Deliberate Low Meter Readings

ELUH1508

markin said:

ELUH1508 said:

elsien said:

I realise it's a different question to the one you are asking, but was the parent (or the person managing their finances) paying extra towards the heating costs? If the heating is higher purely for their benefit I can't see an issue with them being asked to pay proportionately more to cover the costs, up to the point they moved out. 

Unfortunately, parent only gets state pension which, has been £123-130 a week for the past two years, this covers food, and also I've sourced a carer for if/when we need some respite as a family just in case so it has covered that too. They also asked right at the start if they could save their spare money to leave for our DD when they die 🥺 I feel like I can't go against that

Only the money left after paying this bill will be spare money, The price rises have been in the news long enough that you could have started paying it back the last 6 months rather than waiting till the last day.

I stopped watching and reading the news ages ago as my anxiety was through the roof so I haven't been in the know for longer than 6 months 🤷🏻‍♀️ 
Thanks for your input 🙄

Armengar

it is very easy to point from a distance.  The fact that you are now looking for help is commendable, it is not easy to see a way out of a hole when the only tool you have is a shovel.

Honesty is the only way forward and I hope you will be able to get a good night sleep now you have taken the first steps.

Good luck.

MattMattMattUK

Chrysalis said:

On the fraud issue, I think as long as you are honest moving forward and make it clear you will pay the debt, the company wont pursue it.  Their only concern will be getting the bill paid.

For reference my electric meter wasnt checked for a while, the reason was it was in a locked cupboard which I didnt have the key to, so I expect there is many people around the country who may have meters not read for long periods of time, likely a big part of the reason smart meters are been pushed out.

My meter has never been checked, although I did submit monthly readings until they managed to finally commission it onto the smart network. However not submitting readings or having a meter read is very different to submitting false readings to reduce bills. The former is nothing apart from inconvenient, the latter is an attempt to defraud. 

ELUH1508

@MattMattMattUK yes well, we are where we are.

Thanks for the input

markin

I think it's safer to simply say it was misread, calls are recorded.

Most news sites have a money. Finance filter, it would be a good idea to at least read the pages that could affect you and avoid everything else, I think many got sick of reading about covid  and the royals.

MattMattMattUK

ELUH1508 said:

@MattMattMattUK yes well, we are where we are.

Thanks for the input

My was more to Chrysalis and the comparison of not reading a meter vs submitting false figures, which a poor analogy. 

You have made a mistake and a serious error of judgement, but you do seem willing to correct it, so the latter can be seen as a positive. I suspect that getting this resolved might be a somewhat bumpy ride, especially due to the current price rises make it look that you might be trying to submit a reading now for future benefit, but that will get resolved in time. I think the slightly bigger issue might be that with a £6k debt from this the energy provider will likely want more than £300 pcm, my gut feeling would be that they would want a payment plan that cleared it in a year or less. 

ELUH1508

@markin

Yes I was going to go with that anyway, the fact I've put a photo in of the meter proves the usage now so hopefully I can just move forward with getting it paid off.

I know, it's been a weird and really depressing few years as far as the news has been concerned. Yes, COVID, Harry and Meghan 🙄 it's been tiresome! 

Good idea about the filter though, I'll do that so things don't end up being so urgent as you said before 😬

Thanks for the suggestion

Keep_pedalling

ELUH1508 said:

elsien said:

I realise it's a different question to the one you are asking, but was the parent (or the person managing their finances) paying extra towards the heating costs? If the heating is higher purely for their benefit I can't see an issue with them being asked to pay proportionately more to cover the costs, up to the point they moved out. 

Unfortunately, parent only gets state pension which, has been £123-130 a week for the past two years, this covers food, and also I've sourced a carer for if/when we need some respite as a family just in case so it has covered that too. They also asked right at the start if they could save their spare money to leave for our DD when they die 🥺 I feel like I can't go against that

Having had a parent with dementia I know how tough it is, but unfortunately you have ended up funding your daughter’s “inheritance”. If any of her spare money pushed her savings above £24k then that will now be eaten up in care costs.

While she was living with you, you would have been able to apply for attendance allowance for her which would have easily covered the additional energy costs. 

ELUH1508

@MattMattMattUK

Ah ok!

Yes I see where you're coming from, that is the bare minimum though, I think we could afford more per month but I wouldn't want to promise £600 a month if I can't guarantee it.
But I will speak with them about it and see what they say. 

ELUH1508

@Keep_pedalling

Thanks for your reply.

Their savings are nowhere near that so that's one less thing to worry about

I didn't even know that existed! I've really done myself over by feeling duty bound and not asking for help from anyone. Kicking myself now. What an idiot