Final Bill disaster!

krishna87

I lived as a tenant at a property for 23 months before I moved out. I had switched supplier to Utility Warehouse immediately after I had moved in. It was an apartment in a block of flats.

I was on direct debit so every month after I recieved my estimated bill, the amount would be debited directly by the supplier. I never once had a problem and never did they ask for a meter reading although there is a standard note on all bills that say that "We need your meter readings". When I switched, they were aware of the size of the apartment and the number of people who lived in it i.e. 2 bed flat with 2 working adults (no children or pets). Based on this information, they continued sending me estimated bills and I continued paying them.

I recently moved out and informed them of the move and they are now telling me that my final bill is worth £550!! It so happens that my moving out date coincides with my bill date in which case, I believe that I am up to date with my payments and I dont owe them any money.

However, when the new tenants moved in, they provided the same supplier with meter readings which was what shot up my bill. I have spoken to them and they told me that they are obligated to take readings once every 2 years. They never once informed me that a meter reader is going to come around to take readings but tell me that every time a meter reader came around, they couldnt access the main block door as that needed a key.

My argument is that it is highly unlikely that absolutely no one was around at any one time to open the main door in a block of 6 flats! This basically means that they never once took a reading the whole time that I stayed there, which apparently caused them to underestimate my bills. The meter was just outside my flat and could be accessed by anyone without a key as long as they could get into the block (pretty typical for apartment blocks).

They are now telling me that it is my responsibility to provide them with meter readings, although they themselves have failed to fulfill their obligation of taking a reading once every 2 years. My argument based on the above is that, had I lived there for 10 years, they would not have taken a single reading simply because they could'nt get in and at the end of the tenancy, they would happily send an extortionate bill out for the whole 10 year period and base it on underestimation!!

I am now disputing this amount and would really appreciate any advice on the situation and also what my rights are.

Sorry for the super long message.

matelodave

You made no effort to give them readings or to check your bills against the meter. The size of the apartment and number of people in it have no bearing on the amount of leccy that you've used.


Did you keep the original meter reading and when you moved in and transferred to UW. Did you take a meter reading when you left. the difference between the two will be the amount of energy that you have to pay for.

If you couldn't be bothered to check that the bills were correct then it's highly likely that two years or more of estimates will mount up to a large deficit.

If you used it then then you've got to pay for it. Pleading that you didn't bother and it's down to them is not an excuse for getting away with it

[Deleted User]

Its rare that I can find anyone in a block of 6 flats in my normal working ours.Flat dwellers are usually all out. Why would a meter reader have a key ?, did nt you have one so you could do the sensible thing once in a while, say 6 monthly, and comply with what UW requested and supply the true energy use instead of an estimated guess. Its no good saying the supplier is aware of the size of the flat, thats not their job.The meter was there all the time for you to use, the meter itself tells UW what you ve used..Best of luck with your complaint, I think you may need it

Robin9

A good maxim : "never pay an estimated bill"

Giving your own readings is so easy and it saves this type of situation.

Ps I am a company Secretary for a block of flats where the landlords supply is with UW and they have never had to send me an estimated bill.

bengal-stripe

krishna87 wrote: »

I lived as a tenant at a property for 23 months before I moved out.....although they themselves have failed to fulfill their obligation of taking a reading once every 2 years.

How can the energy supplier have failed to take a reading every two years if you had already moved out before the two years were up? For all we know, they might have taken a reading during the transfer to establish the opening reading.

Did you advise the company in good time that you were leaving at a certain date and asked for a closing reading? Alternatively, did it never occur to you to take your own reading just before you moved out?

poppellerant

krishna87 wrote: »

there is a standard note on all bills that say that "We need your meter readings". When I switched, they were aware of the size of the apartment and the number of people who lived in it i.e. 2 bed flat with 2 working adults (no children or pets). Based on this information, they continued sending me estimated bills and I continued paying them.

You need to stop ignoring warnings provided by the energy supplier when they warn you that they "need your meter readings". Had you provided regular readings, you might not be in this situation.

Every family's energy usage and habits are different, so it's completely fruitless telling them, or even us, how many people lived in the property. Without regular meter readings, how does anybody, including yourself, know what your energy usage actually is?

victor2

krishna87 wrote: »

I am now disputing this amount and would really appreciate any advice on the situation and also what my rights are.

Basically you have no grounds on which to dispute the bill. You used it, ignored requests to provide meter readings and weren't even occupying the flat for 2 years to warrant a supplier's obligatory read.
Pay the bill and learn from it - NEVER rely on utility bills with estimated readings.

superbigal36

If they owed you £500 would you tell them to keep it ?

sam.4000

I do something really strange and every month take a meter reading and forward it to my supplier. They in turn send me a bill. I get no surprises.


OP you need to take some responsibility, if you had given meter reading regularly then you would not be in this pickle.

Mojisola

krishna87 wrote: »

I was on direct debit so every month after I recieved my estimated bill, the amount would be debited directly by the supplier.

And you never once checked whether the estimated usage matched your actual usage?

I never once had a problem and never did they ask for a meter reading although there is a standard note on all bills that say that "We need your meter readings".

So they asked for a meter reading every time they sent you a bill!

I am now disputing this amount and would really appreciate any advice on the situation and also what my rights are.

No rights. You used the electricity; you pay the bill.

Robin9

OP - and what arrangements have you made in your new property?