Opening meter reading before switch date?

Gerry1

bristolleedsfan said:

Some new suppliers clearly do not in all instances send readings to 3rd party agency that might adjust/approve the final reading. ( if anybody wants to contradict my experience I will ask So Energy to clarify procedure it operates on So Energy thread)

Opening reading validation process

My opening reading is wrong

bristolleedsfan

Gerry1 said:

bristolleedsfan said:

Some new suppliers clearly do not in all instances send readings to 3rd party agency that might adjust/approve the final reading. ( if anybody wants to contradict my experience I will ask So Energy to clarify procedure it operates on So Energy thread)

Opening reading validation process

My opening reading is wrong

"The whole process normally takes 2-6 weeks from when you send your readings until your previous supplier gets them."

I am not contradicting stated procedure merely stating that it clearly did not happen on switches that I have referred to. Scottish Power sent email on switchout date stating if I gave then a final reading ensuring that it was the same as reading I gave to new supplier ( So Energy) it would issue a final statement based on reading I give/gave, as it was I was only able to give change over reading to So Energy

SP -  Final Bill issued with credit in my Bank Account 10 actual days after switchover date, reading clearly did not go to Meter Validation third party service

So Energy created final Bill on 3rd actual day following switchout date to GNE - reading clearly did not go to Meter Validation third party service

Gerry1

I wasn't intending to make a point or contradict anyone, it's just that SO Energy have the best description I've seen of the weird process used by The Mysterious Third Party !

bristolleedsfan

Gerry1 said:

I wasn't intending to make a point or contradict anyone, it's just that SO Energy have the best description I've seen of the weird process used by The Mysterious Third Party !

I have highlighted my experiences and asked SO Energy on Twitter whether Energy Companies always sends meter reading to third party, this is part of what I said that you quoted "Some new suppliers clearly do not in all instances send readings to 3rd party agency"

Phones4Chris

GunJack said:

MWT said:

GunJack said:

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

That isn't going to make any difference.

The reading that will be used by your old supplier has to come from the new supplier and be vetted/adjusted by the 3rd party agency that approves the final reading.

This is true, but so far I've never had an issue with any disputed readings doing this. It generally saves having a few days estimated supply either side of the switch date for anyone to argue with, and if they've both had the same reading it just helps with tracking where any possible disputes come from...

bristolleedsfan said:

GunJack said:

MWT said:

GunJack said:

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

That isn't going to make any difference.

The reading that will be used by your old supplier has to come from the new supplier and be vetted/adjusted by the 3rd party agency that approves the final reading.

This is true, but so far I've never had an issue with any disputed readings doing this. It generally saves having a few days estimated supply either side of the switch date for anyone to argue with, and if they've both had the same reading it just helps with tracking where any possible disputes come from...

Yes I do the same and agree with you, also from my experience - Scottish Power issued final bill with credit in my Bank account 10 actual days after switched out date ( I gave reading to So Energy day before switchover day)

So Energy created final Bill on 3rd actual day following switch out date due to Green Network Energy accepting reading I gave 10 days before it ceased trading (I gave reading to both So Energy and GNE the day before switchover date)

Some new suppliers clearly do not in all instances send readings to 3rd party agency that might adjust/approve the final reading. ( if anybody wants to contradict my experience I will ask So Energy to clarify procedure it operates on So Energy thread)

EDF are going through meter reading check system , 7 days and counting  since switch date ......

I've never had a problem with this either.....until now ..... you may be interested in this
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78098256/#Comment_78098256

masonic

bristolleedsfan said:

I am not contradicting stated procedure merely stating that it clearly did not happen on switches that I have referred to. Scottish Power sent email on switchout date stating if I gave then a final reading ensuring that it was the same as reading I gave to new supplier ( So Energy) it would issue a final statement based on reading I give/gave, as it was I was only able to give change over reading to So Energy

SP -  Final Bill issued with credit in my Bank Account 10 actual days after switchover date, reading clearly did not go to Meter Validation third party service

So Energy created final Bill on 3rd actual day following switchout date to GNE - reading clearly did not go to Meter Validation third party service

My experience has been that SP is quick to issue a final bill, using an estimated final readings if necessary. I had little choice but to give them the actual reads I gave to my new supplier, Octopus, and hope all goes well. Meanwhile, Octopus has informed me that they can't start billing me yet as my opening readings are still being validated, that this could take 4-6 weeks. If the readings are not accepted then a deemed reading will be used and SP will have to cancel the bill and generate a new one using the industry deemed readings.

So it seems suppliers are short-circuiting validation in order to meet billing deadlines, then picking up the pieces as and when validation throws up a disparity.

Phones4Chris

masonic said:.................

............So it seems suppliers are short-circuiting validation in order to meet billing deadlines, then picking up the pieces as and when validation throws up a disparity.

I haven't looked or checked, is there any compunction for suppliers to do "validation" or is it something they choose to do based on the procedures that are available, just to avoid unnecessary billing issues. AFAIK, a supplier can look at the regional database and see all the readings and other relevant information anyway!

masonic

Phones4Chris said:

masonic said:.................

............So it seems suppliers are short-circuiting validation in order to meet billing deadlines, then picking up the pieces as and when validation throws up a disparity.

I haven't looked or checked, is there any compunction for suppliers to do "validation" or is it something they choose to do based on the procedures that are available, just to avoid unnecessary billing issues. AFAIK, a supplier can look at the regional database and see all the readings and other relevant information anyway!

It is a regulatory requirement to use a Meter Validation Company for handover readings. It protects consumers from suppliers entering into disputes over readings and customers being billed twice for the same energy.

Phones4Chris

masonic said:

Phones4Chris said:

masonic said:.................

............So it seems suppliers are short-circuiting validation in order to meet billing deadlines, then picking up the pieces as and when validation throws up a disparity.

I haven't looked or checked, is there any compunction for suppliers to do "validation" or is it something they choose to do based on the procedures that are available, just to avoid unnecessary billing issues. AFAIK, a supplier can look at the regional database and see all the readings and other relevant information anyway!

It is a regulatory requirement to use a Meter Validation Company for handover readings. It protects consumers from suppliers entering into disputes over readings and customers being billed twice for the same energy.

Well then in this case, either NR haven't employed one, or have employed an incompetent one!

wild666

As gunjack says on the last day before the switch. Try and get it as close to midnight as possible then the old supplier cannot dispute the reading as OFM tried to do when I left them in December 2018, which cost them when I complained to the ombudsman.