Electricity Meter Limbo

AshW92

Hi all, I'm hoping someone may be able to help.

I purchased my first house in December 19, mid-January this year we had to call out Electricity North West as an emergency because we were having sparking issues from our electricity meter and the mains cut-out. Long story short, these were replaced on the night and we switched energy suppliers from the previous owner's company (Enstroga, incredibly useless and almost impossible to speak to) to E.on in mid-February. 

At the time of the meter change apparently the national database was never updated, as a result I can't give E.on any meter readings because my new metre doesnt match the serial number of the (old) meter on the database. E.on are dragging their heels refusing to help as they're blaming the old company, ENW wont help and the old company cannot be contacted.

I'm now not sure where I stand and how to move forward to get the new meter added to the national database as ENW claim they wouldn't have switched my meter and E.on are blaming Enstroga, ENW told me tonight that the buck should stop with E.on as they're my current supplier.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Joyful

Insist that Eon arrange a site visit to confirm what your meter is. They will then update the national register. Check that your new meter started on Zero and give readings now, that way they will be able to work out the change of company read once its all corrected. Raise it as a formal complaint. Also make sure you are putting money aside if not on DD as these things can drag on a bit. They will not be able to bill you correctly till sorted.

Missionhall

I had one meter (Ihave2) replaced last November and Scottish Power have still not amended my account despite several emails. I cannot enter my meter readings online and cannot change to another tariff. My reason for writing is that the replacement meter did not start at zero. I have a record of the reading on a card left by the engineer. To complicate matters mine (two meters) were for Economy 7 ones, and the reason it  changed was that the clock that switches the cheap night rate on, was 7 hours out. Scottish Power repeatedly told me the clock was irrelevant and that a switching signal was sent from Western Power to change it over. However when they finally agreed to change the meter , several years later , it appears that the meter type I had DID do the switching and I was being charged at the high rate throughout the night. This was confirmed by the engineer and he reported it to his Manager whilst I was listening. As I have night storage heaters, an electric hot water tank, washing machine, and dishwasher set to come on at night this is a significant amount overcharged, Approximately three times the rate. So far I have sent readings, pictures, etc and basically have got nowhere.  They just keep requesting the same old thing over and over again. I can't leave them for another supplier as I would then stand no chance of any compensation.  Ok, Rant Over, Have a good day and take care. 

matelodave

STOP PHONING - send them an E-mail and a recorded delivery letter marked very clearly complaint. It tends to motivate them a lot more than a quick note on the computer that gets buried and disappears without trace until you next phone them.

Once you've made a formal complaint you can then ask them to sort it out or send you a deadlock letter - if they do neither then you can go to the Ombudsman after eight weeks however I find that a written motivational complaint letter sent by recorded delivery usually works without having to escalate it

AshW92

Thank you all for the help - they're actually coming to fit a smart metre on the 1st of July so i'll be able to physically talk to an engineer at the very least and see what they can do.

I've also raised a formal complaint via email, I informed Eon that the new meter was installed on 0 also. 

I've also put money aside each month (just yesterday I paid a quarterly bill based on estimated usage) so there's no shock as I'm expecting this to be a long, drawn out process. I've heard back things about Eon customer service, to put it shortly, they're all true.

spiro

This will be less problomatic if the engineer left an exchange card with the meter. It will list the date, final reading from old meter and initial reading for new meter. Without that there will be estimates involved.