Contest Opening/Closing readings?

Shrimply

Hi,

So I know this is over not a lot of money, it equates to about £2, but I'm a little bit annoyed.

I recently switched from First Utility to Eon. And I provided (Honest) meter readings when asked. Everything went fine with the electricity but I've found today the closing reading for the gas is close to 500KWH over what it should be.

I even have photo's of the the meters, with dates showing the closing reading I gave is correct.

Frankly I get a bit fed up of these companies hiding behind terms such as "Independent bodies" and "Industry Standards". If a customer submits a reading and they don't agree with it they should get back to the customer and ask for proof before randomly making up a figure.

Is there a way to get this sorted easily? I know it's not a lot of money but I kinda want to do something about it out of principle.

Edit - So I got the maths wrong, it's only a couple of quid more, I still find it frustrating but for that amount I think I'll make do with this moan and leave it there.

lazer-zxr

I'm in exactly the same boat, see my post from earlier today. I'm left paying an extra £24.

I switched from First Utility 6 weeks ago. My meter has not yet reached the closing meter read applied to my bill. I also have photographic evidence to backup my customer submitted read.:mad:

System

Shrimply wrote: »

Is there a way to get this sorted easily? I know it's not a lot of money but I kinda want to do something about it out of principle.

.

The quick answer is No. The problem is that customers lie about their meter readings - particularly, when energy prices are rising by 8% per year. Customers also misread the meter. With this in mind, the industry - with Ofgem's agreement - put all opening/closing meter readings to a third party for adjunction. Provided that the estimated (adjusted) readings are within certain parameters (e.g. for gas the figure is 109C3Ms of the reading provided by the customer) then a dispute cannot be opened. If a dispute is opened it can take weeks for the parties to agree. Smart meters are the answer.

lazer-zxr

Maybe this is the way it works, but I don't think it is right or fair.
Surely it can only be fair that the closing number on your account, is the same as the openning number on your new account?

Gas reading on close 9664
Gas reading on new supplier 9600

?? How is this fair ?? I have to pay for the 64 units again?

naedanger

lazer-zxr wrote: »

Maybe this is the way it works, but I don't think it is right or fair.
Surely it can only be fair that the closing number on your account, is the same as the openning number on your new account?

Gas reading on close 9664
Gas reading on new supplier 9600

?? How is this fair ?? I have to pay for the 64 units again?

That's not fair, and I don't think it is the scenario that Hengus was referring to. (I think he was referring to the scenario where the opening and closing readings agree, but are based on an estimate, which the customer disputes.)

I suggest you write an email to your new supplier explaining the problem. If they don't help resolve the problem then escalate your query to a formal complaint. Ask for their complaint process and follow it.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hiya Shrimply I know you've changed supplier to us and just want to try and clarify what happens here.

The customer gives the new supplier the meter reads.These are used to start billing your account from. New supplier passes these reads through to the old supplier and certain third parties (regional distributor, meter operator, meter reading agent, national database etc) via a series of electronic messages.

These messages let all those involved with your energy supply know about the changed circumstances.

This can all take up to about 32 working days.

If there is a discrepancy between the start reads and closing reads we raise what's called an agreed read dispute (ARD) the difference has to be more than the threshold, 45 units for Gas 4 dial /125 units for Gas 5 dial /Elec -250 units.

If it's under these amounts an ARD wouldn't be raised. The main thing here is that the reads with each supplier match.

Hengus has also given some excellent advice so thank you.

Does this help?

Helena

JimmyTheWig

lazer-zxr wrote: »

Maybe this is the way it works, but I don't think it is right or fair.
Surely it can only be fair that the closing number on your account, is the same as the openning number on your new account?

Gas reading on close 9664
Gas reading on new supplier 9600

?? How is this fair ?? I have to pay for the 64 units again?

_This_ isn't the way it works. There can be disagreement between various parties about what the reading was at changeover, but when a final figure is decided on that is the figure that everyone has to use.

Shrimply

Thanks Helena,

It just doesn't seem fair that I'm out of pocket, all be it by only £2, because some computer somewhere has deemed that I used more gas than I actually have, that's all.

Off topic but who do I speak to about an incorrect meter number? This is the electricity. First Utility were supposed to have sorted this, and they did have the correct meter number on my bills for a while so I presumed it was resolved. However, I notice at some point it's reverted back to the original and incorrect number.

JimmyTheWig

Shrimply wrote: »

It just doesn't seem fair that I'm out of pocket, all be it by only £2, because some computer somewhere has deemed that I used more gas than I actually have, that's all.

Can I just confirm, is this £2 difference due to the difference in prices between one tariff and the other?
Or are you in a situation like lazer-zxr where the old and new suppliers aren't using the same reading?

System

To try to put this one to bed. The customer provides the new supplier with an opening reading. If Ovo is anything to go by, this reading appears on the online account. However, it is subject to third-party review. This review takes into account meter reading errors, delays in switching, customers not providing a reading etc. From this process emerges a meter reading that both parties are required to use. The piece of the jigsaw that is missing here is that the new supplier's online account has not been updated with the new (adjusted) reading. My guess, again going on Ovo, is that this will have happened before the first statement/bill is raised. There is no question of the customer paying for energy twice: there may be a small plus/minus difference based on the relative costs of the two suppliers for each kWh supplied.

Yes, the OP is correct: there has been an overpayment to the old supplier BUT the new supplier cannot start charging for any units until the opening meter reading is reached. In my case, I ended up paying E.oN over £20 for gas it had not supplied: the true cost to me was just over a £1. Ten weeks on, I have yet to pay my new supplier anything more than the daily standing charge.

Cardew

A couple of years ago when a fixed tariff came to an end, and prices were rising, mysteriously the meter readings given by the customer were often high and had to be adjusted down.


In fact several posters openly advocated 'fudging meter readings'.


Now when it is often possible to get a cheaper kWh rate, they can be 'fudged' the other way!