Electricity Meter Faulty - Big Bill

mrmike1989

poppellerant wrote: »

There is one small lesson in this, which I hope you will have learnt by now - submit meter readings once a month. Set a date to read the meters before your billing date, such as the last day of each month.

But I now suspect that it is too late in your case. While I don't envy you, it's an unfortunate and expensive lesson.

Energy companies cannot trash your credit rating, unless you fail to pay. If you find a sympathetic advisor with your current provider on the phone, they may be persuaded to let you spread the cost over 6 or even 12 months and add this to your direct debit. Your previous energy company on the other hand is likely to be less flexible with time frames as you're not with them any more.

If you have historic and actual (not estimated) meter readings with your previous provider, you might be able to convince them of your past usage. But expect the gas to be slightly higher due to our long winter this year.

If you remain calm and rational, you will be able to fix this problem yourself. Right now you are doing the right thing by asking people for help.

Thanks for the advice. Sadly, the only thing I have learned is that energy providers can supply users with faulty meters and overcharge them for consumption they have not used. Checking the meter regularly would have helped me spot their mistake sooner, however, I should not be responsible for their incompetence.

Regarding the credit rating, it might be the case that I cannot afford to pay for something that I didn't consume, thus leaving me no option but to skip the payment. Fortunately, my previous supplier has been extremely helpful and offered a payment plan that I can afford to pay, but this will no doubt deplete the kids' Christmas budget this year.

My new supplier is not very helpful at all, and are now exploiting this inaccurate reading to charge me more money. After having shown them evidence of my meter reading history (5 years worth) they simply ignored the regular consumption and only paid attention to the huge spike from the bad reading, they have attributed this excessive electrical consumption to the long winter!? My complaints handler is truly not fit for purpose.

So far I am following all of the proper protocols, and keeping a level head. I have hope that the Energy Ombudsman will agree that the new supplier did not take the correct action to asses the integrity of the meter, I'm sure my meter reading history will also serve to reinforce my argument.

stewie_griffin

Ask your current supplier to arrange for the meter to be tested by an independent meter examiner. They probably won't be able to do any tests onsite due to the display no longer working but they should still be able to test it back in the laboratory. You'll then be sent a certificate which you can also pass on to your old supplier. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electricity-meter-accuracy-disputes

mrmike1989

stewie_griffin wrote: »

Ask your current supplier to arrange for the meter to be tested by an independent meter examiner. They probably won't be able to do any tests onsite due to the display no longer working but they should still be able to test it back in the laboratory. You'll then be sent a certificate which you can also pass on to your old supplier. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electricity-meter-accuracy-disputes

Thanks, I've already asked them to verify the accuracy of the meter. They declined and instead replaced it with a new one.

This removes any proof that I had that the meter was faulty. On a positive note, it shows to the Energy Ombudsman that the supplier did not take reasonable action which should tip the scales in my favour...I hope.

[Deleted User]

mrmike1989 wrote: »

Thanks, I've already asked them to verify the accuracy of the meter. They declined and instead replaced it with a new one.

This removes any proof that I had that the meter was faulty. On a positive note, it shows to the Energy Ombudsman that the supplier did not take reasonable action which should tip the scales in my favour...I hope.

This subject of faulty and blank screen digital meters has come up on here many times over the years.
.As I have mentioned in my earlier post that certain meters which are fitted in very large numbers have a long history of going blank. They are so cheap to buy at less than £10 per meter they are very popular
i do remember an insider working for one of the DNO s mentioning on the Energy Board that just before these meters go blank and die they can have a surge and increase the digits drastically.
Personally I can t trust a digital display compared to the certainty of a good old mechanical but as usual its the price which counts.

mrmike1989

Houbara wrote: »

I do remember an insider working for one of the DNO's mentioning on the Energy Board that just before these meters go blank and die they can have a surge and increase the digits drastically.

This is an interesting comment, my meter didn't just go blank one day, the display dimmed over the course of some time. I just managed to read the digits that I could barely see when submitting my final reading. I [STRIKE]suspect[/STRIKE] am sure the meter was running overtime as the display faded out.