faulty meter when moved in, uk power will not replace it, now what?

hotwheels

we've owned our house for 25 years and moved in when it was 10 years old. last year we moved out for 12 months and rented it out. when we moved back in, the electric meter is not showing any numbers -just a line through where they should be and a red flashing light. I've been on to the supplier co-op and all they say they cannot change it as Uk Power have an issue with the address.
the issue is that when electric was first installed at the house , the house had no name/number , when we first lived there the electric bills where addresed to 5 lakeside close, which is a small private road 3 houses down the road.
to cut a long story short, i believe uk power, or the bulider (not having a proper address from the council) named it that. since then it has been renamed, and even the whole road has been renumbered.

so now UK power won't believe that the faulty meter (on file as 5 lakeside close, is at my house. Apparently, i have to provide proof that this house was named that, however it was only eastern electricity that ever addressed our house as that, is has never been known by royal mail or the council by that address.
co-op will not do anything else , saying i have to get the proof.
i cannot change supplier, or get the meter changed.
I don't mind if they estimate at £20 a month , but i doubt that they will. we were only a previous customer with them for 3 months before we left, then the tenants moved in and changed to a higher (??) tariff.

I've told them once they come out they will see the meter fixed to the wall of my house and thats the best proof! but they won't do it .

i need to know if they can bill me estimated bills and if they can, do i have a say in wether i accept the estimated amount?

how long can this go on for?

MeterMan

Put money aside each month to cover any eventual bills that come in, request a meter reader from co-op who will report that its faulty.

trickytree1963

It sounds like your supplier needs to update the Electricity database. If you provide them with your meter serial number and your MPAN (Photo of meter if necessary) they should update database and replace meter with a working one.

Has the fault only just occurred? Were you being billed to meter reads in the previous occupancy? If they cant establish the reads they should be able to provide a estimate based on you EAC previously?

Wolf3

As Tricky states the supplier needs to update the Electricity Database, so you will need to send them the details of the meter. Your MPAN, or supply number will be listed on the bills you have received. You will also need to have your actual address listed on the Royal Mail website for this to be accepted also.
Its only at this point will UK Power Networks come out and fix the fault or replace the meter, after this has been updated by Co-Op.

hotwheels

like i said the meter serial number does not correspond to the new address given, so unless i have proof that this new address is the same as the old address from royal mail or the council they won't come out.


we had 3 months with them before the new tenants moved in , but those 3 months were higher than the norm


i found out the meter was faulty when we moved in and i checked the readings as the tenants left the immersion coming on in the afternoon and the flood lights on.


i shall request a meter reading and see what they say , hopefully they won't read the notes that says the meter is faulty.

trickytree1963

You said in OP that you been in property 25 years? How did you get billed etc in those years?

hotwheels

trickytree1963 wrote: »

You said in OP that you been in property 25 years? How did you get billed etc in those years?

the first few years were at 5 lakeside close then it changed to new address.

molerat

The only real option you have is to raise a formal complaint to Co-op. Are they actually billing you and if so what is the address they are billing and what MPAN and meter number are they using ?

hotwheels

molerat wrote: »

The only real option you have is to raise a formal complaint to Co-op. Are they actually billing you and if so what is the address they are billing and what MPAN and meter number are they using ?

I've not had a bill from them yet and they're not even taking any money out of my account.
the meter number they're using is connected to address 5 lakeside close.
co-op will not come out to read the meter.

I've raised a complaint with the ombudsman.

House_Martin

trickytree1963 wrote: »

It sounds like your supplier needs to update the Electricity database. If you provide them with your meter serial number and your MPAN (Photo of meter if necessary) they should update database and replace meter with a working one.

Has the fault only just occurred? Were you being billed to meter reads in the previous occupancy? If they cant establish the reads they should be able to provide a estimate based on you EAC previously?

Its not a fault, its theft of energy.
Standard practice for many tenants to routinely disable, tamper with prepayment meters.
They are so badly designed anyone who searches around the internet can find out easily how to do this, without any comebacks if they are caught. A tampered meter can be deadly dangerous.The supplier is responsible for replacing the meter.
Co op should automatically replace the meter.The suppliers have been given "ownership " of all their meters now and they are responsible for installing smart meters which can be fixed in credit/prepay mode.
Smart prepayment meters needed urgently for all rentals to stop this huge free energy bonanza from continuing.
Suppliers are so lax they re not bothered at all about theft , BG excepted. Scottish Power for instance refuse to take out many warrants of access because of the costs involved and that they never recoup the costs.
Co op should automatically come out and replace a tampered meter because it can be deadly dangerous.
.