OVO Debt

System

No it does not. New occupiers move into these doctored meters all the time.The correct procedure is to warn the supplier immediately . They know that something is wrong with the meter, some even have wires sticking out of them but many are wired up behind the lower cover. They obviously did not do the bypassing or they dont allow access. The suppliers are not bothered about who did it anyway as nothing can be proved. Absolutely nowhere have I accused you or assumed that you personally have been wiring up a meter. Its deadly dangerous but enough people out there are doing it. Apps are about for old style prepayment meters with a "dongle " set up by the way

CashStrapped

Just hang on a sec, lets see if others can help. You have had a reply off one person who is trying to help but may not have communicated their thoughts in the best way possible. No one is accusing you of anything.

To assist we need a detailed account of the facts. From what I gather:

1) you have been sending payments to a prepay smart meter via a OVO app
2) You were being charged something as you had to top up the meter.
3)It turns out you were paying just an inflated standing charge but not for actual electric use.
4) They have since lowered the standing charge cost to the normal amount
5) You still have a large debt

So, have all the payments your wife has been sending been paying the incorrect standing charge only? If the standing charge was incorrect all along, what has happened to the monies you sent?

Did you take a meter reading when you moved in?

Where is the record of the total you have sent thus far?

Regards

System

OK, ..one last check. is the red light on at the meter on ?and does it pulse faster when more electricity is used ?. If the little red light stays on all the time and does not pulse or flash at all then the smart prepayment meter could still have been wired up behind the lower cover where a metal seal is in place.I havent found any smart meters doctored as off yet but my colleague who works in Revenue Protection assure s me that these meters can be wired up, but the supplier would receive error codes to that effect. doctored meters ALWAYS charge standing charges but never charge for electricity..just one more fact from the "clown " and that is advice that not many people know about on here.

Daz3nt

Yes they have a record of all the payments it also shows on the website of my ovo, we have overpaid the standing charge so where paying £10 a week in the summer without using any gas and assumed that was the electric. I've since done some research since this site has a clown posting accusations. I only need to pay for up to 12 months but I'm not sure if I can claim what I've over spent on the standing charge back at all or for over 12 months to reduce the cost of the electricity bill.

CashStrapped

There is no need to start arguing, life is too short. People are here to help.

People are just trying to get the facts.

1) Did you take a meter reading when you moved in
2) How long have you lived there?
3) What are your total payments to the electric account to date?


Back billing may not apply in this instance, so you cannot rely on that in terms of owing the last 12 months only.

Daz3nt

Back to the start so everything is clear.

My wife has the ovo app she uses that to pay the gas, electricity and standing charges. It's one payment for all three, she will get a notification when the credit is running low so she adds £20 on until she gets notified again. The usage history on my ovo page shows payments for gas and standing charge but nothing for electric. Up until today the electric charges have started to show. Nobody has visited our house and made any modifications they simply made some changes they're end and have added the electricity to our account. We haven't paid anything we haven't had just paid to much in standing charges and no electricity. Hope that clears things up. My only question now is can I reclaim the overcharged standing charge at all and if so how far can I go back to?

Daz3nt

I do appreciate your help cashstrapped

Daz3nt

I haven't taken any reading I just assumed a smart meter would be ok since it can communicate with my supplier at all times. We've lived here for 10 years now and had the meters fitted around two years ago. I'm not sure how much we've paid to date but around £30-£40 a week on a average.

CashStrapped

Hmm....the thing you need to ascertain is:

1)What the tariff you originally were on (after the smart meter was installed) was called and the unit rates (and standing charge) you were supposed to be charged at that time.

2) Assuming this was a new smart meter, installed two years ago, it is very likely that it started at 0.

3) In fact, when the installer replaced the old meter, they should have left a card near where the old meter was. This should have recorded the last reading for the old meter and the start reading for the new smart meter. Check if it is there.

4) What is the reading on the meter now in KWH? Unless you find a card stating the start reading for the smart meter we can (for now) assume a 0 start reading.

5) Using the tariff (and a reading from today) we can calculate what you may have used and get some idea as to the possible outstanding bill.

6) From there we can work out what you have paid, what maybe surplus, and what you may owe.

7) Then you can see what Ovo have calculated you owe. Have they given a figure? If you disagree with Ovo, then that is the point you raise a formal complaint. But, it is best to have all the information (even if you calculate you owe something). It is best to look at the worst case scenario rather than ignore it. Only at that point you can then start to discuss the matter with Ovo with as much information as possible.

phillw

If they make a mistake and they fail to bill for energy then they can only go back 12 months. So you really want to know what the meter reading was a year ago. Ovo should be able to provide you with that. You need ovo to help you, so you really need to be polite.

You'll probably be liable to pay something and they won't let you switch away if you have an outstanding debt. But they shouldn't be talking about cutting you off if you have an outstanding complaint. But phone them and ask them to put in writing that they aren't going to cut you off while the complaint is going through.