Catch22/Gordian Knot

Legacy_user

I find myself in something of a Gordian Knot. I changed suppliers 3 months ago but the new supplier failed to initiate the switch. It went through 3 weeks ago. On the day of the switch, I gave the new supplier an actual meter reading of 23365 cuM3s. Today, I have received a final bill from the old supplier with a meter reading of 23470 which they say was passed to them by the old supplier. The difference in cost is minimal.

Ok. MSE CEC reckons that I could save £53 plus £30 cash back by switching to its latest deal. I have checked all the calculations and CEC is correct. So then what happens when I provide the new supplier with a meter reading which is below the reading that my present supplier thinks is the opening reading for the 17th August? Catch 22 - if I raise a readings dispute as I should, then this would delay things even more. I am currently using about 1cuM3 of gas per day.

My meter reading at the moment is 23389.

This is a new one for me.

modsandmockers

Hengus - you are without doubt one of the skilful ones when it comes to dealing with the incompetence and illogicalities of the energy industry. So, in a funny sort of a way, I am actually quite pleased that even you can be bamboozled. I have no advice to offer you that would be better than the advice which you would offer to somebody else in the same situation as you!

System

I struggle to understand what is so difficult about transferring two energy supplies; agreeing two meter readings and setting up an account. As I left E.oN because I was concerned about their whacky way of calculating energy usage, it is ironic that E.oN will be the winners in this situation by 195 cuM3s of gas that they haven't supplied.

I can't actually check whether E.oN is correct as the new supplier has yet to set up the account.

modsandmockers

Hengus wrote: »

I struggle to understand what is so difficult about transferring two energy supplies; agreeing two meter readings and setting up an account

Yes - that's what most people struggle to understand!

MSE will tell you that all our problems will be solved by more tariffs and more switching. I disagree.

molerat

Hengus wrote: »

I struggle to understand what is so difficult about transferring two energy supplies; agreeing two meter readings and setting up an account. As I left E.oN because I was concerned about their whacky way of calculating energy usage, it is ironic that E.oN will be the winners in this situation by 195 cuM3s of gas that they haven't supplied.

I can't actually check whether E.oN is correct as the new supplier has yet to set up the account.

That is why you don't work in the industry. It is a pre-requisite to be confused by the simplest of tasks. Then when it is proven that you could not organise a !!!! up in a brewery you get a job with OFGEM :rotfl:

footyguy

Hengus wrote: »

I find myself in something of a Gordian Knot. I changed suppliers 3 months ago but the new supplier failed to initiate the switch. It went through 3 weeks ago. On the day of the switch, I gave the new supplier an actual meter reading of 23365 cuM3s. Today, I have received a final bill from the old supplier with a meter reading of 23470 which they say was passed to them by the old supplier. The difference in cost is minimal.

Ok. MSE CEC reckons that I could save £53 plus £30 cash back by switching to its latest deal. I have checked all the calculations and CEC is correct. So then what happens when I provide the new supplier with a meter reading which is below the reading that my present supplier thinks is the opening reading for the 17th August? Catch 22 - if I raise a readings dispute as I should, then this would delay things even more. I am currently using about 1cuM3 of gas per day.

My meter reading at the moment is 23389.

This is a new one for me.

If they are using a wrong reading, one that was higher 3 weeks ago than it is even today, the you should raise a complaint as you suggest.

This will not prevent you from applying to switch supplier again today.

A change of supplier typically takes between 3-5 weeks.

You may be using a lot more than 1m3 of gas in 3-5 weeks time, depending on the weather.

System

footyguy wrote: »

If they are using a wrong reading, one that was higher 3 weeks ago than it is even today, the you should raise a complaint as you suggest.

This will not prevent you from applying to switch supplier again today.

A change of supplier typically takes between 3-5 weeks.

You may be using a lot more than 1m3 of gas in 3-5 weeks time, depending on the weather.

I would like a day without having to deal with the incompetence of energy suppliers; their IT systems and their staff. My wife and I followed MSE's advice and switched banks. Total gain about £360. Total pain: nil. All debtors and creditors were informed and everything has just worked. There is no point in moving to one day switching if energy companies are allowed to continue with their antediluvian industry procedures.

System

Update. This gas transfer just keeps giving and giving.

The delayed gas transfer has resulted in a 105 C3M error on my account. In other words, I have PAID the old supplier for 105 units that they did not supply. The gaining supplier states that as the error is less than 109 units, they cannot raise a dispute. I posed 2 questions:

1. What happens to my existing gas account re billing? I was expecting a reply along the lines that customers do not pay for the same gas twice.

2. I asked what happens if I initiate a switch when my actual meter reading is still below the estimated (erroneous) transfer reading?

This is the reply that I got:

When you enter a meter reading which is lower than the used opening meter reading you will be given money back by xxxxxx for your gas consumption. This will be reflective on your first statement. In respect of your other question I don't think this will cause an issue as a gas transfer takes between 4-6 weeks. However if your meter reading at the point of transfer is still lower than the reading 23470 then you will have effectivly not been billed by xxxxx. Until you reach the reading of 23470 you are effectivly getting free gas consumption.

Pincher

Hengus wrote: »

The delayed gas transfer has resulted in a 105 C3M error on my account. In other words, I have PAID the old supplier for 105 units that they did not supply.

The obvious conclusion is, the industry is run by ex-car clampers, who will over-estimate to the letter of the rules.

Using intelligence lead procedures, we should surgically strike the directors hiding in Benidorm, using drones. Fortunately, assassinations abroad is now legal. They are doing harm to UK consumers from abroad, so they are fair game.

Alternatively, Ofgem could run a meter reading registry.
The assumption is that utilities are criminal scum, and cannot be trusted with readings. Obviously, they will simply claim their computers cannot be upgraded to transfer the Ofgem registry readings, and use their own estimates instead. Ofgem will have to revoke their license to supply on the grounds of lack of any capability to act as supplier.

The supplier could come back and say they are an equal opportunity employer, and employ a large number of mentally disabled programmers, and that Ofgem is persecuting them by demanding a customer information system that works. The court case could drag on for years.


Otherwise, this is why I have been asking for an independent third party meter reader for switch-over.