Error with opening gas reading

electic

Hello

I wonder if anyone could advise me on a problem I am having transferring my gas supply.

After two years of problems stemming from Npower giving a totally inaccurate opening reading when my gas supply was erroneously transferred to Spark Energy (but that's another story), I've tried to transfer my gas supply to Ovo.

I provided the opening reading to Ovo the day before the transfer, and took a timestamped photo of the meter in case there were issues. However, my Ovo account states an opening reading 'given by me' that is more than 22,000 units more. Ovo tell me that this was changed by a 'third party industry representative' and will take 12 to 14 weeks to resolve.

I'm wondering:
1. Do you have any idea where this odd figure may have come from? Npower assures me that it wasn't them, but given their approach of inventing a figure last time, I'm not entirely sure I believe them.

2. Is there anything I can do to get this resolved more quickly? 12 to 14 weeks seems excessive when it would only take one look at the meter photo and current reading to see there has been an error.

Thanks very much in advance!

System

electic wrote: »

Hello

I wonder if anyone could advise me on a problem I am having transferring my gas supply.

After two years of problems stemming from Npower giving a totally inaccurate opening reading when my gas supply was erroneously transferred to Spark Energy (but that's another story), I've tried to transfer my gas supply to Ovo.

I provided the opening reading to Ovo the day before the transfer, and took a timestamped photo of the meter in case there were issues. However, my Ovo account states an opening reading 'given by me' that is more than 22,000 units more. Ovo tell me that this was changed by a 'third party industry representative' and will take 12 to 14 weeks to resolve.

I'm wondering:
1. Do you have any idea where this odd figure may have come from? Npower assures me that it wasn't them, but given their approach of inventing a figure last time, I'm not entirely sure I believe them.

2. Is there anything I can do to get this resolved more quickly? 12 to 14 weeks seems excessive when it would only take one look at the meter photo and current reading to see there has been an error.

Thanks very much in advance!

Hi. Ovo is correct that all meter readings given by the customer on switch go through to a third party for review and adjustment. The 'data collectors' maintain a log of your property's historical data based on actual readings taken by the supplier and you - the customer.

There are limits on how far the adjusted figure can be from the readings that you provided. IIRC, the limit for gas is 125CM3s. There is an industry meter readings dispute procedure than can take up to 12 weeks - don't ask why, it just does.

My advice to you would be to pay the monthly DD based on your estimated annual consumption and monitor your usage based on the reading that you provided. Eventually, the 3 parties will agree a reading to open your account and to raise your Final Bill. As the gaining supplier, Ovo should be managing this dispute.

FWiW, I use a 99p app called Meters to monitor my consumption and bills. You will need something like this as Ovo will not set up your account until the opening reading is agreed.

electic

Thanks for the quick response and useful info.

backfoot

Have NPower sent you a final bill? If so what reading was used?

If they have billed you correctly using your submitted reading then OVO are potentially offering you 22,000 free units!:cool:

I used NPower recently as my supplier for a very brief period.Interestingly, my opening gas read was overestimated even though I had submitted the 'actual' directly to them. Then on leaving them the closing read used by Npower (submitted to EDF) is also estimated way out. EDF currently show my submitted read so I am in a similar position to you but on lower numbers.

I've no idea, why they change these readings as I have been resident for over 20 years with fairly even annual consumption.The computer say 'Noooooo'.It's no wonder that Npower are making huge losses.

D_M_E

I had the same issue when I switched last year - opening/closing readings for new/old suppliers meant that old suppliers wanted me to pay a year's usage on switching.

There is a database which holds energy consumption for every property for the last 70 years or since the property was built if shorter, and it is this which has given the inflated readings.

You need to write and or email your supplier and ask them to raise an AGREED READS DISPUTE in order to put this right.

In my case this took over 4 months to get resolved and I suggest that, when it's finally sorted, if the end result is only a few units different from your photographic evidence then this would be acceptable.

In the meantime, do not pay the old supplier's vastly inflated bill, instead write/email them (DO NOT PHONE) and head your letter DISPUTE and politely explain the facts and state that you have every intention of paying an accurate, agreed, final bill when the ARD process has completed.