How does this happen??-Eon/Npower/Scot Power reps comments welcome as well

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Cardew i did point out this scheme sounded quite dodgy and that it appeared that some energy companies were now credit checking....

As i said i saw proof of small bills then the switch took place and a massive bill for over 2K

Wywth

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

Someone was telling me for years how they get away with paying just a few pounds a month for gas/elec and has done this for over 10 years and owing thousands to various suppliers

They state they give false meter readings to a supplier that means bills are literally a few quid for a period of 2 years,they dont allow meter reader in. After 2 years the meters are supposed to be checked, so they move supplier,

Give new supplier correct readings

Old supplier queries very high readings (talking over 2k of usage), makes up some rubbish about some kind of business that uses lot of energy over last few months)

Old supplier then accepts correct readings after some back and forth with new supplier

The person then arranges for the meters to be read in person and starts the cycle again

They then dont pay the loosing supplier anything

Is this a common thing?

Someones been pulling your leg, mate!
... or perhaps we are getting into the realms of fantasy again... :cool:

When you switch supplier, you provide your new supplier with the meter reading and they pass this to the old supplier, so the end meter reading of the former supplier is the same as the start meter reading of the new supplier.

Where an unexpectedly large last meter reading is provided (and accepted) the old supplier will normally include in the final bill a recalculation since the last time the meter was officially read to take take account of price changes over that period. If the account holder complains (and the supplier may ask for proof) that the usage suddenly spiked at the end of the 2 years, then the recalculation may not occur ... but all electricity consumed will have to be paid for.

Of course, there is only any point claiming the usage spiked at the end if the price has fallen over the period, otherwise the customer will end up paying more than they should :cool:

Gas meters should be read at least once every 2 years irrespective of any change of supplier.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Wywth not pulling my leg at all. Saw the bills. Meter reads etc.

The idea being he said that you end up owing a large amount to previous supplier but as they no longer supply they can't do anything

victor2

Sounds like the transfer between suppliers would all be done at the fictitious low reading and then the customer tells the new supplier they've got the wrong starting reading. They then get the right reading, which they verify, and the customer lies about a mistake having been made on the final reading.
Maybe the theory is that the new supplier accepts that the 2K worth of electricity can't have been used since the previously supplied starting reading, so they go back and tell the losing supplier that their ending reading was wrong.
So does the losing supplier then accept the new reading and calculate a new final bill after the transfer has gone through? Surely the deception would catch up with the perpetrator and he/she would be duly punished, especially if we're talking about thousands of pounds?

anotheruser

Plus, if you're a married couple and the bills/accounts are in one persons name, then their credit rating can be sacrificed. Obviously this puts a lot of trust on the marriage lasting.

Water on the other hand, tell your friend to simply stop paying the bill. I am sure (although I might be wrong) that the water company cannot cut water off to a property.

Offer to pay them £1 a week or something else nominal and you'll die before they ever get the full amount owed.
However the problem lies in whether the debt will be passed on once the person has passed on.
I personally would not like my children to be owing thousands of pounds.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Victor good point. I think the accounts are just written of and sent to debt collection agencies

Wywth

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

Wywth not pulling my leg at all. Saw the bills. Meter reads etc.

The idea being he said that you end up owing a large amount to previous supplier but as they no longer supply they can't do anything

Confirmation that we are getting into the realms of fantasy :cool:

Wywth

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

Victor good point. I think the accounts are just written of and sent to debt collection agencies

Yeah, ignored debts always get written off don't they? :cool:

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Wywth wrote: »

Confirmation that we are getting into the realms of fantasy :cool:

Why is that so then.

Someone owes xxxx amount to old supplier as they accept abnormal readings based on previous readings

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Wywth wrote: »

Yeah, ignored debts always get written off don't they? :cool:

Actually yes they go round in circles to various debt firms who sell them on for about 10p in the £1. Most don't go the court route