switching without meter reading

davo-75

New user so if I say something stupid or in the wrong pleace, please forgive me.

Been on npower electricity, standard tariff, paying bills on arrival for years. Their latest gives me an estimate of almost 800 quid per year. I want to leave them, and their customer service is a pain to get through to. So as im on estimates and have been for years, I have a feeling my meter is higher than they think...I mentioned it once to one of their people, and my number was higher than they thought.

Can I switch but not give them or the new provider a real reading, is that possible? I can't afford to pay off years worth of back bills. I've looked on comparison sites and electricity alone can be reduced by 50% almost on some of them....but I might get stung by npower for leaving.....or end up with a new company demanding a reading. Help! (please).

molerat

davo-75 wrote: »

New user so if I say something stupid or in the wrong pleace, please forgive me.

Been on npower electricity, standard tariff, paying bills on arrival for years. Their latest gives me an estimate of almost 800 quid per year. I want to leave them, and their customer service is a pain to get through to. So as im on estimates and have been for years, I have a feeling my meter is higher than they think...I mentioned it once to one of their people, and my number was higher than they thought.

Can I switch but not give them or the new provider a real reading, is that possible? I can't afford to pay off years worth of back bills. I've looked on comparison sites and electricity alone can be reduced by 50% almost on some of them....but I might get stung by npower for leaving.....or end up with a new company demanding a reading. Help! (please).

Why don't you read the meter and check ?
Why don't you submit regular meter reads on line ?
If you are in debt and can't afford to pay it off at once why dont't you switch to a less expensive tariff with your current supplier ?
If you give an incorrect meter read at switch it may be rejected by the third party that check the reading you give against your use on the database.
Besides that giving a false reading to obtain an advantage is fraud - I am sure you would not like a CIFAS marker.

davo-75

I think you're not understanding me, maybe I didnt say it right. Im not looking to defraud anyone.

I've been on estimates for years, I dont want to give a reading because ive a feeling I've used more than the estimates, and I'll get a large back bill. I've not submitted any fraudulent readings. So when you switch does it require a reading? The comparison sites ive read are giving me quotes based on estimating my usage.

cajef

So what you are saying is that you don't want to pay for the electricity you have used, it may not be fraud but it would be theft.

Why have you not given readings for years then you would not have been in this position.

davo-75

Again, no im not saying that, im saying I am worried that my meter will be high and I'll owe them more than I can pay, so does switching require a reading?

if so then I can switch, get on a better tariff, and give a reading later when im more financially secure.

molerat

When you switch you have to give the new supplier a reading. That reading is then submitted to a third party who verify it by checking the data held against that property, they may reject it if they do not agree it is accurate. Submitting anything other than the correct reading to avoid paying your current supplier for what you have used whilst with them, even though you will pay the new supplier for that use, is fraud.

When looking for the cheapest supplier you input what you estimate to be your accurate annual usage in kWh, picking a number which suits you is of no help to anyone especially you, it has nothing to do with the estimated bills your supplier sends you. By not regularly submitting accurate reads you have brought a whole load of problems on yourself, don't make it any worse.

Sort this out by giving your current supplier an accurate reading and if they come up with a bill you cannot afford then switch to their cheapest tariff and come to an arrangement to pay it off.

Ilona

A new supplier will need your start meter readings, what are you going to do, make them up? Nobody will take you on as a customer on those terms. Sounds like you are trying to run away from paying what you think you might owe. Get your meters read and submit the figures to your present supplier, or tell them to come and take the readings themselves.

Ilona

davo-75

well I appreciate the replies, if not the assumptions of bad behaviour. no one is submitting false readings, no one is a criminal here. im not running away from any money owed, I know I will pay them but at the moment. I cant afford a full huge back pay bill as im not working.

hence to minimise my outgoings, id like a better tariff, and provide a reading later. if all switching requires a reading, then I have my answer, thank you. and no I wasnt going to make them up, what a strange set of replies. I presume you get a lot of fraudsters passing through.

matelodave

If you want to change tariff or change your direct ebits, even with your existing energy company then you'll have to give them a correct reading.

One day, someone will come round and to read your meter and you'll get a ginormous bill if you've been underpaying, either by design or by default.

IMO you'd be well advised to read your meter and chack it against the latest bill to see how much you might owe and then getonto your supplier to get the bill corrected. Ask them to put you onto their best tariff and arrange to pay the arrears back as soon as you can via monthly direct debit.
Most suppliers will allow you to pay back arrears over 12 months, sometimes even longer but you do need to get it sorted out, just hoping that it will go away is the worst possible thing that you can do.

You will not be allowed to change suppliers without giving a reading and if you owe your existing suppliers, they will block any transfer to another supplier unless you pay back the arrears. So the sooner you get it sorted out the better chance you'll have to pay it back.

molerat

davo-75 wrote: »

Can I switch but not give them or the new provider a real reading, is that possible?

davo-75 wrote: »

no one is submitting false readings, no one is a criminal here.

You have been told what you need to do, delaying it will hurt no one but you.

NPower are not the most competitive but for me their July 2018 fix is not that much dearer than the cheapest available - NP 18% dearer, cheapest 11% and NP SV being 42% more than I currently pay.

davo-75

champion, I have the information, cheers. might just ask to go on the july 2018 thingy