Ridiculously high gas meter readings?

[Deleted User]

Dangerous_Beans wrote: »

So, I switched the gas off at the mains, before the meter, for eight hours overnight. The meter hasn't moved. Now I'm putting it back on but switching the boiler off completely to see what happens. Thanks Sacsquacco for not automatically assuming I'm being an idiot - this really is happening! - I'm inclined to think it wasn't zero'd as you say. I might not be the kind of idiot who would imagine the problem, but I'm clearly the kind of idiot who doesn't check a brand new meter! The only thing that has me worrying about something more is the weirdness with the previous pre-pay meter.

Suppliers should have a record of the start reading of the meter.By the sound of the bill they are using the 5 zeros on the yellow sticky label as a start reading. The meters serial number will show if its been in another property for a while before ending up in yours. If this shows that the meter was a brand new one then your problem continues. Double check for leaks as another poster has said by now watching for it moving ( on the hundreds digit ) when all appliances are off. As a meter fitter completes the job, he sends off, or records, an electronic breakdown on all the numbers needed.End read of old meter and start read of new meter are the important numbers.. The supplier is using 5 zeros as a start, so it may be a case of tracking the meters serial number.This can be done as National Grid have a data base of all their gas meters

Dangerous_Beans

So, I switched everything off for just over two hours and there was the slightest little movement but it could have been incidental. To be sure I would have to leave everything off much longer and I have medical reasons that I just had to turn the hot water back on. So, this is what I'm going to do:
I think, as it's pretty impossible for anyone to rack up £10k in one bill, even if they're really really really trying, BG have to admit there's no way in hell that meter was on zero two and a half months ago. That's a start.
I distinctly remember the engineer who fitted the meters writing a whole lot of stuff down, so I live in a vague hope that one of those details will be a real meter reading and that someone can track it down. I'm not holding my breath or anything. If not, I can only assume that the best method would be to log the reading, monitor my use over a certain period and pay an estimate based on that, although I'm bummed about that as it's 17 degrees in here, I'm a couple of weeks from sticking my heating on, and I'm here all the time now with a boiler I actually use, so any estimate is going to be significantly higher than what I should actually owe them. Why can't these things happen when the weather is doing the opposite, eh? Moral of the story: don't believe anybody, ever, and take a photo the minute they install it.

If anyone has a better idea of how to tackle that issue, I'd be thrilled for the input.

Also, you're quite right I had real concerns over the previous meter, and with this great big unknown now, I'm thinking it's probably best for me to fork out for an engineer to come and do a pressure test. At least then, I may be out of pocket now, but I know I won't have reason to be in the future. That or...dead. Gas is gas, after all.

Dangerous_Beans

Oh, and the meter doesn't look new, it's not particularly clean and it's got 2004 written on it. I'm voting "preloved".

[Deleted User]

Dangerous_Beans wrote: »

Oh, and the meter doesn't look new, it's not particularly clean and it's got 2004 written on it. I'm voting "preloved".

Thats it then...old meter ! not just old, very old. Im starting to think that the former occupier has done the old substitute meter trick. Buy a meter from ebay and bung it in. Many of these thieves will just clear off with the meter they substituted in place and the original meter which the suppliers believe is still in place will have been dumped somewhere. Check with your supplier the serial number they think should be on the meter. If its not yours than the other possibility, and I ve seen this happen also, is that a meter fitter has booked a job he has nt actually done and just left the old meter in place.

Dangerous_Beans

Thank you so much for this help, I really appreciate it.

BlueEyedGirl

Raise a complaint with British Gas and ask them to check the meter serial number records. It certainly sounds like this meter has been used previously, records should show what the readings were previously, ideally the removal reading from the previous property it was in. More than likely it was not set at 00000 but 22000. The only way to get BG to do something would be the raise a proper complaint with them and then if you get no satisfaction from them, complain to OFGEM.

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/contactus-personal-details/complaints.html

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/