Atlantic gas meter readers made errors for 6 years

gooner1937

Hi,
We have just been notified by Atlantic Gas that for at least 5 years their meter readers have only logged 4 digits and not 5 digits in the usage readings they also blame our previous gas supplier Eon for giving them incorrect information.They tell us that they can only claim for the last 12 months of underpayment,we say that as Eon and the Atlantic meter readers were at fault,why should we now be asked to pay £473 and have our monthly debit increased by £40.
By coincidence when we went to check the gas meter reading ourselves it was blank and Atlantic tells us that the battery had gone and that they will install a new meter.I feel that we should wait to see what the next quarters readings our with the new meter.Our gas comes on at 6.30 am off at 8.30 am on at 5.30 p.m. and off at 10.30 pm. we are not home from 8.30 am until 6.00 pm. and we have full double glazing,full insulated loft and insulation in walls front and back,we live in a terraced 2 bedroom house sandwiched between 2 other terraced houses.
We understand from Atlantic that we are not the only clients that they are claiming underpayment from.Are they saying that the other clients previous suppliers ,they can't all be Eon, gave Atlantic the wrong information when they were switched over.
We really need to know what to do next.

macman

Regardless of who made the error, you are nevertheless liable for the energy used. If the meter error was in your favour, would you not expect a refund? If they've waived the other 5 years of underpayment, you've gained a huge advantage anyway.
What doesn't make sense is how one year's underpayment can be as much as £473. What on earth is your kWh consumption in that case?
Re the gas meter, when consumption has to be estimated, it invariably works out in the customer's favour. A winter quarter level will not help you in terms of a year's actual consumption-it will be much higher.
But did you not check your bills against the actual meter readings in six years though?

gooner1937

macman wrote: »

Regardless of who made the error, you are nevertheless liable for the energy used. If the meter error was in your favour, would you not expect a refund? If they've waived the other 5 years of underpayment, you've gained a huge advantage anyway.
What doesn't make sense is how one year's underpayment can be as much as £473. What on earth is your kWh consumption in that case?
Re the gas meter, when consumption has to be estimated, it invariably works out in the customer's favour. A winter quarter level will not help you in terms of a year's actual consumption-it will be much higher.
But did you not check your bills against the actual meter readings in six years though?

thanks macman.
yes we have looked at our bills for that 6 years they are all 4 digit reading and Atlantic say that they should have been 5 digit and that is how they calculated 12 months underpayment at £473.They are supposed to fit a new gas meter which should give the correct usage readings and we can then compare these readings to what they say they should have been previously

macman

How can a single year's underpayment be as much as £473? What have you already paid for electrcity in that year, and what was your actual kWh consumption in that year?
£473 buys approx 4,000 kWh of standard rate electricity, which is more than most people's entire annual consumption in a property with gas CH and DHW, which yours presumably is.
So that underpayment makes no sense at all.

spiro

macman wrote: »

How can a single year's underpayment be as much as £473? What have you already paid for electrcity in that year, and what was your actual kWh consumption in that year?
£473 buys approx 4,000 kWh of standard rate electricity, which is more than most people's entire annual consumption in a property with gas CH and DHW, which yours presumably is.
So that underpayment makes no sense at all.

The issue is with the gas not elec readings.

macman

Apologies, I misread the OP. In that case it makes the underpayment more feasible.

dogshome

Though Macman made a Gas/Elec error, he was on the right track

The £473 charge for Gas underbilling in the last 12 months, works out to appx 11,800 Kwh, and although diffent families lifestyles in exactly the same type of house will produce different bills, from the description of your house I'd expect to see an Annual Kwh useage of around 11,000Kwh

As no supplier has been counting the 5th digit for over 5 years, Atlantics back-calculations are pure guesswork, so your are exactly right in asking that your backbilling for the past 12 months, is based on a full years readings from the new meter

WRITE to Atlantic heading the letter Complint, asking for written confirmation of the number of Gas kwh that they are now late billing
State that you will pay the bill, when you have those figures and their written confirmation that the late bills value will be re-visited and re-claculated if neccesary, when your true Annual Gas consumption is established by the new meter