Opening and Closing meter readings on a new house move

maddesigns

...just to add the suppliers refuse to speak to each other and say, that I must talk to Octopus

Carrot007

maddesigns said:

Octopus say, that the system did this otherwise it can not move forward?

Yes, they are powerless to do anything against the computers they use.

It may have done this due to whatever but it can be changed.

Try again and find someone competent.

I hope you are not ringing as this is the worst way to get someone competent in this industry.

bagand96

Where did Octopus get the 12th January reading from? I'm guessing from you?  It shouldn't have been passed to them, they had no need for a reading on the 12th January when they weren't your supplier.  Here's what should have happened:

12th January: Opening reading to SSE.  They open your account.

23rd January: Opening reading to Octopus.  They open your account.  Octopus pass the reading (via industry validation) to SSE so they can use it as a final reading to close your account.

 (some people also give their closing reading to the losing supplier on switch day - it never hurts, but the supplier should wait for the industry validated readings to produce a final bill).

The SSE closing reading, even if it's estimated and way out, shouldn't really matter.  Just make sure Octopus use it as their opening reading.  I'm surprised SSE reduced the electricity units to zero and issued a standing charge only bill, they could have refused.

[Deleted User]

maddesigns said:

...just to add the suppliers refuse to speak to each other and say, that I must talk to Octopus

The reason that this has occurred is because Octopus has failed to close your account for the old property address. This should have resulted in a Final Bill. You moved into a new property and opened up a deemed account with SSE. You should then have contacted Octopus and asked them to initiate a switch of supply. There are a raft of industry procedures that work behind the scenes when you switch suppliers. This includes asking you for an opening meter reading 5 days before the transfer of supply. This reading is then validated by the industry and passed to both suppliers to close and open your accounts. Without this validated reading SSE cannot provide you with a Final Bill. Telling SSE just to charge you the standing charge has just added to the confusion. 

Under Licence Conditions the gaining supplier is responsible for managing the transfer of supply which as I have said includes the opening/closing readings. Suppliers rarely talk to each other as transfers are managed by industry data flows.

As I said, the fault here partly lies with Octopus. After you had contacted SSE, you should have contacted Octopus and asked them to initiate the transfer of supply. If Octopus doesn’t provide SSE with a validated closing meter reading things cannot move forward. SSE has a right to charge you for the energy used at its deemed contract (expensive) price. 

maddesigns

I did submit to Octopus a closing reading for my old address and an opening reading for my new address.

However, the reading that is missing, is the closing reading at the new address for SSE to use to bill me, whilst they continued supply in the interim. This means that SSE had no reading to use to close the account when Octopus took over at the new address.

In a nutshell, SSE have no closing reading for the new address and Octopus have no opening reading for the new address.

I have spoken to Octopus at length and emailed them, so I am hoping to hear back from them this week with resolution.

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and information. I lived 35 years at my previous property, so wasn't aware that you could not contnue supply immediately with an existing energy supplier. Ididn't receive any notification from SSE that they were supplying me in the interim, so basically was blind to what was happening or not as the case may be!

bagand96

maddesigns said:

I did submit to Octopus a closing reading for my old address and an opening reading for my new address.

However, the reading that is missing, is the closing reading at the new address for SSE to use to bill me, whilst they continued supply in the interim. This means that SSE had no reading to use to close the account when Octopus took over at the new address.

In a nutshell, SSE have no closing reading for the new address and Octopus have no opening reading for the new address.

I have spoken to Octopus at length and emailed them, so I am hoping to hear back from them this week with resolution.

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and information. I lived 35 years at my previous property, so wasn't aware that you could not contnue supply immediately with an existing energy supplier. Ididn't receive any notification from SSE that they were supplying me in the interim, so basically was blind to what was happening or not as the case may be!

The opening reading at the new address shouldn't have gone to Octopus as they weren't the supplier.  It's all a bit academic though, all that needs you need to happen now is for Octopus and SSE to agree on a common reading for the change of supply.  They could either use an estimated reading, or if SSE agree they could use the 12th January reading (which should be the SSE opening read) and issue a standing charge only bill and let Octopus bill for the units.

It was as much your responsibility to get in touch with SSE as it was theirs to get in touch with you.  The vendors should have informed you who the energy suppliers are via your solicitors.  You may have misunderstood Octopus when they say you can "take us with you".  They could, and should, be a lot clearer about the fact you will need to get in touch with the existing deemed supplier.

maddesigns

bagand96 said:

maddesigns said:

I did submit to Octopus a closing reading for my old address and an opening reading for my new address.

However, the reading that is missing, is the closing reading at the new address for SSE to use to bill me, whilst they continued supply in the interim. This means that SSE had no reading to use to close the account when Octopus took over at the new address.

In a nutshell, SSE have no closing reading for the new address and Octopus have no opening reading for the new address.

I have spoken to Octopus at length and emailed them, so I am hoping to hear back from them this week with resolution.

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and information. I lived 35 years at my previous property, so wasn't aware that you could not contnue supply immediately with an existing energy supplier. Ididn't receive any notification from SSE that they were supplying me in the interim, so basically was blind to what was happening or not as the case may be!

The opening reading at the new address shouldn't have gone to Octopus as they weren't the supplier.  It's all a bit academic though, all that needs you need to happen now is for Octopus and SSE to agree on a common reading for the change of supply.  They could either use an estimated reading, or if SSE agree they could use the 12th January reading (which should be the SSE opening read) and issue a standing charge only bill and let Octopus bill for the units.

It was as much your responsibility to get in touch with SSE as it was theirs to get in touch with you.  The vendors should have informed you who the energy suppliers are via your solicitors.  You may have misunderstood Octopus when they say you can "take us with you".  They could, and should, be a lot clearer about the fact you will need to get in touch with the existing deemed supplier.

Thank you very much.

Octopus have already billed me and taken payment from me for this interim period; because they have used my opening reading taken on the 12 January when I moved into the new property, (which I now know should have gone to SSE), as their opening reading for the 23 January. Either of the two outcomes is fine by me, I just needed to understand what had happened and now I do, so I just want it resolved!

bagand96

maddesigns said:

bagand96 said:

maddesigns said:

I did submit to Octopus a closing reading for my old address and an opening reading for my new address.

However, the reading that is missing, is the closing reading at the new address for SSE to use to bill me, whilst they continued supply in the interim. This means that SSE had no reading to use to close the account when Octopus took over at the new address.

In a nutshell, SSE have no closing reading for the new address and Octopus have no opening reading for the new address.

I have spoken to Octopus at length and emailed them, so I am hoping to hear back from them this week with resolution.

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and information. I lived 35 years at my previous property, so wasn't aware that you could not contnue supply immediately with an existing energy supplier. Ididn't receive any notification from SSE that they were supplying me in the interim, so basically was blind to what was happening or not as the case may be!

The opening reading at the new address shouldn't have gone to Octopus as they weren't the supplier.  It's all a bit academic though, all that needs you need to happen now is for Octopus and SSE to agree on a common reading for the change of supply.  They could either use an estimated reading, or if SSE agree they could use the 12th January reading (which should be the SSE opening read) and issue a standing charge only bill and let Octopus bill for the units.

It was as much your responsibility to get in touch with SSE as it was theirs to get in touch with you.  The vendors should have informed you who the energy suppliers are via your solicitors.  You may have misunderstood Octopus when they say you can "take us with you".  They could, and should, be a lot clearer about the fact you will need to get in touch with the existing deemed supplier.

Thank you very much.

Octopus have already billed me and taken payment from me for this interim period; because they have used my opening reading taken on the 12 January when I moved into the new property, (which I now know should have gone to SSE), as their opening reading for the 23 January. Either of the two outcomes is fine by me, I just needed to understand what had happened and now I do, so I just want it resolved!

When you say Octopus have billed you for the interim period using the January 12th readings.... they have billed you for the units, but have they billed you for the standing charges? I assume they haven't as switch date was 23rd January.

If Octopus have used that as their opening reading then they should pass that to SSE as your closing reading.  That will obviously mean no usage on the SSE bill and mean a standing charge only bill.  You say they've already done this for electricity so they may also do it for the gas.  If they're not happy to then they will need to contest it via the industry with Octopus.

You can't be billed for the same energy twice so it will work out one way or another.  It may be worth you getting in touch with SSE and saying you've already been billed by Octopus from meter reading XXXX so they need to use that as their closing reading.

maddesigns

bagand96 said:

maddesigns said:

bagand96 said:

maddesigns said:

I did submit to Octopus a closing reading for my old address and an opening reading for my new address.

However, the reading that is missing, is the closing reading at the new address for SSE to use to bill me, whilst they continued supply in the interim. This means that SSE had no reading to use to close the account when Octopus took over at the new address.

In a nutshell, SSE have no closing reading for the new address and Octopus have no opening reading for the new address.

I have spoken to Octopus at length and emailed them, so I am hoping to hear back from them this week with resolution.

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and information. I lived 35 years at my previous property, so wasn't aware that you could not contnue supply immediately with an existing energy supplier. Ididn't receive any notification from SSE that they were supplying me in the interim, so basically was blind to what was happening or not as the case may be!

The opening reading at the new address shouldn't have gone to Octopus as they weren't the supplier.  It's all a bit academic though, all that needs you need to happen now is for Octopus and SSE to agree on a common reading for the change of supply.  They could either use an estimated reading, or if SSE agree they could use the 12th January reading (which should be the SSE opening read) and issue a standing charge only bill and let Octopus bill for the units.

It was as much your responsibility to get in touch with SSE as it was theirs to get in touch with you.  The vendors should have informed you who the energy suppliers are via your solicitors.  You may have misunderstood Octopus when they say you can "take us with you".  They could, and should, be a lot clearer about the fact you will need to get in touch with the existing deemed supplier.

Thank you very much.

Octopus have already billed me and taken payment from me for this interim period; because they have used my opening reading taken on the 12 January when I moved into the new property, (which I now know should have gone to SSE), as their opening reading for the 23 January. Either of the two outcomes is fine by me, I just needed to understand what had happened and now I do, so I just want it resolved!

When you say Octopus have billed you for the interim period using the January 12th readings.... they have billed you for the units, but have they billed you for the standing charges? I assume they haven't as switch date was 23rd January.

If Octopus have used that as their opening reading then they should pass that to SSE as your closing reading.  That will obviously mean no usage on the SSE bill and mean a standing charge only bill.  You say they've already done this for electricity so they may also do it for the gas.  If they're not happy to then they will need to contest it via the industry with Octopus.

You can't be billed for the same energy twice so it will work out one way or another.  It may be worth you getting in touch with SSE and saying you've already been billed by Octopus from meter reading XXXX so they need to use that as their closing reading.

bagand96 said:

maddesigns said:

bagand96 said:

maddesigns said:

I did submit to Octopus a closing reading for my old address and an opening reading for my new address.

However, the reading that is missing, is the closing reading at the new address for SSE to use to bill me, whilst they continued supply in the interim. This means that SSE had no reading to use to close the account when Octopus took over at the new address.

In a nutshell, SSE have no closing reading for the new address and Octopus have no opening reading for the new address.

I have spoken to Octopus at length and emailed them, so I am hoping to hear back from them this week with resolution.

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and information. I lived 35 years at my previous property, so wasn't aware that you could not contnue supply immediately with an existing energy supplier. Ididn't receive any notification from SSE that they were supplying me in the interim, so basically was blind to what was happening or not as the case may be!

The opening reading at the new address shouldn't have gone to Octopus as they weren't the supplier.  It's all a bit academic though, all that needs you need to happen now is for Octopus and SSE to agree on a common reading for the change of supply.  They could either use an estimated reading, or if SSE agree they could use the 12th January reading (which should be the SSE opening read) and issue a standing charge only bill and let Octopus bill for the units.

It was as much your responsibility to get in touch with SSE as it was theirs to get in touch with you.  The vendors should have informed you who the energy suppliers are via your solicitors.  You may have misunderstood Octopus when they say you can "take us with you".  They could, and should, be a lot clearer about the fact you will need to get in touch with the existing deemed supplier.

Thank you very much.

Octopus have already billed me and taken payment from me for this interim period; because they have used my opening reading taken on the 12 January when I moved into the new property, (which I now know should have gone to SSE), as their opening reading for the 23 January. Either of the two outcomes is fine by me, I just needed to understand what had happened and now I do, so I just want it resolved!

When you say Octopus have billed you for the interim period using the January 12th readings.... they have billed you for the units, but have they billed you for the standing charges? I assume they haven't as switch date was 23rd January.

If Octopus have used that as their opening reading then they should pass that to SSE as your closing reading.  That will obviously mean no usage on the SSE bill and mean a standing charge only bill.  You say they've already done this for electricity so they may also do it for the gas.  If they're not happy to then they will need to contest it via the industry with Octopus.

You can't be billed for the same energy twice so it will work out one way or another.  It may be worth you getting in touch with SSE and saying you've already been billed by Octopus from meter reading XXXX so they need to use that as their closing reading.

Yes, Octopus have billed me for the units and the standing charge for the interim period, as I pay a monthly amount by direct, to them, which includes standing charge. Thank you very much for this information much appreciated

mac.d

So are you saying you supplied Octopus with an opening reading on Jan 12th, but they told you they couldn't take over the supply until the 23rd. And they've now billed you from the Jan 12th, including the standing charges? Or does the bill from the 12th not include the standing charges from 12-23rd (edit - you will need to look at the bill to see how many days standing charge they have included, its listed next to the readings showing how much energy you've used).

At the same time, you registered with SSE as the existing suppliers, giving them the opening read. So they have correctly billed you up until 23rd when the supply changed to Octopus, however as you didn't provide Octopus with an opening reading from that date (which they should in turn give to SSE), then SSE have had to estimate your final bill.

Sounds like a bit of a mess-up by Octopus, and unless you have a reading from the 23rd, they are going to have to use an estimated reading for your opening bill, and that same reading should be used by SSE.