Oh dear, what do I do?

nomis64

I regularly swap energy providers. At the last swap I did not initially realise the order of the meter reading entries was different (day, night not night, day) with the new compared to the old provider for several months. I spotted it when my electricity bill was less than I had estimated it to be. So I emailed the provider, explained and offered to pay the difference. They asked for photographs of my meter, so I provided them. They said I was mistaken and was giving them the right readings. I said I was sure I was not mistaken, but they insisted (i have kept the emails) and ever since then I have been paying E7 rate in the day and day rate at night. I use much more electricity in the day (and pay E7 rates for it) My question is do I stick with the provider, as there is no way anyone else can compete with my "special" discount, which probably saves me £30 a month, or do I switch and pay the correct rate? If my current provider realizes its mistake will it be their fault and they have to swallow the loss or will I have to repay the difference...if they dont spot it for a while it could be quite a large amount.

House_Martin

Bring on smart meters for Eco 7. The National Grid is getting swindled out of millions because of this little trick
.Dopey suppliers, even dopier customers and most of all, and the worst, are meter readers who cannot tell day from night .
My company (MDS formerly G4S ) reads meters for 4 of the big 6 ( BG. Scot Power, EDF, Eon ) and we routinely transpose day/night reads.
This free energy bonanza will end just as soon as the suppliers get their act together and introduce Eco 7 billing into their smart meters.
Secure Liberty meters can manage it but so far the main suppliers don t( or dare not ) implement it.
They use Landis Gyr or Elster smart electric meters. I m baffled why they don`t configure Eco 7 smart meters. They can all do it but are dragging their feet implementing them to bill in Eco 7. Smart meters would never transpose the readings..ever !
OP if you stick to the same supplier eventually a meter reader may grace your property who knows what hes doing and imput day/night correctly and they will back bill you.
If you switch every year the idiots won`t find out !
With the old analogue timer switches with a large circular 24 hr dial he/ she would have to take the time to look carefully because the night rate could be active in the middle of the day.The cheap 8 hrs could be anywhere in the 24 hrs

nomis64

"if you stick to the same supplier eventually a meter reader may grace your property who knows what hes doing and imput day/night correctly and they will back bill you."
So even if I told them, and they insisted I was wrong, I'm liable for the losses due to their mistake?

nomis64

House Martin - checked some of your other posts and found "Our meter readers at M.D.S ( formerly G4S ) who work for BG, Scot Power, EDF routinely mess up eco 7 meters. Their hand held computers are the reason why because on the night rate it shows 1 ( with a 2 next to the day reading )so as soon as they see a number 1 on a digital meter they put that reading into the night field." Needless to say my supplier is one of these so I suspect they read it wrong too, as I have had a "proper" reading done before as well

footyguy

nomis64 wrote: »

I regularly swap energy providers. At the last swap I did not initially realise the order of the meter reading entries was different (day, night not night, day) with the new compared to the old provider for several months. I spotted it when my electricity bill was less than I had estimated it to be. So I emailed the provider, explained and offered to pay the difference. They asked for photographs of my meter, so I provided them. They said I was mistaken and was giving them the right readings. I said I was sure I was not mistaken, but they insisted (i have kept the emails) and ever since then I have been paying E7 rate in the day and day rate at night. I use much more electricity in the day (and pay E7 rates for it) My question is do I stick with the provider, as there is no way anyone else can compete with my "special" discount, which probably saves me £30 a month, or do I switch and pay the correct rate? If my current provider realizes its mistake will it be their fault and they have to swallow the loss or will I have to repay the difference...if they dont spot it for a while it could be quite a large amount.

If you believe the supplier is incorrectly billing you, despite their insistence otherwise, you should continue with your complaint, following the suppliers complaint procedure.

Cardew

nomis64 wrote: »

"if you stick to the same supplier eventually a meter reader may grace your property who knows what hes doing and imput day/night correctly and they will back bill you."
So even if I told them, and they insisted I was wrong, I'm liable for the losses due to their mistake?

Although I understand what you mean, you will not have suffered any losses when(if) they discover their mistake. You should simply put aside the underpayment amount.

Unfortunately if companies have made a mistake - even in circumstances similar to yours, they can go back 6 years and correct their error. Although in this case they are almost certain to give you some compensation, or even write off the debt.

Given their stupidity, you can simply switch supplier and settle with the old supplier and try to sort matters out with the new supplier.

nomis64

lol - I said "the losses" as its the suppliers loss not mine!

Robin9

nomis64 wrote: »

"if you stick to the same supplier eventually a meter reader may grace your property who knows what hes doing and imput day/night correctly and they will back bill you."

I think you will hope in vain - the suppliers computer system will reject the meter readers figures as out of the expected range just as they will reject yours.

House_Martin

Robin9 wrote: »

I think you will hope in vain - the suppliers computer system will reject the meter readers figures as out of the expected range just as they will reject yours.

They wont . I do it quite often and correct transposed meter readings. I even add supporting notes to back up my reads.Customers wail and moan when a nice fat catch up bill is presented. Then when I visit the next quarter I get a bit of aggro. Cheeky beggers try and blame me for being a jobsworth
Admittingly its with a proper clued up supplier like British Gas not a new supplier with 50 employees, a website and a rented unit in Kettering Ind Estate.
Its always with the customers or dopey meter readers just seeing a 1 on an ampy meter or similar who puts day read into night field
.Many customers try it on and deliberately submit reads transposed. This is why smart Eco 7 meters are very badly needed and will save suppliers or the DNOs millions
Customers who have gas central heating , therefore are low night users always come out on top with this little fiddle.They can see it on their billing.They know full well whats happening but they allow it to continue and blame it on the supplier and the auto billing process

House_Martin

nomis64 wrote: »

House Martin - checked some of your other posts and found "Our meter readers at M.D.S ( formerly G4S ) who work for BG, Scot Power, EDF routinely mess up eco 7 meters. Their hand held computers are the reason why because on the night rate it shows 1 ( with a 2 next to the day reading )so as soon as they see a number 1 on a digital meter they put that reading into the night field." Needless to say my supplier is one of these so I suspect they read it wrong too, as I have had a "proper" reading done before as well

This is why I mentioned it would need a meter reader who knew what he was doing. In my section of around 20 meter readers, maybe there are half a dozen who understand Eco 7 meters properly and will do a good job and get it right.
We use agency staff sometimes who have nt a clue.
There is never any mention in training sessions we have about Eco 7 meters despite my constant moans to the managers.The managers don`t understand them neither