Electric Coin Meter costing a fortune

PennineAcute

matelodave wrote: »

Perhaps you do, but if the OP is paying 20p/kwh and heating the place, producing hot water, showering cooking etc, then they'll be using more than 5kwh a day.

Not disputing that fact and I also realise that the OP is electric only. However, when I see posts such as £7 a day just covers fridge/freezer and other background stuff (in a generalised way) then I will take them up on that.

Yes, electric around 4 times as much as gas, so my heating would be around £6 a day if I was electric, that takes me onto £7 all in.

You say that I should not generalise, yet you criticise when I take issue with a generalised post.

matelodave

I didn't say that you shouldn't generalise, I just pointed out that you had to look at the OP's post in the context of their circumstance, rather than yours.

JC_Derby

twhitehousescat wrote: »

In have come across propertied like this before , the landlord will have HIS master meter in the celler etc , this will be a normal credit type (residential ) paid monthly etc , he will be on a good tariff and standing charge **

he will then have had the house rewired , in order to separate the flats , and installed a coin meter in each one

the cost to residents will be one plucked out of thin air , and a standing charge added

so he will be making profit per unit and many times the daily standing charge

the origin and accuracy of the meters should be questioned (are they still made (new) ?

also cost per unit and multiple standing charged should be questioned

seeing "the bill" might show unit cost and standing charge , but thats to him "in bulk"

I cannot see a way to get your meter checked without causing grief

* one of my mates has recently split his shop , he has now moved upstairs , he has sub meter fitted upstairs

when the shop downstairs gets there bill , he simply pays what us shown on his meter to shop owner and half of s/charge

This is exactly what I suspect and precisely why I was saying that seeing a bill on its own wont tell you a very great deal.

matelodave

JC_Derby wrote: »

This is exactly what I suspect and precisely why I was saying that seeing a bill on its own wont tell you a very great deal.

Yes it will - you'll see how much he pays per kwh and it shouldn't be less than the rate he's charging. You should be able to see what his standing charge is.

If it's 25p/day then he's got to apportion 5p to each flat if he's got five flats.

However he cant just add 1p to each kwh because he'll end up making a profit if everyone uses more than 5kwh a day (which is more than likely). So he has to work out a more equitable way to collect the s/c, probably in the rent for each flat by adding 35p/week.

He is also only allowed to charge 5% VAT even if he has to pay 20% so you can get a lot of info from seeing the bill and checking whether he's profiteering

JC_Derby

matelodave wrote: »

Yes it will - you'll see how much he pays per kwh and it shouldn't be less than the rate he's charging. You should be able to see what his standing charge is.

If it's 25p/day then he's got to apportion 5p to each flat if he's got five flats.

However he cant just add 1p to each kwh because he'll end up making a profit if everyone uses more than 5kwh a day (which is more than likely). So he has to work out a more equitable way to collect the s/c, probably in the rent for each flat by adding 35p/week.

He is also only allowed to charge 5% VAT even if he has to pay 20% so you can get a lot of info from seeing the bill and checking whether he's profiteering

lovely

Now tell me how many landlords don’t do that- a minority I suspect, but there still will be those that don’t.

ChaunceyGardiner

Carrot007 wrote: »

As much as OP's sounds too high Yoiut meter is probably broken. £5 a day is low at this time of year unless you live in a cupboard. £7 a week. that just covers the fridge freezer and other background things.

I’m in a similar position, GCH, electric shower etc. and my bill is £5-6 per week. I live alone in a studio flat.

graceplant

Thank you everyone for the help and advice with this. I have an update!

So I messaged the landlord and told him we were concerned, he basically said there wasn't much he could do, there was nothing wrong with the meter, that's just what it costs etc etc. BUT pretty much since that day, our quids have been going a lot further than they were. A fiver is now lasting almost 2 days instead of one. Yes, we've been being very frugal with the heating etc, but still, I'm almost positive something has changed.

The landlord hasn't been in the flat, but I'm wondering if there's something he could have switched on the master meter in the cellar. Either way, this is much better. I'm dropping the issue for now and just going to hope we continue as we are.

So hopefully, this is a happy ending, a Christmas miracle of sorts

Thanks everyone, hope you all have a wonderful festive season and that your energy bills are forever low

rstmart

graceplant wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the help and advice with this. I have an update!

So I messaged the landlord and told him we were concerned, he basically said there wasn't much he could do, there was nothing wrong with the meter, that's just what it costs etc etc. BUT pretty much since that day, our quids have been going a lot further than they were. A fiver is now lasting almost 2 days instead of one. Yes, we've been being very frugal with the heating etc, but still, I'm almost positive something has changed.

The landlord hasn't been in the flat, but I'm wondering if there's something he could have switched on the master meter in the cellar. Either way, this is much better. I'm dropping the issue for now and just going to hope we continue as we are.

So hopefully, this is a happy ending, a Christmas miracle of sorts

Thanks everyone, hope you all have a wonderful festive season and that your energy bills are forever low

You should still ask to see a copy of the electricity bill in a month or so, using pretext of wanting to 'budget' or something and take a copy, however if he refuses or appears reluctant its a pretty strong indicator that he's been making a profit at his tenants expense , you should be documenting all your expenditure on the meter (taking photos of readings ) etc. You may need this information in future !:(

Andy_WSM

graceplant wrote: »

The landlord hasn't been in the flat, but I'm wondering if there's something he could have switched on the master meter in the cellar. Either way, this is much better.
<snip>
So hopefully, this is a happy ending, a Christmas miracle of sorts

Either a Christmas Miracle or just the fact that the weather has been milder?

There is nothing he could do without being in your flat and adjusting the coin meter, so it is what it is and that's probably not the miracle.