macman

So what does your bill say? Agent, customer or estimated?

dogshome

The meter reader obviously read a meter, but c*ck-ups do occur with meter locations so check that the Meter No.on the bill, matches that on the actual meter.

So far as proof of reading is concerned, send Eon a photo of what yours reads now, and if you can get a dated Newspaper in the shot, so much the better

macman

The billed reading would seem to correspond to what a system estimate might produce.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi alhajeri

Already some excellent advice on here. Thanks guys.

As others have said, let us have the correct meter reading and we’ll re-bill the account accurately. A picture would be great.

Also, as dogshome says, tell us your meter serial number. Sometimes, especially with new connections, accounts can be linked to the wrong meter. I doubt this is the case here as the reading used follows on from the previous reading. Best to be safe though.

Did you take the advisors name and contact details? If you did, send the info to them. It’ll speed things up.

Hope this helps.

Malc