Empty apartment - BG trying to charge fortune

Reed_Richards

When you took the meter reading in April you had plenty of opportunity to try to discover why it was so different from the your reading from last September.  But now it's too late and you will have to let it go.  Next time this situation arises, turn off the main isolating switch.  

tim_p

Gerry1 said:

Too late to do much about it now, but if the meter was external to your flat it may not have been yours !

Have anyone in mind? Perhaps a gentleman in the same block only paying £35 / month? 

Robin9

@Andybroughton Can you have a close look at your bills ?  Do the readings have the letter A, C or E against them ?  Was the bottom line a debt - indicating that your DD was not big enough.?

Between when you moved in and out did you give meter reads to BG ?   Does because the meter is "smart" it does not mean that it has been communicating to BG.

bagand96

andybroughton said:

Yes the £350 is for the full duration. And yes £149 since September. 

Yes all electric. 

I wouldn’t hesitate to just pay it if I had been there and used the electric but I’ve not lived there since August. August - October maybe 1/2 nights per week and October onwards zero nights. October onwards everything switched off

I think you are maybe misunderstanding.  The £350 isn't just for the one month, it's likely a debt that's been building up on the account over time, and now needs settling given that you are closing the account.

Your readings for April-May show the flat is using around £30 a month, even without you living there. Unfortunately that isn't BG's fault or responsibility.  If the electricity has been used then it will need paying for.  Now that you are not living there and have handed the keys back it's too late in the day to troubleshoot and find out why there is that base level of consumption.

Some posters have asked for more information from your bills, if you're prepared to share your bills then they'll at least be able to check and maybe give you more answers.

Robin9

andybroughton said:

''''''''''''

3. A gentleman living in the same block for a number of years has only ever paid £25-£35 a month and never ...............

The only way you use £25 a month in an electrically heated flat is not to switch the heating on !

andybroughton

Reed_Richards said:

When you took the meter reading in April you had plenty of opportunity to try to discover why it was so different from the your reading from last September.  But now it's too late and you will have to let it go.  Next time this situation arises, turn off the main isolating switch.  

I did look into it and spoke to BG and they said they had reverted my bill. 

andybroughton

Robin9 said:

@Andybroughton Can you have a close look at your bills ?  Do the readings have the letter A, C or E against them ?  Was the bottom line a debt - indicating that your DD was not big enough.?

Between when you moved in and out did you give meter reads to BG ?   Does because the meter is "smart" it does not mean that it has been communicating to BG.

No nothing

Robin9 said:

andybroughton said:

''''''''''''

3. A gentleman living in the same block for a number of years has only ever paid £25-£35 a month and never ...............

The only way you use £25 a month in an electrically heated flat is not to switch the heating on !

No hearing EVER switched on whilst I had the apartment. 

andybroughton

Statement. 

rp1974

Is there more of that bill still to post?,it's based on an estimated reading.
Did you check the meter and take a reading yourself,ever?,or just assume the meter was sending correct readings by itself.
I don't have a smart meter,but if I did then for a final read/final bill situation I'd most definitely be double checking the readings myself.

phillw

Gerry1 said:
Not me, guv !

Last time I looked my meter was under the stairs.

That doesn't always help.