Utilities rip off

Flatulentoldgoat

Just looking for some advice here, basically I moved into a property and I signed up to an energy provider, as you do.

However, before the switch was completed I was automatically put on Npower for the first month without realizing it or who the provider was. And obviously, I was put on the cheapest tariff. The standard variable. Yeah right!

Whilst that was going on, I provided my first meter reading (when I moved in) to Avro. So they know exactly where the meter was at on day one.

However, despite this Avro have been passed an incorrect and grossly inflated meter readings to Npower who have generated an extortionate bill for that initial period. I have complained about this to Avro, and the best they have to say is that the estimated readings are 'within tolerance' and that's the end of it. Does this completely justify them allowing me to get ripped off?

I now have a few months of meter readings and they can see that I'm a very low user. For context, the estimate for June on electricity alone is a higher reading than after 4 months of usage!

Can anyone advise on what course of action to take, please?

Neil_Jones

So if the property was with NPower when you moved in, why are you contacting Avro?  Are we to to presume you were with them at your previous property?

When you move into a property you enter into a deemed tariff with whoever's providing the utilities at the time.  You don't as a general rule take a supplier with you, when you move out you give them a final reading and you get a final bill.

The 4 months usage thing doesn't mean anything, you've just come out of summer.  You'll use the bulk of your energy between now and next March.

rp1974

Continuation more or less of this thread :https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6176128/you-still-need-to-pay-40-11-for-the-electricity-youve-used/p1.

Gerry1

Presumably the former tenant moved out and gave no meter reading or one that was unrealistically low?

Opening reading validation process

My opening reading is wrong

You'll probably have to raise a formal complaint, ask for a deadlock letter and then go to the ombudsman.

Flatulentoldgoat

Sorry in my last thread I don't think I was very clear about the problem.

But yeah, am I within my right to request someone from either Npower or Avro (I'm not sure which at this point) comes out and actually verifies my meter readings?

Gerry1

Dunno, but there's no harm in asking !

Talldave

What's the difference between npower and Avro's unit rates? A couple of hundred kWh at an 8p premium will only have cost you £16 more with npower. At a 5p difference it's about a tenner.  It's worth getting it in perspective so you don’t spend a disproportionate amount of time on it.

It happened to me a couple of years ago when the industry body that screws up meter readings decided it knew better than my phone's camera and changed my switch day readings, costing me a few quid in the process.  I emailed the new supplier to point out that I was a little bit annoyed and they credited my account with £5 as a goodwill gesture.