Possibly been reading wrong meter for 2.5 years??

martin2345uk

Hi guys,

Just moved out of a flat we've been in for 2 and a half years. I've just come to get a final meter reading, but someone has scrawled on the wall in the communal meter cupboard that our meter is in fact for flat 43 (we're 41)..?!

Now there's always been a wee bit of confusion with these flats - they're all odd numbers, but for example the car parking spaces are consecutive odd and even numbers starting from 7, whereas the flats start from number 27.

Even more confusingly these consecutive numberings from 7 were originally applied to the meters.

Cutting a long boring story short, we've been reading the meter next to the serial number the original supplier told us when we moved in - its only on 23/07/13 that someone's crossed out 41 and written Flat 43 (they've written the date by it!).

Should we mention this to Scottish Power? Ignore it and give the reading from the meter we've always used? Bit worried that the amendment was written by them themselves and were suddenly going to get a massive bill for the meter we maybe should've been reading all along!

Any advice...?

Wywth

martin2345uk wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just moved out of a flat we've been in for 2 and a half years. I've just come to get a final meter reading, but someone has scrawled on the wall in the communal meter cupboard that our meter is in fact for flat 43 (we're 41)..?!

Now there's always been a wee bit of confusion with these flats - they're all odd numbers, but for example the car parking spaces are consecutive odd and even numbers starting from 7, whereas the flats start from number 27.

Even more confusingly these consecutive numberings from 7 were originally applied to the meters.

Cutting a long boring story short, we've been reading the meter next to the serial number the original supplier told us when we moved in - its only on 23/07/13 that someone's crossed out 41 and written Flat 43 (they've written the date by it!).

Should we mention this to Scottish Power? Ignore it and give the reading from the meter we've always used? Bit worried that the amendment was written by them themselves and were suddenly going to get a massive bill for the meter we maybe should've been reading all along!

Any advice...?

I suggest you explain your concerns to the supplier.

If you still have access to the flat, (even if via new tenants) it's quite simple to identify whether the meter you thought was yours actually was.

martin2345uk

OKay so we called them, they gave us the serial number, and it's definitely the one we've been reading all this time...

I don't get any flat 43 or whoever, would suddenly decide that our meter was their meter!?

When you say " it's quite simple to identify whether the meter you thought was yours actually was", do you mean easy for Scottish Power, or easy for me?

Wywth

martin2345uk wrote: »

OKay so we called them, they gave us the serial number, and it's definitely the one we've been reading all this time...

I don't get any flat 43 or whoever, would suddenly decide that our meter was their meter!?

When you say " it's quite simple to identify whether the meter you thought was yours actually was", do you mean easy for Scottish Power, or easy for me?

Easy for you. A meter simply records consumption. You can see when it's recording consumption usually quite easily.
If you can start and stop the meter by turning the leccy on and off, then that is your meter.

martin2345uk

Ah I see what you mean. There's no one living in the flat now, we've given the keys back, but I can access the communal meter cupboard - I was there today for a good while, and the meter didn't go up at all during that time, which I guess is consistent with an empty flat where everything is switched off

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Its incredible how many meter mess-ups I see in communal cupboards. You cannot really. trust someones scrawled number claiming its a certain number. The only way is a load test.. you on your mobile in the cupboard and someone switching kettle on and off in the flat. when a meter mess up occurs.. human nature for freebies takes over. the one paying next to nothing will keep quiet, the other one worries and frets why they are paying so much. You should come clean and report it back to the supplier even if you have moved out. Seeing as how its gone on for 2.5 years I am guessing you are the one getting away with the lower. Debts can follow on even if you move and switch supplier

martin2345uk

We did report it to the supplier, they just confirmed what serial number we should be reading, and it was the one we've always been reading.

And the number was only changed this month so we've not been thinking it was wrong for 2.5 years!

I certainly don't think we've been getting away with paying less!

[Deleted User]

You definitely cant rely on serial numbers in communal cupboards. when the place is built and ready some bloke comes along writing them all down and sends them off to the supplier they have done a deal with to start the supply. They originally are plot numbers, which may or may not coincide with the actual flat numbers which are adopted later on. I have blocks of flats which are still messed up 10 years later ( Concorde Mews Doncaster for one ) The residents who come and go never do the sensible thing and go and check who s meter is who s. We meter readers are supposed to go on serial numbers... and so the mess ups continue. This would never happen in Germany I m sure

martin2345uk

Ok I take your point, cheers.

So, I have to call them again on Monday to give the final reading that I took - what exactly should I ask them? To send someone to check the meters? Would they not charge me for that?

And then, say some of the flats HAVE been reading the wrong ones - how on earth would they go about working out what has been used and what's really owed...?

Wywth

martin2345uk wrote: »

Ah I see what you mean. There's no one living in the flat now, we've given the keys back, but I can access the communal meter cupboard - I was there today for a good while, and the meter didn't go up at all during that time, which I guess is consistent with an empty flat where everything is switched off

Thanks!

Seems like reasonably good evidence you were being charged on the correct meter, especially if all other meters were recording consumption

victor2

If the meter you've been reading is not moving as the flat is empty, then there's a good chance it is for your flat, especially if the nearby ones are occupied.
Without access, it's going to be difficult to prove which is which. Is one of the meters labelled with your (old) flat number now? If so, it shouldn't be moving if it is unoccupied and no appliances or lights are on.
The supplier is happy you've been reading the right meter, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.