Scottish Power; Incorrect Meter References blocking supplier changes!!

MHowett17

Hello, bit of a long story but please do bear with me, it's so frustrating!!!!

I have recently moved in with my fiancee into her property, and have taken over energy in my name. I was already paying it for her before moving in. She moved into the property in Dec 2013, where a prepay meter was already installed.

Due to the ridiculous credit score rubbish(shes never in debt/no loans, and doesnt have credit cards etc... moved after her dad passed away and she was in university), they never allowed a switch to a direct debit meter which would have been half the monthly bill anyway on pre-payment (40.00 on gas/elec a month at present).

So I've moved in, taken it over, and have tried to swap the meters and suppliers due to Scottish Powers recent price increases. I spoke to NPower to do a swap, and got as far as providing meter reference numbers... This is where it gets interesting...

The Electricity meter has an extra "0" in the reference number.
The Gas meter has something else different (away from it at mo. so cant remember)

NPower can not switch me because of this, and told me to call Scottish Power. I did this on the 20th January 2017 (3 days after moving in!). I was promised this would be rectified within 14 days.

So, fast forward to the 24th February when still nothing heard and I want to switch or get a credit meter installed. I call Scottish Power back who;
> Initally refused to talk to me because they couldn't verify my Identity... they had my surname spelt with a "P" rather than a "H"... So after a load of faffing about, They wanted meter reference numbers to prove who I was... I reeled off the number (note still only an additional "0" on electric + a number out on Gas.

Knowing full well this wouldn't go to plan as they did not match, I got quite annoyed but did not get angry on the phone, and explained the situation. Interestingly, I found a piece of paper tied around the meter stating they were installed in 2003! Appears nobody living there previously had tried to change meters?

Yet again, promised that they would recitify within 14days.... I bet they don't! I mean, how hard can it be to swap two digits on the database?

I'm getting nowhere, I am essentially blocked from moving suppliers or even changing to a credit meter with the present supplier.

What can I do, where do I Stand?!!?!?

Matt

nPower

MHowett17 wrote: »

Hello, bit of a long story but please do bear with me, it's so frustrating!!!!

I have recently moved in with my fiancee into her property, and have taken over energy in my name. I was already paying it for her before moving in. She moved into the property in Dec 2013, where a prepay meter was already installed.

Due to the ridiculous credit score rubbish(shes never in debt/no loans, and doesnt have credit cards etc... moved after her dad passed away and she was in university), they never allowed a switch to a direct debit meter which would have been half the monthly bill anyway on pre-payment (40.00 on gas/elec a month at present).

So I've moved in, taken it over, and have tried to swap the meters and suppliers due to Scottish Powers recent price increases. I spoke to NPower to do a swap, and got as far as providing meter reference numbers... This is where it gets interesting...

The Electricity meter has an extra "0" in the reference number.
The Gas meter has something else different (away from it at mo. so cant remember)

NPower can not switch me because of this, and told me to call Scottish Power. I did this on the 20th January 2017 (3 days after moving in!). I was promised this would be rectified within 14 days.

So, fast forward to the 24th February when still nothing heard and I want to switch or get a credit meter installed. I call Scottish Power back who;
> Initally refused to talk to me because they couldn't verify my Identity... they had my surname spelt with a "P" rather than a "H"... So after a load of faffing about, They wanted meter reference numbers to prove who I was... I reeled off the number (note still only an additional "0" on electric + a number out on Gas.

Knowing full well this wouldn't go to plan as they did not match, I got quite annoyed but did not get angry on the phone, and explained the situation. Interestingly, I found a piece of paper tied around the meter stating they were installed in 2003! Appears nobody living there previously had tried to change meters?

Yet again, promised that they would recitify within 14days.... I bet they don't! I mean, how hard can it be to swap two digits on the database?

I'm getting nowhere, I am essentially blocked from moving suppliers or even changing to a credit meter with the present supplier.

What can I do, where do I Stand?!!?!?

Matt

Hi MHowett17,

Please contact us using the details on our profile page if you require help with your switch.

Thanks

Jen

MHowett17

nPower_company_representative wrote: »

Hi MHowett17,

Please contact us using the details on our profile page if you require help with your switch.

Thanks

Jen

==============

Thanks, I tried, but because my meter reference is wrong on the National Database you refuse to assist. I'm trapped with SP until they fix the meter reference by removing a "0" from the start of the numbers!!!! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Autumnella

It is not as simple as updating the meter details. There needs to be investigations to ensure that those are the meters supplying your property and if those meters are showing elsewhere getting this corrected could take more than a year to sort out. That said, as long as you give the supplier you want to take over your supply numbers and don't mention there's an issue with your meter numbers you should still be able to change supplier.

footyguy

OP's meter is faulty it seems
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5612029

Good luck!

EnergyFun

Hi Matt

I'm a bit confused - what do you mean by an extra 0 in the reference number? Are you talking about the MPAN number?

I'd query the reason given because (in theory) this problem CANNOT EXIST in the industry due to the system validation surrounding the MPAN. i.e. an MPAN with an extra 0 cannot be generated by the network's system and certainly wouldn't be able to be passed onto a supplier.