government epetition for wrong billing

Strebor

Hi all,

After a year of harassment by NPower, and further wrong billing by first utility I have had enough and wish to do something about it. I hope people out there feel the same way and can support this e-petition that I have set up.

I am a competent middle aged bloke who can do all the calculations on meters with no problem, and therefore could see what the companies had done once their error was known (They changed the meter units from ft3 to m3 when nothing had changed - this trebled the result of the calculation of usage). They did not listen, hid behind their automated systems that constantly tried to take more money than they should. Not to mention the stress and aggravation receiving wrong bills, legal threats and threats to credit ratings. I say hid behind because the staff inevitably can't resolve the situation and fall back on policy that can not resolve the situation.

The 'compensation' for this sorry saga was £50, appalling! It no way makes up for the time nor the stress nor the threats.

Goodness knows how many elderly or people who can not work out the calculations are being treated like this. It must run into millions if not more, and they are being fleeced.

Anyway, here it is:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280

Cheers,
Steve

Strebor

Hmm, the total has not gone up as much as those on here said they would sign.......
Did those that have get the confirmation email? Or are the gov as poor at running petitions as energy companies are at bill administration!?!

[Deleted User]

Yes OP, Ive met quite a few who were absolutely baffled by the metric/imperial mix up including one old dear who had become paranoid at switching her heating on because of huge bills.
It does work the other way, less often , where they are getting billed metric unit prices for imperial meters. They definitely dont ever complain though

Strebor

Thanks for the feedback. I just wish they would do things properly.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280

dude89

Strebor wrote: »

Hi all,

After a year of harassment by NPower, and further wrong billing by first utility I have had enough and wish to do something about it. I hope people out there feel the same way and can support this e-petition that I have set up.

I am a competent middle aged bloke who can do all the calculations on meters with no problem, and therefore could see what the companies had done once their error was known (They changed the meter units from ft3 to m3 when nothing had changed - this trebled the result of the calculation of usage). They did not listen, hid behind their automated systems that constantly tried to take more money than they should. Not to mention the stress and aggravation receiving wrong bills, legal threats and threats to credit ratings. I say hid behind because the staff inevitably can't resolve the situation and fall back on policy that can not resolve the situation.

The 'compensation' for this sorry saga was £50, appalling! It no way makes up for the time nor the stress nor the threats.

Goodness knows how many elderly or people who can not work out the calculations are being treated like this. It must run into millions if not more, and they are being fleeced.

Anyway, here it is:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280

Cheers,
Steve

Even though I sympathise with your issues and wish that problems like these were easier resolved, I do not personally agree with the aims of the epetition. I disagree with the standardised increase in compensation and charges to suppliers for errors on the basis that these errors are only paid for by the customers in the end. If the directors of a company were personally held accountable then fine, but at the moment compensation and fines just increase the bills of customers.

But I do wish you luck in resolving your problems

Strebor

Thanks for the point........ I agree the penalty should be for the directors and shareholders, taken from (preventing them having) profit. Hey that might be some kind of new utility company structure where actually doing the job was required before profit could be won..... Ie they have responsibility.

I appreciate what you say, however writing an e-petition is very hard to encapsulate the issue and define a solution as one is restricted to 1000 characters. Also, my petition does not say other customers should pay for the fines.

What can you propose is an answer for many of these companies not administering even simple billing? Nor being able to correct errors in anything like a reasonable period? To me doing nothing is not an option and just leaves consumers powerless. Even if a petition is not perfect, the aim is to attempt to get MPs to have to discuss it seriously.

Also, some people on here suggest if errors are in customers favour then don't say anything...... Well that does no one any good, why should some pay less than they should and others more? The whole system is useless and needs addressing.

If anyone else could propose 1000 characters that do it better then please do.

Cheers,
Steve

Strebor

Bump, 6 signed so far. Thanks for those. Just a few more to reach 100k, tell your friends!

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280

Strebor

Up to 8.........oops sorry, 9. Thanks.

Biggles

Strebor wrote: »

(They changed the meter units from ft3 to m3 when nothing had changed - this trebled the result of the calculation of usage).

That would be around 35 times the usage, wouldn't it?

Nada666

Biggles wrote: »

That would be around 35 times the usage, wouldn't it?

No (well, yes if it were a single cubic foot). One imperial meter unit is one hundred cubic feet not one single cubic foot. There is a 2.8 fold difference.

Strebor

Nada666 wrote: »

No (well, yes if it were a single cubic foot). One imperial meter unit is one hundred cubic feet not one single cubic foot. There is a 2.8 fold difference.

Yep, that was about it. The real problem I have is fine a mistake is made, but to spend a year not sorting it, producing odd billing and auto mailing threats at the same time is aggressive and entirely unecessary and causes so much grief.

Up to 10 now. Thanks