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

[Deleted User]

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?

Its certainly a common thing nowadays. People , when asked to inspect the meters, just reply things like, " we do our own, my husbands just submitted the reading, or , an old favourite " its not convenient come back another day " . I have been working for EDF today, and to the best of my knowledge, I or any of my pals have never done a designated 2 year inspection in the 5 years or so that our company has been reading for them. It seem they just dont comply with Ofgems supposidly mandatory 2 year inspection. Ofgem themselves are just about to bow to the suppliers wishes to stretch the 2 years to 5 years. It really is a fiddlers paradise nowadays. My line manager does nt want us getting pushy at the doorstep because it makes life harder for him. So the door slamming in our faces, with no comebacks ever, is a routine thing now. Actual bypassing or substituting meters is more likely the method used rather than feeding false readings for years

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

When is this new 5 year rule likely to happen then?

[Deleted User]

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

When is this new 5 year rule likely to happen then?

Its either on now (my boss says ), or iminent. Last year, on Ofgems website, they were inviting objections to the suppliers wishes of a 5 year minimum inspection period. I placed my objection due to the much increased bypassing of meters I now find and said it would be only suitable for "smart meters ".I ve since found smart meters bypassed also, When smarts get meters for prepays, ( which thet have in some areas ) I fully expect the free energy bonanza to continue . No prosecutions nowadays for energy thieving nowadays neither. Personally I think its a ludicrous idea stretching the 2 years to 5

Ich_2

Interestingly if the OP's name reflects his location, that's not far from a quite large illegal abstraction case we found last year!
Hmmmm

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Ich wrote: »

Interestingly if the OP's name reflects his location, that's not far from a quite large illegal abstraction case we found last year!
Hmmmm[/QUOTE

It is indeed but if you wish to accuse me of anything then pls do put it in writing with your full name and address:)

Ich_2

but if you wish to accuse me of anything

Nope not accusing you, just commenting that your part of the world seems to generate some interesting ways of not paying for electricity!

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Ich wrote: »

Nope not accusing you, just commenting that your part of the world seems to generate some interesting ways of not paying for electricity!

Well that may be a fair point then:) tight northerners lol

Ich_2

It was in Askam anyway!! But it did end up with the perpetrator being arrested & charged.

bengal-stripe

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

.....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

What kind of a business would that be? - Growing cannabis???