nPower meter madness

Dmitrii

Our gas supply has been cut off since around 4pm on 10 Oct. Despite the fact that we have a direct debit payment agreement with nPower, the meter installed on our gas line is a prepaid meter, which had run out of credit at that time. We moved in the flat 3 weeks ago, and this was actually the 1st time we went and looked at the meter.

Upon calling, nPower was telling us that the meter in question belongs to British Gas, and that we should be dealing with them. (This is despite the fact that nPower made an arrangement with us to supply us gas!). We called up British Gas, and they denied that this is their meter. Next day, after being contacted again, nPower mailed us a card for the meter (although they were saying that they do not have the meter on their books!), to top up the meter. Having received the card on 12 Oct, as instructed, I took the required steps to activate the card, and went to a PayPoint shop to load up a credit on the card. However, the latter was not possible.

I suppose that either nPower has "lost" the meter, or it is not "their" meter in the first place. Nevertheless, I do not understand why instead of fulfilling our agreement by fixed the meter (perhaps, by installing another meter) they keep playing this game with us. Don't they have a service guarantee (4 hours on working days to fix the supply?)

I would appreciate any tips on how get this sorted out quickly.

spiro

At a guess, British Gas was the supplier when you moved in and you opted to move to NPower. If that is the case then it takes several weeks for the change of supplier to occur. Until that date BG are responsible, after that NPower. During the CoS process the new suppplier may well not know the meter details.

skitler

move to bottle gas. no contract no standing charge.
billions of people around the world cant be wrong.:j
or carry on dancing to there tune.

Dmitrii

spiro wrote: »

At a guess, British Gas was the supplier when you moved in and you opted to move to NPower. If that is the case then it takes several weeks for the change of supplier to occur. Until that date BG are responsible, after that NPower. During the CoS process the new suppplier may well not know the meter details.

No, we have not opted for anything like this. The flat has been supplied by nPower, and previous occupants ran up 1500 of debt with nPower. We were instructed by the landlady to set up an account with nPower, and we duly did so. Our lease forbids us moving suppliers without her approval, in fact. According to the record on the new meter, it was fitted 30/5/13, but this event has no trace on nPower's records!

I would have thought that as nPower agreed to direct debt billing with us, they have to ensure that such billing is possible!

skitler

Dmitrii wrote: »

No, we have not opted for anything like this. The flat has been supplied by nPower, and previous occupants ran up 1500 of debt with nPower. We were instructed by the landlady to set up an account with nPower, and we duly did so. Our lease forbids us moving suppliers without her approval, in fact. According to the record on the new meter, it was fitted 30/5/13, but this event has no trace on nPower's records!

I would have thought that as nPower agreed to direct debt billing with us, they have to ensure that such billing is possible!

then fit your own meter if they have no record of it, when its not there whos going to know, your not stealing if you keep a record of usage.

Dmitrii

Dmitrii wrote: »

No, we have not opted for anything like this. The flat has been supplied by nPower, and previous occupants ran up 1500 of debt with nPower. We were instructed by the landlady to set up an account with nPower, and we duly did so. Our lease forbids us moving suppliers without her approval, in fact. According to the record on the new meter, it was fitted 30/5/13, but this event has no trace on nPower's records!

I would have thought that as nPower agreed to direct debt billing with us, they have to ensure that such billing is possible!

In fact, I am at loss about means to establish the true owner of the meter. The building is supplied by an independent [STRIKE]artist[/STRIKE] supplier formerly called British Gas Connections. British Gas (the real one) does not have the meter on the books either - they also told me to pick up a card, activate it in the meter, top it up - and this process failed at the same point as with nPower card. Namely, not possible to top up the card!

Are "rogue" meters common in the UK?

Norman_Castle

Ask your supplier to replace the meter that nobody owns as it cannot be used and must be faulty.

Dmitrii

skitler wrote: »

then fit your own meter if they have no record of it, when its not there whos going to know, your not stealing if you keep a record of usage.

I don't think the landlady will be amused by this. Legally, we need her consent to do anything like this.

victor2

Dmitrii wrote: »

I don't think the landlady will be amused by this. Legally, we need her consent to do anything like this.

It's not her meter (or anybody else's it would seem ). You pay the supplier, not her. She can't dictate which supplier you pay for utilities you use.
Could get a bit upset if you change supplier "behind her back" though, I suppose.

goonarmy

victor2 wrote: »

It's not her meter (or anybody else's it would seem ). You pay the supplier, not her. She can't dictate which supplier you pay for utilities you use.
Could get a bit upset if you change supplier "behind her back" though, I suppose.

Yep this^.
Notify her that your changing to whoever. Find the cheapest ring em up and start a fresh account as a new customer then its their responsibility to sort you out a meter and supply. I had this when i moved into my flat, i couldn arrange power for four days. Lots of phone calls later was on in an hour.:T

sheffield_lad

skitler wrote: »

move to bottle gas. no contract no standing charge.
billions of people around the world cant be wrong.:j
or carry on dancing to there tune.

This is bad advice a unit of mains gas is around 4.8p per kwh

the equivalent in LPG is around 7.6kwh (that's bulk smaller bottled costs even more).

Billions have to use bottle gas as they do not have the luxury of mains gas and British mains gas is the cheapest in Europe!