Spark Energy £417 Bill.

Blackpool_Saver

Is this a tower block of some sort? Have you got a resident's association? or some sort of representative?
How did you take a reading when YOU moved into this place, how do you know it was even accurate then?

Niklas33

When we first moved in, we was told by Spark Energy that our bills would be based on the average for our flat and they know we can't get hold of our meter reading to it being stupidly placed.

We've been paying the estimated bills for the past 2 years.

And yes it's a tower block.

Blackpool_Saver

https://www.ombudsman-services.org/sectors/energy

System

Niklas33 wrote: »

When we first moved in, we was told by Spark Energy that our bills would be based on the average for our flat and they know we can't get hold of our meter reading to it being stupidly placed.

We've been paying the estimated bills for the past 2 years.

And yes it's a tower block.

Edit:

All suppliers have a Standard Licence Condition that requires them to take reasonable steps to obtain an actual meter reading once every 12 months. Do you have anything in writing from the supplier stating that they consider that it is unreasonable to obtain a meter reading, and they will bill you on average usage?

Niklas33

I only have the conversation with the guy, who came last week and the phone call from them when we initially moved in.

Blackpool_Saver

Contact the link I provided, tell them the whole thing

[Deleted User]

Extremely odd set up, almost unbelievable that the OP maintains no one can get a block of meters.As a meter reader for 20 years I m not buying that. Are you seriously trying to say that not one resident is on a prepayment meter where they would need constant and easy access to manual top ups.Even smart prepayment meters need access. No resident could switch to a smaller supplier such as Ovo or Utilita who only use these meters
PAYG. are force fitted in many cases. If the meters are inaccessible then they would have to made accessible , otherwise every credit meter would be exempt from the final solution of a PAYG meter.No meter fitter would also have safe access either to exchange the meters.
I can certainly believe that the management of the flat would keep the meter cupboard securely locked and make it impossible to get at the meters..I see that often.. I don`t think some managements trust tenants not to tamper with meters and cause a major fire hazard
Sorry I m not buying this scenario, come up with another story. The original electricians would need scaffolding, at a cost, to originally fit out a huge meter cupboard of 75 meters up in the air. No "box " is large enough for 75 meters..Needs a large meter room.
I go into lots of tower flats and have never seen anything so ludicrous as needing a 30 ft ladder..
15 ft is my highest and that is for one business meter in a warehouse.
I ve never heard of any meter reader/engineer being allowed to invent a reading. If we don t get an actual reading that is the end of it.Its then up to the supplier to come up with an estimate based on historical usage

System

Niklas33 wrote: »

I only have the conversation with the guy, who came last week and the phone call from them when we initially moved in.

So if, or when, the meter is read and the supplier sends out a very large catch up bill your only defence is a conversation with someone at Spark. I think that I would want something in writing. Equally, how can you reasonably challenge the bill that you have received without getting an actual meter reading. More worryingly, if a supplier cannot read your meter then it is failing to carry out meter safety checks which is also a Condition placed on Licence Holders.

Niklas33

Thanks for all your responses i spoke to Spark this morning, they said the bill still stands and won't do anything about it.

He said we've been undercharged and so has everybody else within the building, and he confirmed the engineer put in a reading (That he simply made up because he couldn't reach) and now we've all been billed.

A neighbour has a bill for £871 we have been told by Spark if we pay our huge payments we can go back down to £90 per month.

Spark also confirmed that they've spoken to the Landlord and they've refused to change us from our two system from the 1960s to another system (can't remember which) as it is to great expense of the landlord.

I'm just wondering would it be best to pay this stupid bill...and go back down to £90 as we're leaving in 8 months to move into our HTB property.

HampshireH

I'm finding it quite hard to believe you have willingly accepted this situation.

What will you do in june when spark issue you another bill this time for £800 because based on this logic they can do whatever they like.

Can we see a picture of these meters from ground level? Just all seems a bit bizarre.