EON overestiming final bills ?

Daveyhub

Hello

I would just like to see if anybody is still having issues with EON overestimating final bills ? I have recently switched from EON to CoOp energy and when I received my final bill from EON I couldn’t believe my eyes ! I have always had issues trying to submit my electric readings online with them , never any problem with the gas , and I’ve always had to ring them to submit the electric meter reading. They have also sent out engineers to physically read the meters so there should be NO estimated bills coming my way. So they decide to try and charge me £1448 for the period between Dec and Apr this yr which is basically a quarter and they say it’s based on a estimated final bill. I spoke to them on the phone to discuss this ridiculous amount and they said don’t worry as the account is in “dispute” and the figures did look in correct. Then this morning I recieve a bill from the EON debt collection department stating I hadn’t paid the bill ?? So I phone again to be told actually the account was no longer in “dispute” and that was the total of the estimated final bill. After a discussion with the phone operative my account is now back in “dispute” while they re investigate my final readings. They had correct online readings from myself plus readings submitted over the phone plus they sent out a engineer to take final readings from my home. So I think EON are definitely trying it on as the amount I’ve been billed would be for more than a year worth of gas and electric usage let alone 1 quarter. I have asked for usage data and figures to back up the estimated bill so we shall see what happens.
Is this happening to anybody else and who can I report them to ?

System

Do the meter readings on your Final account and your new account agree? How do these readings compare with what your meters are showing now? There is no question of anyone trying it on. There is an industry process for validating meter readings which is independent of the two suppliers. If your actual readings differ markedly from the industry validated readings then either supplier can raise what is known as an Agreed Readings Dispute.

https://octopus.energy/blog/secret-life-opening-meter-reading/

If the industry doesn’t agree with the readings that have been provided, estimated readings are provided to the suppliers for use instead. This can happen for any number of reasons, and can be corrected using a meter reading dispute.

Quote: Disputes can only be raised if the difference between the readings is sufficiently high. If the difference is more than 1200 kWh for gas, or 250 kWh for electricity, then the dispute can be raised; if the difference is within these values, the readings are deemed to be accurate, and the dispute cannot be raised. These are the values set by OFGEM, to regulate disputes. Unquote (source Pure Planet)

Robin9

When you switched to Co-op you will have been asked by the Co-op to provide a meter reading. Did you take this reading yourself ? There have been several other threads on reading meters and how easy it is to misread meters particularly the clock ones where the dials go in opposite directions.

Daveyhub

The electric meter is new and is just one number as it’s not on a day/night reading so it’s one easy number to read.

System

Daveyhub wrote: »

The electric meter is new and is just one number as it’s not on a day/night reading so it’s one easy number to read.

How does this simple to read meter compare with the meter reading that has been used to open and closes your accounts on transfer of supply?

Daveyhub

I have read previous threads of EON greatly over estimating people’s final bills. All readings where taken correctly for old and new supplier and submitted online , over phone and by a meter reading person who came to the house so that’s 3 lot of submissions. The issue here is they are using estimated numbers when they should be using the correct details that they have been provided.

System

Daveyhub wrote: »

I have read previous threads of EON greatly over estimating people’s final bills. All readings where taken correctly for old and new supplier and submitted online , over phone and by a meter reading person who came to the house so that’s 3 lot of submissions. The issue here is they are using estimated numbers when they should be using the correct details that they have been provided.

Suppliers are allowed to use estimated readings on a transfer of supply. 'Estimated" in this context just means that the meter reading that you provided has been adjusted by the Data Collectors. Read the link to the Blog that I provided.

The important thing to check is that the two suppliers have used the same readings to open and close your accounts. If they haven't, then contact your new supplier as it has the Licence responsibility to sort this out for you. If the readings on your meters are outwith the two limits that I provided you with, then ask the gaining supplier to raise an Agreed Readings Dispute. Provide them with photographs of your present meter readings.

Just because your Final Bill is high does not mean that it is incorrect. Your new supplier is required to follow the meter validation process because:

a. Some consumers cannot be bothered to provide a reading.

b. Many consumers mis-read their meters.

c. Some make up a reading because they think that they can save a few £s by doing so.

There is nothing sinister going on here. Check your meters and your opening and closing bills and see if there is a problem.

Robin9

Daveyhub wrote: »

The electric meter is new and is just one number as it’s not on a day/night reading so it’s one easy number to read.

Even so mine is new and in the format 001234.5 - some people would read as 12345 in error

dogshome

Hmmm - Could all be down to the installation of the new Elec meter
If Eon are not up to speed with their records on this, they will have taken the view that the old meter had gone round the clock and started counting again from zero

The meter change crew should have left you a card that showed the reading on the Old meter as it was removed, and the reading of the New as it was installed.
If not handed to the householder, they leave tucked behind the meter or somewhere in the meter housing - Look for it and send a copy to Eon and hang on to the original for dear life

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Daveyhub wrote: »

Hello

I would just like to see if anybody is still having issues with EON overestimating final bills ? I have recently switched from EON to CoOp energy and when I received my final bill from EON I couldn’t believe my eyes ! I have always had issues trying to submit my electric readings online with them , never any problem with the gas , and I’ve always had to ring them to submit the electric meter reading. They have also sent out engineers to physically read the meters so there should be NO estimated bills coming my way. So they decide to try and charge me £1448 for the period between Dec and Apr this yr which is basically a quarter and they say it’s based on a estimated final bill. I spoke to them on the phone to discuss this ridiculous amount and they said don’t worry as the account is in “dispute” and the figures did look in correct. Then this morning I recieve a bill from the EON debt collection department stating I hadn’t paid the bill ?? So I phone again to be told actually the account was no longer in “dispute” and that was the total of the estimated final bill. After a discussion with the phone operative my account is now back in “dispute” while they re investigate my final readings. They had correct online readings from myself plus readings submitted over the phone plus they sent out a engineer to take final readings from my home. So I think EON are definitely trying it on as the amount I’ve been billed would be for more than a year worth of gas and electric usage let alone 1 quarter. I have asked for usage data and figures to back up the estimated bill so we shall see what happens.
Is this happening to anybody else and who can I report them to ?

Hello Daveyhub and welcome to the Forums.

Already some excellent advice from Hengus. Thanks Hengus. To confirm, we'll have based our final bill on the meter readings given us by your new supplier. These readings come through a third party (Data Collector) who checks they're in line with past readings held for the property. Sometimes a change is made and both suppliers need to use the same readings to prevent a duplication of charges.

As Hengus says, provided the difference is above set thresholds, these opening/closing readings can be challenged through an industry wide procedure known as an Agreed Reads Dispute (ARD). From what you say, it sounds like an ARD is underway. It's important our closing readings match the new suppliers opening readings. If the ARD results in a lower number of kWh being charged by us, your new supplier will increase the amount of kWh they're billing to. This could be beneficial where the new tariff is cheaper than the one you were on with us.

To confirm also, when amended readings are received from a Data Collector, we show them as estimates. This is because they're not from you or from a meter reader.

How do your readings stack up against those used by both us and your new supplier?

Malc

Jakubk

Hengus wrote: »

Suppliers are allowed to use estimated readings on a transfer of supply. 'Estimated" in this context just means that the meter reading that you provided has been adjusted by the Data Collectors. Read the link to the Blog that I provided.

The important thing to check is that the two suppliers have used the same readings to open and close your accounts. If they haven't, then contact your new supplier as it has the Licence responsibility to sort this out for you. If the readings on your meters are outwith the two limits that I provided you with, then ask the gaining supplier to raise an Agreed Readings Dispute. Provide them with photographs of your present meter readings.

Just because your Final Bill is high does not mean that it is incorrect. Your new supplier is required to follow the meter validation process because:

a. Some consumers cannot be bothered to provide a reading.

b. Many consumers mis-read their meters.

c. Some make up a reading because they think that they can save a few £s by doing so.

There is nothing sinister going on here. Check your meters and your opening and closing bills and see if there is a problem.

That is shocking

It is all very well to have estimated bills between meter readings but when you finish with a supplier it should be law that a reading must be taken, how hard is it to take a photo with a phone of meters?

To have a huge corporation make an estimate and then not have to be responsible once you have moved is a recipe for mess.