prepayment meter, then a bill.

martinutah

Hello,


I have used a prepayment meter for my gas supply with British Gas for nearly 12 years but last week an inspector turned up and said my meter had been tampered with in 2006! - and they knew that and didn't do anything about it. He flexed the thin plastic on the front of the meter and it bended slightly like a biro or something. nothing wrong with it. He replaced the meter and said they have no records of me using gas (a lie, I have annual summaries) they he said when that's the case they refer to Ofgem's estimation of average useage and the guy gave me a £1,871 bill! surely I don't have to pay this? I use a PREpayment meter, if I don't top up, I get no gas.

Lyncj01

Hi - sounds more than fishy to me. The 'guy' can't give you a bill if he's from BG - it has to be produced by their systems. And, as you say you are prepayment so will have paid as you go. DO NOT PAY ANYBODY. Call BG.

[Deleted User]

Lyncj01 wrote: »

Hi - sounds more than fishy to me. The 'guy' can't give you a bill if he's from BG - it has to be produced by their systems. And, as you say you are prepayment so will have paid as you go. DO NOT PAY ANYBODY. Call BG.

British Gas Revenue Protection officers can certainly work out how much has been stolen and issue a bill. They are the ones who work out what an energy thief owes. Businesses can pay cash , domestics can get it added as debt on a new prepayment meter ( which they may well fiddle again )...Occupier can even barter it down with a little negotiation.
.BG RPU officers know every trick in the book with meter fiddling. However , all fiddled meters will automatically be replaced and the occupier will pay for it..Prepay electric meter which has been tampered has approx £250 added to the debt.
The prepayment meter gas meters will on many occasions carry on recording gas usage. It is then just an easy calculation to compare gas units used against the amount paid plus standing charges of course. Some gas prepays will go "blank screen " so they will estimate on average usage for the type of property.