Mistake by Gas company now ended up with a large bill

matelodave

I agree with Cardew - the OP has had £800 or more of free gas (last winter was very cold & prolonged so it's likely to be nearer a £1000) and will probably get a year or so to pay off the arrears.
You can't expect that he should get a bunch of flowers as well.

Cardew

dogshome wrote: »

Sorry Cardew - I just don't agree that the OP has "come out of the situation well"

We don't know what the OP's financial situation is, but there are thousands of low income families struggleing to balace their books in the face of rising prices, particularly energy, and low wages

Surely it doesn't matter if the OP is the guy who just won £108 million, or broke.

He has used the gas and had £800(or more) written off. Regardless of his finances he has come out of the situation well.

just how much effort and 'Management' does it take to put a "Check-Your-Meters- Marking "notice on the Bill ?

What possible incentive is there for anyone to ring up their Utility company to inform them they are being undercharged?

With the back-billing provision, even if the OP knew he was being undercharged, he says nought and gets a nice little £800+ bonus.

If he knew the score and pocketed the £800 - fair enough. It is the audacity to assert that an £800 write-off is insufficient.

If the situation had been reversed i.e. charged for an Imperial meter instead of a metric meter, I wonder if the OP would have written of any of the rebate due.

yangptangkipperbang

dogshome wrote: »

You have fallen into a hole left open since the Utility Industry was privatised

Sorry, but it sounds more like they sleep walked into it ............

AND - I totally agree with chanz4 - Why is it always the energy firm's fault ???

I get tired of reading posts on MSE from people who have been "ripped off", "scammed", had money "stolen" from them by these evil companies.
Yes - they do get it wrong at times but when you read some of the ludicrous comments from some of their "customers" on this and other forums you can do little but sympathise with the energy providers at times.

Practically everyone has access to their meter - what is difficult about reading it now and again ?? If they are IT savvy enough to join MSE and put posts on the forum, why can't they visit their supplier's website and work out their bill ??

I have to wonder how some of them get on in the toilet in their own :rotfl::rotfl:

dogshome

Well, I so glad that some of the regulars have such financially comfortable lives that their sole concern, " Wow, Bobsterlobster got away with £800 of free gas".

Which entirely misses the point that Metric v Imperial meter mix-ups and vice versa, can absolutley destroy the delicate financial balanceing act that many low income households are forced to perform

Charged Imperial rates for a Metric meter ?
This household will unknowingly be paying 181% more for their gas that they should be - So with that 181% not being lifted from their purse, how many pairs of childrens shoes does that buy, or better food and family days out, or even all three ?
Charged Metric meter rates for an Imperial Meter
Lucky Low Income family, they get away with not paying for 181% of their gas - The problem is they don't know it and budget to pay what is on the gas bills - Then CRASH, the supplier realises the bills are wrong and demands an instant £500

Sure there a customers who understand the mix-up and just keep quiete to pocket the 181%, but if the industry sorted itself out there would be no chancers, nor Energy Bill devastion on Low Income families