Sub meter help

Richie-from-the-Boro

Clairebear15 wrote: »

I live in a rented flat, opposite our front door is a small room with a washing machine in which is used by several other flats. It is connected to our electricity supply, and there appears to be a sub meter in there which people put a pound into when they use the machine. Are we paying for the electricity to this machine? Or is it possible for it to be connected to our supply but paid for separately?

- keep quiet for another week
- use the machine yourself for an average wash, how much did it cost you ?
- during that own use of the machine switch it off in your flat with your CU, does the washing machine switch off ?
- make very very sure its run from your CU / energy supply
- during a week or more count the number of average washes that it completes
- use or borrow a camera and photograph all cabling, metering etc

Multiply the price it cost you by the average number of washes per week and multiply that by 208 then quietly :

- tell the LL its connected to your energy supply
- ask s/he where the money goes
- ask for its return within 2 hours
- if you don't get all of your money back ring the police immediately
- if you do get all of your money back ring the police immediately anyway

e.g. £1 per wash, an average of 7 washes per week over 4 years, someone owes you £1456

chanz4

The electricity company wont get involved as its on the consumer side, inregards to the police doubt they will even blink been honest

rogerblack

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- if you do get all of your money back ring the police immediately anyway

e.g. £1 per wash, an average of 7 washes per week over 4 years, someone owes you £1456

The police are extremely unlikely to get involved.
The landlord would simply have to stand up in court and say 'I had no idea my electrician did that, I will spank him severely when I next see him - but I have no number for him and he lives in Poland' and case dismissed.
It has to be proved beyond reasonable dount that he knew.

In principle, it would be possible to reclaim the money through the small claims court. This means you only have to prove your loss on the balance of probabilities.
This is quite easy - measure kWh used by the washing machine, multiply by the unit price. (unlikely to be a pound)
http://www.moneyclaimonline.gov.uk/

Richie-from-the-Boro

rogerblack wrote: »

The police are extremely unlikely to get involved.
The landlord would simply have to stand up in court and say 'I had no idea my electrician did that, I will spank him severely when I next see him - but I have no number for him and he lives in Poland' and case dismissed.
It has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt that he knew.

In principle, it would be possible to reclaim the money through the small claims court. This means you only have to prove your loss on the balance of probabilities.
This is quite easy - measure kWh used by the washing machine, multiply by the unit price. (unlikely to be a pound)
http://www.moneyclaimonline.gov.uk/

- the thing can't function for that length of time without being emptied
- the evidence trail starts there
- if all else fails £20 puts it in the SCC, evidence will be taken, restitution will be allocated
- at which point bailiff or sheriff can be used to enforce

rogerblack

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- the thing can't function for that length of time without being emptied

Well, yes, but the loss to the tenant is in no way a pound.
At most it'd be the cost of the electricity, arguably with interest.

ohreally

If all else fails start peeing in the soap dispenser drawer.


(hope you get sorted).

chanz4

you will also have to prove how much has been used

Richie-from-the-Boro

All meters, primary and secondary must be of an approved pattern or construction and installed in an approved manner. This is clearly a 'stunt' in which case I assume the ebay-special or back street old coin operated 'secondary' meter will not be Ofgem \ MID approved and its install falls outside legislation anyway.

Ring the police, tell them cash coin operated robbery of your electric supply is actually in progress at the time of ringing, the thief is still on site, ask them to investigate.

Let us know how you get on.

rogerblack

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

All meters, primary and secondary must be of an approved pattern or construction and installed in an approved manner.

It's clearly not a meter, but a coin operated timer.

Richie-from-the-Boro

rogerblack wrote: »

It's clearly not a meter, but a coin operated timer.

- its a meter, the O/P said meter
- you no one else, has introduced or inferred a description not previously used
- until the O/P says different its a meter

OP. Ring the police, tell them cash coin operated robbery of your electric supply is actually in progress at the time of ringing, the thief is still on site, ask them to investigate.

Let us know how you get on.