Metering interference??????

John_Diver

Hey,


I just got back from staying with family for quite a while and received a letter from NIE ( Northern Ireland Electricity )
saying the electric box was tampered with.


I have no idea what this is about at all??
I live in a shared flat but the letter was sent to me because the electric was registered to me over 5 years ago.


The letter is saying I am responsible for the care and safekeeping of the equipment so I have to pay any charges.


What does it even mean being tampered with?
The electric box in is a public hall and they said they changed the meter.


I am totally lost on this and they are closed to phone, does anyone know what this could be about?
The bill is £700 + Fees + fees for a meter that was replaced ( No prices given for any fees )

John_Diver

Why would a meter even be replaced


This is a normal meter that is topped up through the shop, pre-paid.

JJ_Egan

Replaced as the first post says its been tampered with to avoid payment is the usual story .

footyguy

John_Diver wrote: »

Hey,


I just got back from staying with family for quite a while and received a letter from NIE ( Northern Ireland Electricity )
saying the electric box was tampered with.


I have no idea what this is about at all??
I live in a shared flat but the letter was sent to me because the electric was registered to me over 5 years ago.


The letter is saying I am responsible for the care and safekeeping of the equipment so I have to pay any charges.


What does it even mean being tampered with?
The electric box in is a public hall and they said they changed the meter.


I am totally lost on this and they are closed to phone, does anyone know what this could be about?
The bill is £700 + Fees + fees for a meter that was replaced ( No prices given for any fees )

tamper

verb: tamper; 3rd person present: tampers; past tense: tampered; past participle: tampered; gerund or present participle: tampering

1.
interfere with (something) in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations.
"someone tampered with the brakes of my car"

synonyms: interfere, monkey around, meddle, tinker, fiddle (about/around), fool about/around, play about/around, toy, trifle, dabble; do mischief to, doctor, alter, change, adjust, damage, do damage to, harm, deface, vandalize, ruin;

footyguy

John_Diver wrote: »

Why would a meter even be replaced


This is a normal meter that is topped up through the shop, pre-paid.

Probably for the purposes of securing or preserving evidence, as well as for the purpose of attempting to prevent further loss or theft.

MeterMan

Ask them to provide proof that the meter was tampered with.

[Deleted User]

@john diver

I would seek independent help from the Citizens Advice Bureau if I was in your shoes.

[Deleted User]

John_Diver wrote: »

Why would a meter even be replaced


This is a normal meter that is topped up through the shop, pre-paid.

The electric prepayment key meter is the most common meter to be illegally bypassed and damaged at the same time in order to thieve energy. The meter itself will be both well photographed and retained as evidence. There will be a set charge to re bill the tamperer over £200 for the price of the new meter and an estimate of the stolen energy will be added as debt to be repaid at between £3.50 to £16 a week. Its likely that your name is the last account holder for that particular meter therefore you are being charged with the offence.Can you let the supplier know of any subsequent occupiers after you left ?.
Personally I think the way this theft is dealt with is appallingly lax. If the thief was dragged to a Magistrates court and dealt with properly for stealing many thousands of pounds, then it would nt occur too often again.
What will happen now is that the new meter will once again be bypassed again seeing as how there is an even greater cost to pay on the meter with all the added debts and so it continues on and on and more people will steal electricity knowing that they wont even receive a slap on the wrist for thieving

brewerdave

So re-reading the OP - one of your flatmates was less than honest whilst you were away?? Has anyone done a runner recently ??