Estimated readings - what are my rights?

rachelcox92

Hello

I'm wanting to know my rights around estimated readings. To be precise, am I obliged to pay a bill calculated using an estimated reading or do I have the right to refuse?

Our electric meter showed no reading when we moved in to our house in December and we made First Utility aware of this. It took them until July to replace our meter and there is now a hefty debit on our account of over £500. Do I have the right to refuse to pay for the estimated readings, seeing as I had no way of taking a meter reading or checking if their reading was accurate? I would think that as it was First Utility's fault that it took so long to fix the meter, I shouldn't have to pay for estimated readings, but I want to know if I have any leg to stand on here?

As a side note, I still have an ongoing complaint with them regarding this, raised back in May. I've asked them to look into my account and they're telling me they're still waiting for a 'data flow' from Siemens (the company who fixed the meter). Do you think I should be entitled to compensation?

spiro

If a meter is faulty they will normally monitor you useage after it has bene fixed to determine your average useage and then issue a bill using this average to do the calculation.
The issue you have is to dispute the bill you need something to provide a more accurate alternative.
If they are saying they are waiting for a data flow from Siemens as the MOP, then Siemens have 10 working days from the data of the exchange to send the details to the supplier. When was the meter exchanged? Why do you expect compensation for this delay?
When you reported it in December they should have advised you within 5wd of what they are going to do.

rachelcox92

Hi, thanks for your response. It took a very lomg time from when we reported the faulty meter to when it was fixed. We reported it in December and it was finally fixed in July, due to delays caused by First Utility, Siemens and also SEE who had to come and fix our cut off box so that Siemens could replace the meter. It has been over a month, about a month and a half since Siemens replaced the meter and apparently they still haven't issued the data flow to first utility despite them having (apparently) chased for this.

I was wondering if I am in my rights to refuse to pay the estimated readings, and instead ask them to work out my bill based on current readings, now my meter is fixed. The reason for wanting some sort of compensation (or a gesture of good will, I suppose) was for how long it has taken for this to be resolved.