GB Energy (strict terms)

matelodave

If you can't read your meter on the appointed day then surely it's not beyond your wit or imagination to estimate your own reading and give it to them. I'm sure that your estimate would be significantly more accurate than theirs.

I'm with FU and they require a reading on the last day of the month - they send me an e-mail and tell what their guess will be if I don't send it.

Even when I'm on holiday I can usually access my e-mails/texts unless I'm somewhere really outlandish (up the Nile or Orinoco perhaps) and can make a bit of an effort to give them a reading. I'd rather use my own estimate rather than their guess.

Ideally give the reading on the day they request it for. Too early and they'll add their own estimates for the difference between the reading date and the billing date.

If you really find it difficult (or make it so) then you'll have to accept their estimate but make sure you give them a correct one in time for the next months bill.

ChumpusRex

I don't know if the dates are the same for everyone, but GB usually send me a "reading needed" e-mail on the 2nd of the month.

The bill production date is the 9th, so if you haven't got your reading in by the end of the 8th, then the reading won't make it onto the next bill and the bill will be estimated.

Bills get sent out on the 13th or 14th of the month.

beardiedog

dollydiva wrote: »

You've presumed wrong and I DON'T recommend them one jot

I don't think so. However, I'll take your recommendation on board when making my decision to switch to them or not.

TBH, I don't really see the problem here if you're on a fixed DD. If you receive an estimated bill one month just make sure you give them an accurate reading the next - on the day they request it if you can. Or, as others have said, give them as near an accurate estimate as you can.

In the end (12 months or whatever) you will either have a debit or credit balance. It's up to you how much this will end up being. Hopefully negligible if you keep an eye on it.

You can always ask them to alter your DD amount if needed.

ml262

sacsquacco wrote: »

I ve just waded through their T and Cs, for both domestic and business , and so far have`nt seen that clause requiring specific monthly readings. Its the same as all the other suppliers T and Cs, that is , no one takes much notice of them or reads them. My life would be much easier if they did so joe public would comply with one of the main T and Cs which states that meter readers should be allowed access to the meters at reasonable times.
OP, can you provide a link to this quite pushy request to provide monthly readings because I can t find it. Maybe its related to a specific monthly "smart energy " tariff which need a monthly read at a certain date. BG run the same sort of tariff.

It could be the case for particular smart tariffs. This seems to be their general set of terms.

I would post the proper link, but I am a new user and can't at the moment.
It can be found by going the their website then forward slash tnc.

is where they have their terms and it is clause 15.3

beardiedog

'Required' is probably a loose term - like their grammar and spelling in places

System

Allow me:

15.3 Unless your meter is a Prepayment Meter you are required to provide us with a meter reading each month at a specified time.

My switch to GB goes through on the 10th. I am not losing any sleep over this term as it is unconditional.

dollydiva

Oddly enough, I have a life. This means that whilst I am happy to supply a Reading when requested - as I have always done - I can't always supply it on the VERY specific day gbenergy want it.

This requirement has more to do with poor Billing software than any other reason.

System

dollydiva wrote: »

Oddly enough, I have a life. This means that whilst I am happy to supply a Reading when requested - as I have always done - I can't always supply it on the VERY specific day gbenergy want it.

This requirement has more to do with poor Billing software than any other reason.

I really think that you are reading too much into this requirement. My daughter has been with them for over a year and she has had no billing issues whatsoever. If you want to pay more for your energy, then this is for you to decide.

[Deleted User]

Hengus wrote: »

Allow me:

15.3 Unless your meter is a Prepayment Meter you are required to provide us with a meter reading each month at a specified time.

My switch to GB goes through on the 10th. I am not losing any sleep over this term as it is unconditional.

The wording of 15.3 is in the " terms and conditions " not "unconditional " .Personally I think this particular unworkable condition is a typo . Most suppliers who I have actually read through their T/Cs stipulate a 6 monthly meter reading and a visit at least once every two years by their meter readers to satisfy Ofgems rules. The suppliers I work for ignore that rule anyway. OP I think you can ignore that monthly reading condition.

gt94sss2

ml262 wrote: »

By draconian I was wondering if any existing customers, especially any who have missed a meter reading once or twice have any severe demands or requests from the company for a reading (or anything worse)

I used to be a GBES customer and nothing happens if you don't submit a meter reading - they simply estimate your usage in your monthly bill.

I imagine by the badly worded T&C they are simply trying to encourage customers to give regular readings to avoid any unwelcome billing surprises -and knowing how much energy their customers are using would also be useful for them in working out how much they need to purchase in advance..

Regards
Sunil