Unregistered gas meter

The_Village_Idiot

Wife and I recently moved into our new to us home, which had been empty for 12 months prior to our purchase.  Previous owner had been in a home and then passed away.  On moving in, contacted Octopus to supply our energy, Electric switch no problem, but gas had an issue.  Could we supply the meter number, which we did.  They came back and said this meter number was with EDF.

Contacted EDF, they said yes we supply gas to this meter, but confirmed to a totally different address.  Still in the same village, but totally different.  EDF required photos of the meter, and said we will pass this onto our metering team. They then came back to us and advise us to contact Transco, explain to them the saga, which we did.  They come back to us and say we need to speak with Correla.  Explained all to them and they came back and state that there is no record of gas supply to this address.  That was 1st Oct. Since then, no contact.

( The house was built in 1990 and a new exchange gas meter was fitted in 2009. Also, a new B Gas boiler was fitted in 2019.)

Since then, EDF got back in touch and asked for more photos !  This I did, they then got back and asked for the Gas Meter Point Ref number, they will be on your old bills ( they said ! )  I then informed them that we had no old bills and we had only just moved in.  This was 5th Oct and since then, radio silence.

At a loss really, Does this mean the old occupier had free gas !!! 

My real question is,   anyone have any idea how long this may take to resolve itself ?

QrizB

The_Village_Idiot said:

My real question is,   anyone have any idea how long this may take to resolve itself ?

It sounds as though the back-end databases are all crossed up.

It could take weeks or months to sort out (it sounds as though there's a second property installed, which EDF think has your meter, and that will need untangling too) but in the meantime you'll be on a deemed tariff under the Ofgem cap so no real need to worry.

EssexHebridean

Continue to put aside the amount you planned for the gas, as it's going to need paying at some stage, and this is an expensive time of year. Also make sure you keep your opening meter reading somewhere safe! 

Carrot007

Yes they could have or there could be crossed meters.

How long? Depends on how many companies involved and how much you are prespared to help.

Things to consider:

1. Go around to the house where your gas meter is registered and see what theirs is. Real duplicates have been known.

2. Is there a gas point registered to your house/or plot noumber if say less than 30 years old ;-) (sometimes they do not get updated).

If it is not duplicate and no point is registered (so no crossed meters) it is fast since it is basically a new connection without any of the actual new connection work!

If you have a meter point you are supp[lied by someone and they need top wort the mic up out before you move suppliers (if you wish to do which seems unlikely).

If there is a duplicate then as above (in whichever way) but even longer.

The_Village_Idiot

EssexHebridean said:

Continue to put aside the amount you planned for the gas, as it's going to need paying at some stage, and this is an expensive time of year. Also make sure you keep your opening meter reading somewhere safe! 

Yes, opening reads all safe.  ( And loads of photos ! )   And DD for Octopus still reflects the gas cost too,  we had built up quite a credit before the move too.

Verdigris

If the house is part of a larger development a relatively common problem is plot numbers erroneously becoming house numbers. Having retired from the metering industry I am glad not to be working with EDF's metering information any more.

The_Village_Idiot

Verdigris said:

If the house is part of a larger development a relatively common problem is plot numbers erroneously becoming house numbers. Having retired from the metering industry I am glad not to be working with EDF's metering information any more.

Ours is a small estate, <50 houses built 1990, the house with our meter number assigned to it was built 1910, 1920. 

The_Village_Idiot

Just thought I would update this.

After about 9 months we had a welcome to British Gas letter, a week or two later a bill for the standing charges from our date of moving in to present, which we paid.  Not wanting to stay with BG, I started a switch to Octopus h who held the electricity account for us already.

Had a letter from BG, sorry to see you go and a final bill a few days later.  All the figures were estimated, and the bill came to over £1500.  By my readings, approx one a month, and calculations, our use came to less than £500, so I registered a complaint.  Received a 'we want to make it right' letter asking for my readings, to which I responded, then a week or so later a letter from BW Legal !  I responded to them explaining the complaint and reason, since then I have heard nothing for the past 3 weeks from either BG or BW.  I am now in the timeframe to contact the Ombudsman, so sent BG a letter giving them 10 days to respond or I go to the Ombudsman. That is up next week.

I will update as and when I hear any further.