Meter fault - how to get money back?

Cornwaller1

I have been with B.Gas for last three years, they have supplied my electric and I disputed from the very first bill. Each bill was undeservedly massive and I have been greatly over charged. It has took this long to get them to actually listen. In a nutshell, I had the meter tested and it proved to be faulty by 12%, which they concede. Firstly they say they don't have to review all my bills and are not going back to the start.This will omit at least two very big bills. Secondly they say, when a meter is faulty they use the percentage and work out - in my case 12% of my overall usage and refund me that.So that is about £120 over three years.I feel that just covers about six months! I believe each bill was at least double what I should have paid. How do I get a fair refund?( ideas other than Ombudsman please)

naedanger

Cornwaller1 wrote: »

I have been with B.Gas for last three years, they have supplied my electric and I disputed from the very first bill. Each bill was undeservedly massive and I have been greatly over charged. It has took this long to get them to actually listen. In a nutshell, I had the meter tested and it proved to be faulty by 12%, which they concede. Firstly they say they don't have to review all my bills and are not going back to the start.This will omit at least two very big bills. Secondly they say, when a meter is faulty they use the percentage and work out - in my case 12% of my overall usage and refund me that.So that is about £120 over three years.I feel that just covers about six months! I believe each bill was at least double what I should have paid. How do I get a fair refund?( ideas other than Ombudsman please)

If you cannot get BG to agree with you, and you don't wish to use the Ombudsman, then the other obvious option is to make a court claim:

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/overview

You do need to pay a court fee to make a court claim but you can usually reclaim this from the other side if you win your case. (Provided you have first made reasonable attempts to settle without court action.)

Obviously you will need to convince the court of your case in order to win.

(In my view, unless there is more to your case than you have given in your post, I suspect a court would view BG's offer as being reasonable. Also what you said seemed slightly contradictory as you say BG will repay 12% of your overall usage, whereas earlier you say " they say they don't have to review all my bills and are not going back to the start".)

spiro

At what date did you report the meter as faulty and did you request they come out and check you meter? If you insist they will always check a meter but bill you!if the!meter is found to be accurate. They should really go back to the date you requested the meter be checked.

Cornwaller1

Hi, The whole episode is quite prolonged I was trying to be brief. Firstly they are going back so far and taking 12 % of that usage but not taking it back to the start when I first complained. I have made moves three times, to have the meter checked and have been deterred by B.Gas staff, who told me it was a big procedure and would be costly to me and that most meters turn out to be correct. So only just had it done to settle my mind, as a last resort.

naedanger

Cornwaller1 wrote: »

Hi, The whole episode is quite prolonged I was trying to be brief. Firstly they are going back so far and taking 12 % of that usage but not taking it back to the start when I first complained. I have made moves three times, to have the meter checked and have been deterred by B.Gas staff, who told me it was a big procedure and would be costly to me and that most meters turn out to be correct. So only just had it done to settle my mind, as a last resort.

How far back is BG going and on what basis did they decide that was the appropriate period?

How much is the difference (in £s approx) between 12% of the usage going back to the start vs what BG offered?

Cornwaller1

Hi, the whole period is three years but they are going back two, excluding the first year. The whole thing has only gone on this long because B.Gas would not listen/ or investigate. I started my complaint after the first bill because it was so high.


You ask about the difference, I feel they owe me several hundred pounds. That is the difference in what I have paid in last three years and my previous bills. (and allowing for inflation)

naedanger

Cornwaller1 wrote: »

Hi, the whole period is three years but they are going back two, excluding the first year. The whole thing has only gone on this long because B.Gas would not listen/ or investigate. I started my complaint after the first bill because it was so high.


You ask about the difference, I feel they owe me several hundred pounds. That is the difference in what I have paid in last three years and my previous bills. (and allowing for inflation)

For several hundred pounds it would be worth making a court claim provided you think you have a reasonable chance of winning. There is a link in my earlier post.

Obviously you need to produce enough evidence to convince the court on the balance of probability that BG have overcharged by more than they are offering to refund.

I think you will need to prepare a good case if you are going to claim more than 12% of your previous bills. (And if BG have a good argument for only covering 2 of the 3 previous years then you will need to counter that argument as well.) Obviously you know the full details of the case so should be better able to judge your chances of winning.

All the best if you do decide to make a claim.