Green Network Energy are trying to scam me?

GS..

I've raised a complaint already, their response is that they maintained their ridiculous position, hence I posted. I've now asked for it to be escalated.

nic_c said: you can't take it to the Ombudsman until you've raised a complaint. 

Grumpy_chap

If you have put a FINAL reading with the old supplier and an INITIAL reading with the new supplier such that there is an overlap error, this must resolve when either the final or first bills are produced as the two suppliers need to agree the meter reading at change of supply such that the customer does not pay for the same energy twice or receive any energy free.  On that basis, this should self-resolve if given time.

PixelPound

Gerry1 said:

nic_c said:

Talldave said:

There's a useless industry body for screwing up meter readings that "validates" your switching reading and often changes it. They tell your new supplier, who tells your old supplier and both suppliers create bills using that value.  I say useless because they think they know better than customer eyeballs,  photographs and smart meters. 

You should never lose out financially because suppliers use different opening/closing figures. The industry has a process that should prevent this from happening. 

You may lose out if the industry's fictional figure means you paid a higher price for some of your energy than you shuld have done. The industry doesn't care about this.

So the question is, did GNE send the revised figure to BG? If they did, the fault is with BG. If they didn't the fault is with GNE.  The fact that you've lost out financially is relevant and a matter of principle, so I would take it to the Ombudsman.  The only issue is possibly working out whether it's GNE or BG that is responsible. 

It does not address if you are paying more because the opening/closing reading used differs to you one given means the more expensive tariff used for the difference. For this you'd need to provide photographic evidence of the meter read, they won't just take a customers word.

Nope.  Unless the difference in readings exceeds 250kWh (electricity) or 1200kWh (gas), with Ofgem's blessing the mysterious third party can happily call you a liar and make you lose out by paying higher rates on the disputed units, and there's nothing you can do about it. 

However the main point is you can't be charged twice for the same energy, so needs rectifying. If you have photo's many will allow those to be used purely because if they do insist on the industry verifier then you escalate your complaint, get a deadlock letter, escalate it to the ombudsman. You may well still lose, but the Ombudsman doesn't do its job for free and charges the supplier, hence why mostly they'll resolve it at complaint stage.

Of course it can depend on your telephone etiquette, if you come across all obnoxious and self-righteous, then a supplier may decide to stick to their guns.  

bradders1983

nic_c said:

Gerry1 said:

nic_c said:

Talldave said:

There's a useless industry body for screwing up meter readings that "validates" your switching reading and often changes it. They tell your new supplier, who tells your old supplier and both suppliers create bills using that value.  I say useless because they think they know better than customer eyeballs,  photographs and smart meters. 

You should never lose out financially because suppliers use different opening/closing figures. The industry has a process that should prevent this from happening. 

You may lose out if the industry's fictional figure means you paid a higher price for some of your energy than you shuld have done. The industry doesn't care about this.

So the question is, did GNE send the revised figure to BG? If they did, the fault is with BG. If they didn't the fault is with GNE.  The fact that you've lost out financially is relevant and a matter of principle, so I would take it to the Ombudsman.  The only issue is possibly working out whether it's GNE or BG that is responsible. 

It does not address if you are paying more because the opening/closing reading used differs to you one given means the more expensive tariff used for the difference. For this you'd need to provide photographic evidence of the meter read, they won't just take a customers word.

Nope.  Unless the difference in readings exceeds 250kWh (electricity) or 1200kWh (gas), with Ofgem's blessing the mysterious third party can happily call you a liar and make you lose out by paying higher rates on the disputed units, and there's nothing you can do about it. 

However the main point is you can't be charged twice for the same energy, so needs rectifying. If you have photo's many will allow those to be used purely because if they do insist on the industry verifier then you escalate your complaint, get a deadlock letter, escalate it to the ombudsman. You may well still lose, but the Ombudsman doesn't do its job for free and charges the supplier, hence why mostly they'll resolve it at complaint stage.

Of course it can depend on your telephone etiquette, if you come across all obnoxious and self-righteous, then a supplier may decide to stick to their guns.  

Maybe he calls everyone an idiot on the phone as well, and not just on here 🤷‍♂️

Petriix

Every time the mysterious 'validator' has done similar to me my new supplier has compensated me for the difference in unit prices. On more than one occasion I have also been compensated by the previous supplier as well.

brewerdave

Grumpy_chap said:

If you have put a FINAL reading with the old supplier and an INITIAL reading with the new supplier such that there is an overlap error, this must resolve when either the final or first bills are produced as the two suppliers need to agree the meter reading at change of supply such that the customer does not pay for the same energy twice or receive any energy free.  On that basis, this should self-resolve if given time.

That's how it SHOULD work - but I've had unresolved differences on several final elec. bills over the last three years;  fortunately ,in total ,I've come out ahead as the overcharges have been outweighed by the "free" units.
The main issue I've run into ,again and again , is that Customer Services staff don't understand that the allowed threshold of 250kwh applies to the agreed final reading to be used by both suppliers. They think that the overlap is acceptable if its less than 250kwh. I even had that in writing from one supplier !!  
Never had the issue with gas, which suggests to me anyway ,that the mysterious third party agency verifying data ,works much more quickly with the gas numbers.

Swipe

My dad got shafted by Bulb for about £60 quid. I just wish I'd submitted a reading a few days before the switch away from EDF as when I entered the opening reading for the new Bulb account it wouldn't accept it as the meter was previously read a few months prior and he'd used more than usual during the cold spell. So I uploaded a photo of the meter readings which Bulb completely ignored in favour of the third party figure and it was estimated which meant that he was charged at the higher rate for about 1200 units. I let it go in the end as it wasn't worth the grief for my 84 year old father to sort out.

MWT

Swipe said:

So I uploaded a photo of the meter readings which Bulb completely ignored in favour of the third party figure and it was estimated which meant that he was charged at the higher rate for about 1200 units. I let it go in the end as it wasn't worth the grief for my 84 year old father to sort out.

Bulb didn't 'completely ignore' you, they are required to use the third party figure even if you submit photos...

You can, and should have, requested an appeal though, as the difference was greater than the allowed tolerance.

Nebulous2

I'm in the middle of dealing with estimated readings at the moment - going from BG to GNE.

I've a holiday house I was unable to use during lockdown. Electric reading was fine on switching, as there was some usage, but gas hadn't moved at all and the estimate was higher than actual. I moaned to BG who rather swiftly changed their mind and recalculated my bill, saving me about £12 if I recall. I only realised after I'd done it that that was probably a silly thing to do. 

I'm now on the second half of the equation. I've no idea if BG adjusted the new figure with GNE or simply credited me and moved on. GNE don't seem particularly communicative, but I logged on and the site asked for a meter reading. The meter has moved 2 units since March and the website warned me that the reading didn't look right, did I want to proceed. I went ahead with the actual reading which is now lower than the estimated one they started me on and now wait to see what will happen next.

GS..

Green network energy are sticking to their are principles of charging me for the same units twice I have asked to speak to a senior manager but that's been ignored I think I will need to involve the ombudsman to avoid paying for the same units twice