OVO changed my final reading

PGW_Baker

When I switched from OVO Energy to another supplier I sent them my final gas meter reading of 09003. However, when they sent me my final statement it was based on a final reading of 09114. This appears on my final statement:
29th May You Gave 09114
29th May You Gave 09003
28th May Final Read 09114
I only gave them one reading: 09003.Today (20th June) my gas meter reading is only 09007.
My final bill therefore has overcharged me. I have asked them to correct this but so far they have not responded. Several times in the past I have complained to OVO that they have overestimated my energy usage and increased my direct debit payments, despite my objections, therefore taking more money from me than I owed. My own estimates have proved to be accurate and not theirs. If they do this to all their customers they will be taking in a huge amount of money that is not rightfully theirs, earning interest on it of course, and if/when they make refunds to customers they refund without interest. This is a dishonest way of increasing their revenue.

matelodave

what reading has your new supplier used? hopefully the same one as OVO, if not then complain to the new supplier as it's their responsibility to sort it out.

When you give your reading to the NEW supplier they send it to be verified by a third party and agree it with the old supplier and both suppliers will use the same reading. So you should not be charged for the same energy twice even though the numbers may not be exactly the same as the one that you sent in.

In some cases you might be better off if the new supplier's cost are higher than the old one but in most cases the differences are only pennies.

System

Hi - welcome to the forum. Ovo should have ignored your final reading as it is the gaining supplier that is responsible for managing the transfer of a supply. Part of this process is asking you for readings. These then go to an independent industry third party for verification. The verified readings are used to close and open your accounts:

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

The good news is that you will not pay for the same energy twice. The two suppliers have to use the same readings. Can you dispute an opening reading: the answer is 'yes' but this should be via the gaining supplier. There are though parameters before an Agreed Readings Dispute can be initiated:

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

badmemory

Of course the problem comes when the final/initial reading is too high & then you still haven't reached that false number when you have to give another reading. What would be your advice then? To increase their original reading by one each time until you reach it, which would probably be fraud or give them the correct reading & risk them billing you for the meter having gone all the way back through zero?


It would (if you change suppliers to the next cheapest at the end of contract) actually save you money to stay with the higher reading with the old supplier as those units should be cheaper.

System

badmemory wrote: »

Of course the problem comes when the final/initial reading is too high & then you still haven't reached that false number when you have to give another reading. What would be your advice then? To increase their original reading by one each time until you reach it, which would probably be fraud or give them the correct reading & risk them billing you for the meter having gone all the way back through zero?


It would (if you change suppliers to the next cheapest at the end of contract) actually save you money to stay with the higher reading with the old supplier as those units should be cheaper.

Been there and I have got the teeshirt. I switched a couple of years ago and the gaining supplier mixed up my new account with a previous account and the verified gas meter reading was 1175kWhs out in favour of the old supplier. An Agreed Readings Dispute could not be raised so both suppliers had to accept the readings. I overpaid the losing supplier about £35. For nearly 4 months, I only paid the gaining supplier a daily standing charge until my meter passed the opening reading. The actual cost difference was £2.34 which the gaining supplier refunded with a small ex gratia payment for getting the switch wrong. (those were the days when the cost of energy was falling).

PGW_Baker

I'm waiting for a response to my new supplier. Throughout my time with Ovo they consistently over-estimated my usage of energy and increased my direct debit payments. I objected of course and told them that I did not use anything like the amount of energy they were charging me for; but they said they estimated my usage by comparing me with people in similar dwellings. They were, of course, quite wrong. I have never had anyone around to read my meters since I have lived here. If they do this to many customers, even if they refund the overpayments in due course, they must be making something on the interest (that they don't refund) on other people's money that they hold. Doesn't seem ethical.

dirtmother

In Ovo's case they *do* pay interest on your credit balance (within certain parameters ie up to £1000 credit) Better rate of interest than my bank and increases the longer you stay with them.

System

PGW_Baker wrote: »

I'm waiting for a response to my new supplier. Throughout my time with Ovo they consistently over-estimated my usage of energy and increased my direct debit payments. I objected of course and told them that I did not use anything like the amount of energy they were charging me for; but they said they estimated my usage by comparing me with people in similar dwellings. They were, of course, quite wrong. I have never had anyone around to read my meters since I have lived here. If they do this to many customers, even if they refund the overpayments in due course, they must be making something on the interest (that they don't refund) on other people's money that they hold. Doesn't seem ethical.

I assume that you were providing Ovo with a monthly meter reading as a way of avoiding estimated bills? If not, it is a lesson to learn for the future. Suppliers no longer have to read meters, they only have to obtain an actual meter once per year. How this is obtained is up to every supplier.

FWIW, three switches on, I did recently get a call from Lowri Beck asking for a meter reading. They went a bit quiet when I told them that (a) my meters are on an external wall; (b) my accounts were up to date based on readings given to my present supplier the previous week and, (c), how much were they going to pay me to read my own meter?