Old Meter - how do I find out what the readings were

Angel64

Hi,

I've had a quick search but couldn't find anything that answere this question.

We had a meter changed back in January 2014, not at our request, and we assumed by Scottish Power and so the meter readings would be given to them.

However it turns out that the meter change was not requested by out energy supplier Scottish Power, nor were they informed of the meter change. We've been phoning/emailing with SP since mid April to try to get this resolved, but no joy yet.

We've provided numerous photos of the meter, they've sent out a meter reader, they've had about 3 meter readings in the last 6 or so weeks, but they are now saying that unless we can provide the meter readings on the old meter at them time the meter was swapped over, they cannot work out how much credit they should give us back.

So does anyone know if a record is kept somewhere of the meter readings when they swap meters over? We think they owe us several hundred pounds

Many thanks!

D_M_E

When the meter was changed there should have been left a card or something like one of the luggage labels.

This card should have the old meter details on it - reading at time of exchange, date and possibly a few other details.

It should be tied to the meter somewhere and could possibly be tucked behind or could have fallen off and be lying somewhere in the meter cupboard.

Angel64

Hi,

Thanks for replying :-) There is a sticker, but all it says is

"I confirm socket safety test witnessed:"

and underneath that, in handwriting, where it says customer signed:

4NP or UNP and then the date of Jan 2014.

So it doesn't even look like one of us signed that.

[Deleted User]

Welcome to the club, I had similar problem about 15 years ago. DME is right, they leave a card tied to the meter, but even with that you can still have aggro like I did. My problem arose not because the card was missing, but because the meter change coincided with a supplier change.

When the new supplier asked for my meter reading it wasn't a simple case of giving just one reading. What they needed was the final reading on the old meter, the starting reading on the new meter, and the current reading on the new meter. I gave them all these readings, and an explanation, and highlighted the whole lot in bright yellow highlighter pen.

I then got an estimated final bill from the old supplier which was more than twice the correct sum. It turns out that the new supplier had thrown away the relevant information, and just passed on the current reading. Not surprisingly, the old supplier must have assumed that I was trying to pull a fast one, and estimated the bill.

The old supplier told me that they couldn't do anything about it without the relevant info from the new supplier, but the new supplier just said "we wouldn't keep that information, we don't need it".

There was a palava that dragged on for about a year before I got a letter from a debt collector one day. At that point I rang Ofgem, who got the whole sum written off, and a £30 compensation cheque.

They assured me that I hadn't been credit blacklisted as a result, but when I tried to sign up with the same company in 2013, they demanded an up front deposit before they would allow the switch. When I asked them which credit agency was blacklisting me they backed down and waived the deposit.

[Deleted User]

Meter fitters are supposed to record the details on a card for the electric meter, stuffed behind the meter, or for the gas meter its on a sticky label on the bottom of the meter .Most of the fitters do their job properly but there`s many who can t see the point so don`t bother in filling in the card/sticky label
Once he has completed the exchange all the info is sent electronically to , I assume, the databanks of the local DNO or National Grid. All the exchanges are recorded this way.How to get at this info I dont know. I dont think the DNO s let the public contact them for this sort of info, likewise National Grid.The supplier should be updated eventually with the info though after a few weeks.The supplier would always need the info available of a change of meter.Its pretty vital for accurate billing.

footyguy

Angel64 wrote: »

Hi,

I've had a quick search but couldn't find anything that answere this question.

We had a meter changed back in January 2014, not at our request, and we assumed by Scottish Power and so the meter readings would be given to them.

However it turns out that the meter change was not requested by out energy supplier Scottish Power, nor were they informed of the meter change. We've been phoning/emailing with SP since mid April to try to get this resolved, but no joy yet.

We've provided numerous photos of the meter, they've sent out a meter reader, they've had about 3 meter readings in the last 6 or so weeks, but they are now saying that unless we can provide the meter readings on the old meter at them time the meter was swapped over, they cannot work out how much credit they should give us back.

So does anyone know if a record is kept somewhere of the meter readings when they swap meters over? We think they owe us several hundred pounds

Many thanks!

Angel64 wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for replying :-) There is a sticker, but all it says is

"I confirm socket safety test witnessed:"

and underneath that, in handwriting, where it says customer signed:

4NP or UNP and then the date of Jan 2014.

So it doesn't even look like one of us signed that.

What type of meter do you have? I presume a credit meter, rather than a PPM, but just need to be sure.

Where is the meter situated? e.g. is it in an outside cupboard, or would someone need to enter th house to gain access to it? (I think I know the probable answer to this too, but just to be clear )

Were you (or a member of your home) at home when the meter was changed?

Euphoria1z

can it not be estimated in line with actual usage? the supplier should have actual meter reads up and till the exchange, or you can look at the past bills and give them 2 actual meter reads close to the exchange date and ask them to estimate it in line with that?

matelodave

If you read your meter monthly and keep a record then you should never be more than a month adrift. Unfortunately most people just rely on random meter readings by the supplier or guesstimated bills and never checking them until summat like this happens.

It's probably nigh on impossible to get hold of any info regarding the old meter or it's readings especially after a couple of years.

I'm not being clever but I've got all my monthly readings for the past six years since we've been in this house as well as a couple of years worth from my previous place, just in case. I've also got either the paper bills or a PDF copy of the monthly on-line statements stored on the computer and I get them corrected if I ever get an estimated bill - it doesn't happen often but there's no way i'll accept an estimate.

It's not foolproof but at least there's a continuous record to argue with.

dogshome

Though the meter change was made by the Power Distribution Co. for your area who also own the meter, these companies do not engage with the public other than changeing meters - It is your supplier, Scottish Power who talk to them on your behalf.

Just how lackadaisical these meter change crews are when it comes to leaving behind a written record of the old and new meter readings, is a scandal and causes customers as you have found, huge problems.
When mine was done a few years ago, I had to car-chase the crew to the next village to get the card they should have left behind

However, depending how long you have been in residence there is a possible solution you should offer SP

The problem is that no one knows the old meters reading as it was removed and the new meters read as it was installed, but if the old meters billing records go back for over a year before the meter change, the logical thing for SP to do is charge on the basis of historical KWh useage from the last bill issued to old meter prior to Jan 2014, right up to the point where they have their first recognised read of the new meter, then SP consider that meter reading to the 'Start Reading' of the new meter

Robin9

Send SP a formal letter of Complaint and offer them meter readings as suggested in #7

"can it not be estimated in line with actual usage? the supplier should have actual meter reads up and till the exchange, or you can look at the past bills and give them 2 actual meter reads close to the exchange date and ask them to estimate it in line with that?"

[Deleted User]

I'd be inclined to complain to Ofgem, perhaps you'll get the bill waived and a compo cheque like I did.

There was no need to waive the bill in my case because I had the card with the old meter details on, it was just that the supplier didn't seem capable of using those details to generate a correct bill. Every time I rang them up and gave them the old meter details they told me they'd sort the problem out, but then I just got another bill for the same incorrect amount.