Inflated readings

Becky13

I'm not sure what to do.  I was with Pure Planet and switched to Green at the end of my fixed term tariff.  The switch date was 6 August 2021.  I provided Pure Planet with my meter readings (gas 1909), but they gave a different, higher reading (1923) for my gas to my new supplier, so when the switch went through, I didn't get back everything I was owed. 

I contacted Pure Planet customer services specifically about the gas usage, and they said that because there was only a 24 unit difference they weren't going to do anything about it, I could only claim it back if it was a 108 unit difference.  They said that an independent party took a meter reading and that's how they got the higher figure.  This can't be true, because when I contacted them, my gas was still only 1910, not the 1923 they had allegedly read. 

So I'd already paid for gas up to 1923 and I noted to keep an eye that I wasn't then charged for the same gas by my new supplier.  I also contacted my new supplier, Green, customer services to ask them about this, but Green has just gone bust and never replied. 

On my most recent bill, they have charged me for gas up to 1951, despite me providing them with a second actual reading, which was 1916 at the start of September.  My meter today says 1922, one unit less than the alleged reading on the date of the switch at the start of August. 

Because of the recent closures I am one of the people now awaiting a switch to a mystery supplier, and am unclear what meter reading I should give them.  Do I give them my actual meter reading (eg 1922) and risk being charged for those units again because this issue goes back to Pure Planet, not Green?  Or do I give them Green's latest estimate?  Or does it not matter because everybody seems to ignore my meter readings anyway?  It's summer, the only thing in my house that uses the gas is the hot water twice a week, so I'm just not using much gas, but they apparently think I am under-reporting, so why bother asking me to submit readings.  What do I do?

Carrot007

Perfectly normal and the best thing to do is submit small advances until you catch up.

Had to do it with the electric before. They have to refuse a negative advance becuase the openign read is cryustalised to avbid double paying.

Unfortunatly this will confuse anyone you are likely to talk to so do not. Work oput half you nornmal usage and use that until you catch up. (leaving it to them for a year is also an option but liable to be more pain when you again have to give a lower read).

Alternative if you do not want to report lies is to work it out as if you did and start reporting again opnce it is well past the fake opening read and remember to take lots of dated photos after pasing this read to for the idiots rtaked with fixing it in case they only have half a brain ;-) .

Or course the sane method is to chaneg the tolerance of 216 to -216 +0 rather than +-108. This is all becuase of the pointless faster switching process and changing the read onto the gaining supplier who has no details of past reads at the time (it made no sense and still does not but if you want faster switching then....).

savers_united

Becky13 said:

I'm not sure what to do.  I was with Pure Planet and switched to Green at the end of my fixed term tariff.  The switch date was 6 August 2021.  I provided Pure Planet with my meter readings (gas 1909), but they gave a different, higher reading (1923) for my gas to my new supplier, so when the switch went through, I didn't get back everything I was owed. 

I contacted Pure Planet customer services specifically about the gas usage, and they said that because there was only a 24 unit difference they weren't going to do anything about it, I could only claim it back if it was a 108 unit difference.  They said that an independent party took a meter reading and that's how they got the higher figure.  This can't be true, because when I contacted them, my gas was still only 1910, not the 1923 they had allegedly read. 

So I'd already paid for gas up to 1923 and I noted to keep an eye that I wasn't then charged for the same gas by my new supplier.  I also contacted my new supplier, Green, customer services to ask them about this, but Green has just gone bust and never replied. 

On my most recent bill, they have charged me for gas up to 1951, despite me providing them with a second actual reading, which was 1916 at the start of September.  My meter today says 1922, one unit less than the alleged reading on the date of the switch at the start of August. 

Because of the recent closures I am one of the people now awaiting a switch to a mystery supplier, and am unclear what meter reading I should give them.  Do I give them my actual meter reading (eg 1922) and risk being charged for those units again because this issue goes back to Pure Planet, not Green?  Or do I give them Green's latest estimate?  Or does it not matter because everybody seems to ignore my meter readings anyway?  It's summer, the only thing in my house that uses the gas is the hot water twice a week, so I'm just not using much gas, but they apparently think I am under-reporting, so why bother asking me to submit readings.  What do I do?

You will not be out of pocket as you have paid in advance of your useage, it will eventually level out, working it quickly the difference of 13 units back when you changed was around £3.50, will not take long in the winter months to use that. 

Becky13

Carrot007 said:

Perfectly normal and the best thing to do is submit small advances until you catch up.

Had to do it with the electric before. They have to refuse a negative advance becuase the openign read is cryustalised to avbid double paying.

Unfortunatly this will confuse anyone you are likely to talk to so do not. Work oput half you nornmal usage and use that until you catch up. (leaving it to them for a year is also an option but liable to be more pain when you again have to give a lower read).

Alternative if you do not want to report lies is to work it out as if you did and start reporting again opnce it is well past the fake opening read and remember to take lots of dated photos after pasing this read to for the idiots rtaked with fixing it in case they only have half a brain ;-) .

Or course the sane method is to chaneg the tolerance of 216 to -216 +0 rather than +-108. This is all becuase of the pointless faster switching process and changing the read onto the gaining supplier who has no details of past reads at the time (it made no sense and still does not but if you want faster switching then....).

Ahh, that makes sense, thank you 😊 I was just worried about paying twice on top of losing my "cheap" fix. 

Becky13

savers_united said:

Becky13 said:

I'm not sure what to do.  I was with Pure Planet and switched to Green at the end of my fixed term tariff.  The switch date was 6 August 2021.  I provided Pure Planet with my meter readings (gas 1909), but they gave a different, higher reading (1923) for my gas to my new supplier, so when the switch went through, I didn't get back everything I was owed. 

I contacted Pure Planet customer services specifically about the gas usage, and they said that because there was only a 24 unit difference they weren't going to do anything about it, I could only claim it back if it was a 108 unit difference.  They said that an independent party took a meter reading and that's how they got the higher figure.  This can't be true, because when I contacted them, my gas was still only 1910, not the 1923 they had allegedly read. 

So I'd already paid for gas up to 1923 and I noted to keep an eye that I wasn't then charged for the same gas by my new supplier.  I also contacted my new supplier, Green, customer services to ask them about this, but Green has just gone bust and never replied. 

On my most recent bill, they have charged me for gas up to 1951, despite me providing them with a second actual reading, which was 1916 at the start of September.  My meter today says 1922, one unit less than the alleged reading on the date of the switch at the start of August. 

Because of the recent closures I am one of the people now awaiting a switch to a mystery supplier, and am unclear what meter reading I should give them.  Do I give them my actual meter reading (eg 1922) and risk being charged for those units again because this issue goes back to Pure Planet, not Green?  Or do I give them Green's latest estimate?  Or does it not matter because everybody seems to ignore my meter readings anyway?  It's summer, the only thing in my house that uses the gas is the hot water twice a week, so I'm just not using much gas, but they apparently think I am under-reporting, so why bother asking me to submit readings.  What do I do?

You will not be out of pocket as you have paid in advance of your useage, it will eventually level out, working it quickly the difference of 13 units back when you changed was around £3.50, will not take long in the winter months to use that. 

Definitely won't take long to use £3.50! Thanks for replying 😊

[Deleted User]

When a transfer of supply takes place, all meter readings are validated by an independent third-party known as a data collector. The new supplier manages the switch so there is no need to give your old supplier any meter readings. The new supplier’s data collector looks at your historical usage; past meter readings, along with the readings that you provided. Both suppliers are required to use the same reading to open and close your accounts so you won’t be paying for the same energy twice. What has happened here is that you have overpaid your old supplier. You won’t pay your new supplier anything for energy used until your meter reading passes the agreed opening reading.

If you want to assess the true cost of this estimated reading then multiply the kWh difference times (new unit price - old unit price). If your new supplier is charging you a higher tariff, then you are better off by overpaying the old supplier.

lovelylass_2

This is interesting as i'm with Pure Planet on a variable tariff.  They insist on having a photo of the meter reading when you commence with them and yet they make up the exit meter reading when you leave by not using what you have given them.  Thank you for highlighting this as i will keep it in mind if i switch although at the moment its going to cost £1000 more on a fixed  tariff with other suppliers

AcerBen

lovelylass_2 said:

This is interesting as i'm with Pure Planet on a variable tariff.  They insist on having a photo of the meter reading when you commence with them and yet they make up the exit meter reading when you leave by not using what you have given them.  Thank you for highlighting this as i will keep it in mind if i switch although at the moment its going to cost £1000 more on a fixed  tariff with other suppliers

If your final gas reading was estimated it's because you either didn't provide an opening reading to the new supplier, or it was rejected for being out of line with read history.