I really need help - I do not know where to turn

JJ_Egan

angel1mole1970 wrote: »

I've been to CA, this is my third attempt with the ombudsman, had a new meter put in, but what no one seems to understand is that I do not believe the meter is faulty, I truly,100% believe that we are paying for someone or something elses electricity. I have turned everything in the house off, unplugged it all, switched every switch off and only left the fridge/freezer on and our electricity meter spins like a top, never slows down and the daily usage is the same, nearly £10 per day!!

So what are your daily readings ??

You have new meter .
How are you thinking someone else is using your power .


Try turning the power fully off for an hour and check meter .

victor2

angel1mole1970 wrote: »

I've been to CA, this is my third attempt with the ombudsman, had a new meter put in, but what no one seems to understand is that I do not believe the meter is faulty, I truly,100% believe that we are paying for someone or something elses electricity. I have turned everything in the house off, unplugged it all, switched every switch off and only left the fridge/freezer on and our electricity meter spins like a top, never slows down and the daily usage is the same, nearly £10 per day!!

The ombudsman is not going to be of much help if you are being billed for what the meter is recording as actual usage.
Switch off everything including the fridge/freezer, but don't forget to switch it back on afterwards, and your meter should not be recording any usage. If it still "spins like a top", something is using a significant amount of electricity.
It may be worth getting an electrician in in that case to investigate further, but you could try switching off the individual breakers (or remove fuses) in the distribution panel near the meter to see which, if any, cause the meter to stop recording usage. Then at least you may know which circuit is causing the problem.

Fireflyaway

Might be a long shot but - I had the same issue. Bills getting higher and higher each time despite paying. In my case it turned out we were being billed for the wrong meter. Took 3 years before it was discovered. Have you checked the number on your meter corresponds to the number on the bills? Also I know there can be issues with imperial / metric meters charging the wrong amounts. Companies can make mistakes so ensure everything is investigated thoroughly. Put it in writing too, its less emotional and you will have proof that you have been trying to remedy the situation. As others said, CAB can be helpful.

carefullycautious

Have a read of this and see if it may apply


https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/electricity/retail-market/market-review-and-reform/electricity-theft

oldwiring

@ Fireflyaway
I was just about to post in the same vein. I'd suggest OP's family check meter (supply) nos on bills with actual meter a.s.a.p.

System

angel1mole1970 wrote: »

I am so sorry, all our bills are with the Ombudsman at the moment, but in my mind it goes beyond just what the meter is saying we use..... we cannot humanely be using the amount of electricity that they say we are using, and I am convinced there is a problem, either with the supply to the house or how many houses or utilities we are actually paying for. I know I sound paranoid and probably a bit crazy, but one of our bills was £1200 for three months.... that is NOT right, something is wrong and we are just stuck here with no way of it ever being sorted.

This might sound a little harsh but I am not sure what you expect to happen next? If you believe that there is an issue with your electrical system downstream of your meter, then this is a matter that only you can resolve. Suppliers are just not interested. Their responsibility relates to the supply up to the meter. If the meter has been checked/replaced, then they have the right to bill you for the energy consumed. The fact that your meter might be connected to other properties rests with those responsible for the build/upgrade - not the supplier. If you believe that something is awry with your electrical system, then I am afraid that it is up to you to call an electrician and ask him/her to investigate. With bills of £1200 for 3 months, an independent check would be money well spent imho.

teddysmum

I notice that you didn't do a zero appliance use as you left the fridge freezer on, but it's fine to switch off for a while, though best not to open the doors while switched off. Modern fridge/freezers stay cold for quite some time, without power.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Post your question on the disability & benefits board, you don't have a problem with your meter, you have a problem with your debts.

I have turned everything in the house off, unplugged it all, switched every switch off and only left the fridge/freezer on and our electricity meter spins like a top, never slows down and the daily usage is the same, nearly £10 per day!!

It will, its deducting debt & standing charges, if you left everything in the house off, switched off for 3 months it would spin like top relentlessly till every penny you owe is repaid .. .. .. and it would still spin deducting each days standing charges .. .. forever !

You have an under insulated large dwelling 16 years of increased energy costs and an insurmountable debt repayment & prepayment where you pay more for each unit of energy than for example customers like me on a credit meter. A winter of £50-70 per week will be mostly swallowed by debt repayment and standing charges hence the reason that no one can or will help you.

Your best bet is to find a charity to help you manage your finances effectively, some do pay off energy debt - post on the board I suggested - best of luck.

culpepper

Do EON not give out those monitors that just clip onto a wire from your meter now? We got one from them some time ago and the display sits in our front room showing the usage. It isn't one of those that sends the readings automatically, it simply shows the home owner the electricity use in real time. It is very useful for if someone leaves something on as the number shows way up above normal and you can quite quickly find and turn it off . If i were you, i would try turning off the electric at the fuse box (get help with that if you aren't sure how) and then see if the meter is still moving.

molerat

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

It will, its deducting debt & standing charges, if you left everything in the house off, switched off for 3 months it would spin like top relentlessly till every penny you owe is repaid .. .. .. and it would still spin deducting each days standing charges .. .. forever !

You have an under insulated large dwelling 16 years of increased energy costs and an insurmountable debt repayment & prepayment where you pay more for each unit of energy than for example customers like me on a credit meter. A winter of £50-70 per week will be mostly swallowed by debt repayment and standing charges hence the reason that no one can or will help you.

Your best bet is to find a charity to help you manage your finances effectively, some do pay off energy debt - post on the board I suggested - best of luck.

OP states they are no longer on a key meter.

OP, if your meter has been replaced and the high use is still there it is likely nothing that the ombudsman can deal with. You need to find out what is using this electricity. It may take paying an electrician to come and take a look if you or a friend cannot figure it out, it is often not difficult to spot if someone stealing your electric.