Faulty BG smart meter

subway98

Morning all, 
I’ve got an active complaint with BG over a faulty smart meter. 40+ days they’ve said. This is the 2nd open complaint that’s not going anywhere fast. 

Anyway, October 19, my dad passed away. My dad lived a simple life, lived in a small 2 up 2 down box house. Hardly had a bath, didn’t put the heating on. Used the gas fire as a source of heat. Bit like a hermit. He wouldn’t be offended by that term.

Beginning of November me and my sister cleared his house out. I collected all his paperwork and went through it. Cleaned the house and turned everything off. Shut it down for winter. 

Whilst I contacted everybody, gas, electric and water. I started to receive bills back , £770 for gas, £1200 for gas, £1700 for gas, £2200 for gas and most recent £2900+ for gas. 

I’ve got the complaint in with BG and they’ve now told me I have to stick to a date to say the meters been faulty from ../../.. Ive disagreed and told them in the meter is faulty, then I’d like the back period looking into. The time when my dad was alive. They’ve said no, so when I disagreed and asked why not, they said because your dad was alive and never made a complaint. My dad would of just sat there ignoring ever increasing bills without question. It was evident, when going through his bank statements companies were taking the Mick! He was defrauded out of £1,000’s in 1 years worth of bank statements. So I know my dad wouldn’t of had the capacity to do anything. 

Is there any written legislation that says I can go back further than they’re asking me to? They’re saying I can only do September 2019, but if this meter comes back faulty. I want to obviously go back further. It’s been a long battle with BG. Not understanding at all. Trying to bully me into agreeing on a date the meter went faulty! 

How am I supposed to know when it went faulty from, if they don’t. 

anniecave

Is there a date when the meter went faulty from? What are they saying for this date? is this before or after November 2019? 

Hasbeen

anniecave said:

Is there a date when the meter went faulty from? What are they saying for this date? is this before or after November 2019? 

Ops post states "but if this meter comes back faulty"

Do not think it has been prooved to be faulty? any indication it is? is because of gas bills mounting up?

But at £2900 owing I would have thought BG would have put in a prepayment meter?

subway98

HelloHasbeen said:

anniecave said:

Is there a date when the meter went faulty from? What are they saying for this date? is this before or after November 2019? 

Ops post states "but if this meter comes back faulty"

Do not think it has been prooved to be faulty? any indication it is? is because of gas bills mounting up?

But at £2900 owing I would have thought BG would have put in a prepayment meter?

It’s not been proven faulty as yet. But I can’t see it being correct. October to June, no one in the house, no heating on and
no cooking and I still get a bill at £2900. No need for a prepayment meter, 

BG don’t know what date it went faulty as they still think it’s right. 

They won’t send me the previous 2 years bills, because they’re working from home and they have to be printed apparently. They won’t send by email. 

But I managed to get my dads bank statements for past 7 years and he’s paid £100 per month, split between gas and electric. So I find it difficult to understand how they think it’s a true reading at £2900. 

All I need is some information, such as the backdating clause- is there something that fits this scenario? 

Petriix

Who has been reading the meter and submitting the readings? Are the bills based on actual readings or estimates? Does the reading increase even though no gaa is being used?

I would guess that the bills are estimated. Maybe you could provide some details with dates and meter readings for clarity.

Matthaus73

If the meter was smart surely BG must be able to give u a list of readings going back how ever long they have been supplying gas through it so should be fairly easy to see when it went wrong ?
What make and model is the meter ? 

subway98

Petriix said:

Who has been reading the meter and submitting the readings? Are the bills based on actual readings or estimates? Does the reading increase even though no gaa is being used?

I would guess that the bills are estimated. Maybe you could provide some details with dates and meter readings for clarity.

It’s a smart meter, it still submits it’s own readings and I’ve taken photographs every month for my own proof. Not sure how the layout looks. 

Date	17.01.2020	02.04.2020	2.05.2020	28.05.2020	01.06.2020
E470 Electric	22647	22647	22679		22750
	1.87	1.87	1.87
Libra 310p gas	13398.314	15625.142	16231.301	16533.336	16585.158

 

Matthaus73

Libra 310p just what i suspected .I had problem with my libra 310p meter! check out 'faulty meter ' thread and add to 'rogue meters' thread.
You are probably going to end up at the Ombudsman if my experience of gas company customer service is anything to go by ....good luck 

Talldave

If the meter has a "b" battery low symbol on the display,  takes photos immediately. 

Matthaus73

I would ask for a deadlock letter now from BG as they obviously arent moving. 
Try to get readings going back as far as you can to show your fathers normal usage then just look for the spike in readings which will give you the date to claim from.
I found the Ombudsman very reasonable but edf customer services anything but ! 

MWT

As per Talldave.. this is a known issue with this particular meter, once the battery gets low the readings go wild.

Take a photo of the meter with the flashing 'b' symbol that you will almost certainly find there and then if they still resist go for the deadlock letter as you should be able to get them to go back to the point when the meter readings stopped follow the historical pattern of his usage.