Moved into house - unable to read electric meter

SplanK

I moved into a property on the 10th July, and immediately raised a concern with the old owner regarding a digital electric meter not showing any reading. Their response was "oh, the battery must have died, I was warned about it".


So we are in a position where we have no start reading at all.


After a week of faffing around, finally managed to get a booking, for 10th Aug! I am not entirely convinced that they are going to send somebody out who can fix the issue. The supplier (Scottish power....) has come up with a figure to start us on, no idea how they have come about this figure, maybe from the previous owners estimate but who knows how close it is to the real value!


My main worry is, they have stuck us on an estimated rate, and this is twice that of what we used at our old property but this house, has more energy efficient properties. Thankfully not on direct debit so they cant just go about draining my account.


Other than going through a complaints procedure (which looking at other threads on here, looks as though it wont get me far!!), what sort of direction can I take this to ensure that I am appropriately charged, or ensure the readings are 'in my favour'.


In addition, as soon as I get a reading, I will be requesting a switch in supplier, I don't want to stick with Scottish power for a second longer!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

sounds as though it's a faulty meter, and may have been so for sometime.

The meter is connected to the mains electricity supply, so no need for a battery, unless for backup during a power failure.

Think previous owner is trying it on, how did he/she provide a final reading?

Looks as though you're going to have the hassle of sorting it out.

[Deleted User]

Thats known as a "blank screen" usually on the worlds worst electric meter, the £20 Ampy a small white digital meter.I must find one a week blank.G4S read meters for Scottish Power and they are so badly organised they can t report the fault ( and others ) directly to the supplier, so it falls on the occupier to ring up Scottish Power. Get ready for a long long wait.
Suppliers estimate on past usage and will err on the occupiers side.The meter has lost its readings and I m told they can t recover them.The fault is caused by some sort of back surge which damages something .The Ampy meter does nt have a battery

SplanK

It is indeed an Ampy meter (black, not white though), made in 2001 and installed probably at the same time (house built around then).


Not sure what previous owner did, I assume Scottish power just estimated it, not a lot the previous owner can do and I would assume he would be happy with that. My guess is that estimated value has then been transferred to my account, along with their usage which was extremely high (5 adults, 1 of which was elderly who had the heating on 24/7, including the under floor electric heating in the conservatory....).


Problem with estimating on previous usage, there is no previous usage with this house for ourselves, and its not the supplier we were with at our last house. Their estimate is way above what I have paid in the past with my older supplier. I have no problem paying what we were paying at our previous house, and will happily forward them our last bills.


Might take the morning off and baby sit them and ensure I take correct notes. If they can get a replacement in quickly I will just swallow the higher bills just to get rid of SP and move back to Eon, but if its going to be long drawn out.....

footyguy

SplanK wrote: »

I moved into a property on the 10th July, and immediately raised a concern with the old owner regarding a digital electric meter not showing any reading. Their response was "oh, the battery must have died, I was warned about it".


So we are in a position where we have no start reading at all.


After a week of faffing around, finally managed to get a booking, for 10th Aug! I am not entirely convinced that they are going to send somebody out who can fix the issue. The supplier (Scottish power....) has come up with a figure to start us on, no idea how they have come about this figure, maybe from the previous owners estimate but who knows how close it is to the real value!


My main worry is, they have stuck us on an estimated rate, and this is twice that of what we used at our old property but this house, has more energy efficient properties. Thankfully not on direct debit so they cant just go about draining my account.


Other than going through a complaints procedure (which looking at other threads on here, looks as though it wont get me far!!), what sort of direction can I take this to ensure that I am appropriately charged, or ensure the readings are 'in my favour'.


In addition, as soon as I get a reading, I will be requesting a switch in supplier, I don't want to stick with Scottish power for a second longer!

If the battery is dead and so no reading could be taken, then it doesn't sound like the previous owner cl;osed down their account properly. Makes one wonder what other nice little surprises they have left you :eek:

Anyway, the supplier will arrange for a new meter which it sounds like is not scheduled for 10 August. They will use the start reading of that to accurately bill you.

It doesn't matter what the start reading of the existing meter is/was as there will be no final meter reading either as there is no display as the battery is flat. So the supplier will have to estimate your usage for the period you were not correctly metered. As you are a new customer, then that will probably be done based on future usage as opposed to previous usage (as you have none that is recorded)

It'll probably take about 4 weeks from application for any switch to actually take place.

You mention going through a complaints process, but what is your complaint about exactly?
When you get an estimated bill, then will be the time to review it and, if appropriate, raise issues with it to your supplier. Best way to start that would be with a phone call to the supplier expressing your issues with supporting evidence as to why you think it to be unfair, unreasonable, etc.

footyguy

SplanK wrote: »

...
Might take the morning off and baby sit them and ensure I take correct notes. If they can get a replacement in quickly I will just swallow the higher bills just to get rid of SP and move back to Eon, but if its going to be long drawn out.....

Someone will need to be at the property when the new meter is fitted (even if access to the meter is available from outside).

I don't think you will need to baby sit the professional that probably has replaced more meters that you have had hot dinners.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you can't blame Scottish Power for the fact that the previous owner didn't bother to tell them about faulty meter, he/she was probably happy to leave it as it was, especially as they were moving. Let you get it sorted.

Who knows how long it was faulty?

SplanK

footyguy wrote: »

Someone will need to be at the property when the new meter is fitted (even if access to the meter is available from outside).

I don't think you will need to baby sit the professional that probably has replaced more meters that you have had hot dinners.

Sorry, I should expand on that. Its more the fact the wife will be there with 2 kids (read: easily distracted as her attention will be with the kids and may not hear/remember what they say) and if they are not there to fit a new meter, I want to know why, and what further needs to be done.


As for other hidden surprises. Already had an issue with the water meter not being the right serial number with united utilities (although odd, they were the ones that replaced it last year!!). Thankfully that is working, just needed them to come out and verify it!

SplanK

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

you can't blame Scottish Power for the fact that the previous owner didn't bother to tell them about faulty meter, he/she was probably happy to leave it as it was, especially as they were moving. Let you get it sorted.

Who knows how long it was faulty?

No, however more than doubling our electric usage from around 6000kwh to 17,000kwh is rather concerning! This is what the complaint is about. I am willing to be more than fair with them and pay what I owe, however I don't want to pay over the odds.


The organisation/logic skills at SP seem to be lacking. I told them about the faulty meter, raised a concern over the rather high estimate..... they simply asked me to supply a meter reading!

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

you can't blame Scottish Power for the fact that the previous owner didn't bother to tell them about faulty meter, he/she was probably happy to leave it as it was, especially as they were moving. Let you get it sorted.

Who knows how long it was faulty?

Its not their fault, its us at G4S and their lousy non working system. I ve rang up head office in Newcastle to report blank screens and was told " ring the supplier yourself "! and slammed phone down on me.they used to report them but now the little call centre they run is more concerned with booking smart meter appointments and dont have the time.they report tampers direct to supplier.I report any dodgy/faulty on the hand held computer but no one looks at the info.some people prefer a blank screen and an estimated monthly direct debit then they can use as much electric as they wish including heating the house

footyguy

SplanK wrote: »

Sorry, I should expand on that. Its more the fact the wife will be there with 2 kids (read: easily distracted as her attention will be with the kids and may not hear/remember what they say) and if they are not there to fit a new meter, I want to know why, and what further needs to be done.

If no one turns up, then you will have to make another appointment.

It almost certainly won't be Scottish Power that has been appointed to do the work, so you can't blame Scottish Power if the person doesn't turn up to the appointment. But you will need to contact SP if that is the case to get them to arrange a new appointment