Broken electric meter estimated readings

Oblivion984

Hi, my electric meter broke last year the display stopped working I reported this as soon as I noticed to octopus my energy supplier, the last reading they had from me was September 2019 and I reported the meter as faulty in december 2019. They made me an appointment for a smart meter to be installed in January, the company who was supposed to fit the new meter called on the day to cancel the appointment. I called octopus to tell them I was disappointed etc. They did not make me another appointment at that time as I did not know when I'd have another day off work as holiday so said I'd call back, anyway then the pandemic happened and they stopped smart meter installation. So fast forward to now. I have now had my smart meter inatalled, the problem I have is they have estimated my usage and sent me a bill for the unmetered period of £900 odd. Through the whole thing I've been paying my monthly direct debit which is dual fuel I pay £ 105 every month. I don't understand how I have ended up with my account sitting at   minus £560. I called to complain so they said as a good will gesture they would knock 100 off so down to  minus £460 now. I don't think I used this much though are they allowed to do this if my usage was this high why didn't they adjust my monthly debit whilst the meter was working.

Any advice please.
Thanks

saddergran

If the estimate is high and u think u used less u can wait and compare usage for the same period this year. I did this and got a big refund. If their estimate is fair and you have built up debt because you were paying a low monthly rate they should have advised u that an increase was needed. Most companies are very quick to suggest an increase so they build up an excess which they hold on to as long as possible.
if they have let u build up a debt they must give you plenty of time to pay it off.

MWT

When did you first switch to Octopus?

Oblivion984

In January or February 2019

dogshome

So Octopus and yourself, have reliable data of your Elec consumption from Jan/Feb 2019 till September 2019.

Usually, providing that your Gas supplies both Heating & Hot water, your Elec consumption should remain roughly the same every  month throughout the year, with a small peak in Winter for turning on the lights earlier.

Look at the Elec bills you do have and figure out what the consumption was per day, and then apply that figure to the un-billed period and calculate what you owe - If it's lower than the Demand from Octopus, WRITE a letter headed Complaint to them with your figures.

Also check that the new meter was reading Zero when it was installed, as even Smart meters can be Second Hand and show the reading from the last time they were in service

The fitter should have left a card on or around the meter that showed it's reading when installed