Final meter reading given to new supplier they used estimate instead

brianposter

Smart meters don't lie - or do they?

It appears that sometimes they do.

DunkirkPie

I don't have a smart meter. I wish I did, it was spare me all this nonsense.

DunkirkPie

I've now switched again and instructed my previous supplier to either write off the money they claim I owe them for energy which I used before I became their customer, or take me to court.

I don’t care what the standard industry processes are. A company cannot bill me for something they didn't supply!

DunkirkPie

The supplier in question, Bulb Energy, refused to back down so I had no option but to pay my final bill in full. Not doing so would have risked them (unjustly) placing late payment or default markers on my credit file, which would have a disastrous effect on my career (I work in banking, and a spotless credit history is a must).

I immediately began legal proceedings against Bulb to recover the £30.61 which they had overcharged me, and of course as soon as they received the court papers they offered to settle the claim in full by refunding me (plus interest and legal fees). They must have known all along that they were acting illegally, and were simply trying to bully me into paying. Needless to say I have not received an apology.

So if anyone else comes across this thread in future, I would urge them to stick to their guns and not to accept this practice of utility companies unilaterally refusing to accept customer meter readings when opening/closing accounts. It is illegal.

Talldave

Did you pay the original supplier what you owed them based on the actual readings?

I had this when I last switched. It's the nameless industry organisation that tampers with the readings. I too think it's disgusting.

In my case I was charged for more gas at my old supplier's higher rate that I was trying to get away from. I wonder if the problem was down to previous tenants using more energy and they therefore assumed my readings were fiction? My new supplier was adamant they cannot challenge this unanswerable industry body if the readings are not out by more than a certain percentage, however they refunded me as a goodwill gesture which I thought was very generous as they were then out of pocket.

DunkirkPie

No I didn't pay my previous supplier for the energy in question. I have emailed them three times asking them to send me a final bill based on the correct reading, but they've never replied, and haven't chased me for the final bill which they did send me and which I've not paid as it is wrong. If somebody owes me money I'll chase it until I'm satisfied with the resolution, but if I owe them money then there's a limit to how much time I'm willing to spend trying to resolve it.

Swipe

Bulb did exactly this to my elderly parents. On the switch they failed to accept the opening meter readings because it wasn't "what they were expecting" so they asked for a photo of the meter reading which I uploaded. Lo and behold they used an estimated reading instead of what was on the photo, 1200 night time units lower than what it should have been. I worked out my parents are about £24 out of pocket compared to what they should have paid on their lower tariff with EDF.

DunkirkPie

I'd suggest your parents take Bulb to the small claims court. It's very easy, took me about an hour on my laptop on the train one morning. I'd be happy to send you a copy of my claim form.

Obviously don't do it unless they would ultimately be willing to go to court.

Swipe

DunkirkPie wrote: »

I'd suggest your parents take Bulb to the small claims court. It's very easy, took me about an hour on my laptop on the train one morning. I'd be happy to send you a copy of my claim form.

Obviously don't do it unless they would ultimately be willing to go to court.

Thanks for the suggestion but unfortunately, my parents are well into in their 80s so I wouldn't want to put them through that for £24. Had it been my own electricity account, I certainly would not have let it lie.

DunkirkPie

Ah OK. I think electricity might be a bit different as Bulb's terms and conditions include this:

14. National Terms of Connection
14.1. We are acting on behalf of your network operator to make an agreement with you. The agreement is that you and your network operator both accept the National Terms of Connection (NTC) and agree to keep to its conditions. This will happen from the time that you enter into this agreement and it affects your legal rights. The NTC is a legal agreement. It sets out rights and duties in relation to the connection at which your network operator delivers electricity to, or accepts electricity from, your home or business. If you want a copy of the NTC or have any questions about it, please write to: Energy Networks Association, 6th Floor, Dean Bradley House, 52 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF: phone 0207 706 5137, or see the website atconnectionterms.org.uk.

I've not really looked into it as it didn't affect my case.