Gas provider, faulty meter, not used , provider issuing bill.

SAC2334

sugerplum2 said:

Dolor said:

Deadlock just means that the supplier feels that there is nothing more that it can do to resolve your complaint. You can now revert to The Energy Ombudsman; however, before you do so, I suggest that you make an appointment with a Citizens Advice Energy Adviser. 

The Energy Ombudsman does NOT investigate complaints. It reviews the information that you and the energy supplier provide. You need to think through the consequences of The Energy Ombudsman finding in the supplier’s failure. Your submission to The Energy Ombudsman must be based on facts not your emotional feelings of what you believe is right and wrong. 

Thanks , as I know I do really struggle as I am dyslexic, so do find it really hard and did not quite get that bit really . If I use the ombudsman , can I still go to court then after if I want ,as past experiences not been best with ombudsman and know these are funded by the energy companies too...I am kinda sceptical With these dead lock are they able to refuse me access to information I need to move forward as this is basically what they hare and have been doing ? They not even attempted to resolve anything, I have had very little of stubstity from them untill this dead lock letter. They are trying to entrap me with the new meter tho. I cannot possibly see how that can ever be legal as they are forcing me to have a gas supply and standing charge at my house that I am telling them I do not want. They put the meter in I never agreed it as could not. Thanks

You won t be going to court . The only way you will go to court is if you want to take EDF to a small claims court yourself and want to risk paying the others costs if you lose. Others have done this and mostly from what I ve seen the suppliers don t even turn up . 
First moves from you is to request starting reading when you joined EDF .when people switch suppliers they are asked for a reading a few days before the switch .This reading ends the old supply and starts the new one. 
If you look at your online gas account ( register with them if you don t have one ) it may show the old start reading in the old billings. EDF only give a proper itemised bill every 6 months 

SAC2334

Maybe its important to know that old gas boilers with a pilot light will use a quantity of gas every year.
 My old one was a very big flame and  it probably used £100 a year !  Modern combi type boilers do not have pilot lights . Maybe this is the usage they are claiming 

sugerplum2

SAC2334 said:

If you do not use any gas the weekly cost in standing charges is around £1.80 a week  (26p to 28 p a day )
 Everyone pays this even if they don t use gas  .Vacant properties normally don t pay it though .

Outgoing occupier should  inform the supplier that they are leaving and give them and end reading  .Suppliers will probably ask for new occupiers name if possible.

Landlords have terms and conditions in their short term leasehold in which they state that no changes can be made without their permission . I would think that removing gas meter , ( capping it after taking meter out ) could fall into this category but I don t think they would be too  bothered about it as it is a safer option for them .Even if some supplier s don t charge to take it out  they will charge to reinstall a meter at around £200 . 
If you have a gas central heating boiler then it is far cheaper to use that than use electric heating.
In October electricity is going up to a very  expensive price of over 40 p for every electric unit used ( kwh ) .Two bars on a small heater will cost 80 p an hour to run and that won t properly heat a room too well 

No I know this was what I was faced with see was the price and stuff . Plus I am not so good at sorting stuff out, hence why when the bailft said he'd insist it was in ...I just though, well I haven't agreed...give me breathing time to decide.The only reason it was off was it meter was faulty. Only where at the time they were saying you can have that out now at any time mind and there's no charge just phone up and so on. When I asked they have refused because of the debt they are saying I owe that I don't . I phoned up and try to ask then for a disconnection just so it was all logged to evidence I did not want the meter. They were say £80 to remove ,then later that I had to clear the debt first. I can not believe how stupid I was to allow it to be changed as if they had caped it off . They would of just had to bill me and I was free to go with another supplier as obviously I do not want to go with them at all now. I have now told them that because of the meter I am going to have to leave my home. As they have already accused me of usage I not used and while it's here it allows them the opportunity to do the same again and leaves me just vunerable. They with the debt have stoped me being able to change suppliers. If they cap it off ,if I decide later I changed my mind I be in a better position to get new supplier. I do not think they can do what they are trying to do,but I had already started to predict this was the case. Like what happens if I was to leave the property and a new tenant was to move in and want to be connected? Like they can hardly refuse that happening can they ? It's all tho going to just back up my case as to how they are acting as they can not for e their gas upon me and I will say I can not afford to be paying out financially for a service to which I wish not to receive as have other thing more pressing to pay out for and it will long term cause me to go into financial difficulties

pochase

EDF has replaced the meter you are saying was broken, but now it seems it was just wrong use of the key if I understand correctly. They have replaced the meter as they are going to investigate what was wrong and if there was gas use. As you are saying gas has not been used they should not been able to find anything.

Regarding removing the meter that is not something that EDF will do on their own. This needs to be done through the DNO. Only after you applied to the DNO to have the meter removed and they have asked EDF to remove the meter EDF will do this.

1. Removing a meter | Meters

   I don't need my meter anymore. Can you remove it? There is a charge of £80 for having a meter removed, which is payable prior to confirming the appointment date. You’ll need to contact your area’s distribution network operator to arrange for them to disconnect your electricity or gas. You might have to pay for this. They’ll also contact us to ask that we remove the meter within ten working days. We’ll then get in touch with you to fix an appointment for this (you’ll need to be at the property for the appointment even if the meter’s outside). Can I have my Economy 7, 9 or 10 meter removed?

There is a charge from EDF for the removal, and also one from the DNO, which starts for the ones I know of at £700. Potentially the DNO will ask you later to have the gas meter removed, which will cost £1000 to £2000, but that seems not to be always the case.

If you don't own the property it is not just up to you to decide to get the meter removed, your landlord needs to be involved in this. If you move out you will have to pay for the reconnection cost of gas to the property.

Without the above EDF cannot just remove the meter because you tell them to. When they remove a meter they have to replace it, and if you want the meter removed you need to start the correct process.

As advised by others you need to get some urgent help with this problem.  You are understandable very emotional about the situation, but the Ombudsman will make its decision based on the facts presented, so you need to get some help looking just at the facts from your side and present them.

The_Fat_Controller

If you have a meter in your home you are obliged to pay for the privilege in the form of standing charges  whether or not you use gas.

If you wish to have it removed you will have to pay any arrears and a fee for the removal.

Moving out will not solve the issue of any debt.

Your long posts here are really not all that clear as to the timeline of events and rather than seeking advice here I suggest you contact Citizens Advice will all the facts.

sugerplum2

SAC2334 said:

sugerplum2 said:

Dolor said:

Deadlock just means that the supplier feels that there is nothing more that it can do to resolve your complaint. You can now revert to The Energy Ombudsman; however, before you do so, I suggest that you make an appointment with a Citizens Advice Energy Adviser. 

The Energy Ombudsman does NOT investigate complaints. It reviews the information that you and the energy supplier provide. You need to think through the consequences of The Energy Ombudsman finding in the supplier’s failure. Your submission to The Energy Ombudsman must be based on facts not your emotional feelings of what you believe is right and wrong. 

Thanks , as I know I do really struggle as I am dyslexic, so do find it really hard and did not quite get that bit really . If I use the ombudsman , can I still go to court then after if I want ,as past experiences not been best with ombudsman and know these are funded by the energy companies too...I am kinda sceptical With these dead lock are they able to refuse me access to information I need to move forward as this is basically what they hare and have been doing ? They not even attempted to resolve anything, I have had very little of stubstity from them untill this dead lock letter. They are trying to entrap me with the new meter tho. I cannot possibly see how that can ever be legal as they are forcing me to have a gas supply and standing charge at my house that I am telling them I do not want. They put the meter in I never agreed it as could not. Thanks

You won t be going to court . The only way you will go to court is if you want to take EDF to a small claims court yourself and want to risk paying the others costs if you lose. Others have done this and mostly from what I ve seen the suppliers don t even turn up . 
First moves from you is to request starting reading when you joined EDF .when people switch suppliers they are asked for a reading a few days before the switch .This reading ends the old supply and starts the new one. 
If you look at your online gas account ( register with them if you don t have one ) it may show the old start reading in the old billings. EDF only give a proper itemised bill every 6 months 

Oh I need to see. Or if not ask them for it . Not that they give me anything I ask,but at least I can evidence I have asked and they have refused. I did consider the small claims court as it's cheaper, plus not so much need of solicitor as it's all paper work mainly . I am considering weather to or not to try and claim damages from them for how I have been treated as can evidence it . As it's disrupted my life so much and made me so unwell and I have told them and nothing is what they have had to say. Like this week was supposed to be the week to which my daughter was able to celebrate all her numberouse achievements this year and there's been loads she's worked really had and stuff . But we couldn't do that as they refused to release their findings or an amount for me to be able to even see what was affordable. Plus obviously made me ill and in nerved me . Now we are not able to celebrate another time as the things we had planed to do had to be done this week due to expire dates ECT .it's all stuff like that,like I am likely now to be unwell for sometime and so on , it effects my life ..and what all for a service I have never used .

sugerplum2

SAC2334 said:

Maybe its important to know that old gas boilers with a pilot light will use a quantity of gas every year.
 My old one was a very big flame and  it probably used £100 a year !  Modern combi type boilers do not have pilot lights . Maybe this is the usage they are claiming 

I don't know , the boiler is always turned off and was even trned of and no electricity going to it. I have a combi one but not sure what one think it's a woster. No I think the debt is from the old supplier as think the problem I had was not being able to register the card to the meter, is what I kinda think as I never ever even topped it up . Because at one point the bailft was trying to say that he thought that the problem was that the card was not topped up , so boiler would not work because of this . They have said since there was a fault and the display screen was saying help and then saying my fault I had not . But my stand on that is ,I had just transfered and experience trouble instantly so was no longer interested in taking up a supply obviously, as if that's what they got to offer to start, I don't want to know what they got further on. I no longer wanted the service but obviously did not realise I needed to disconnect as never actually used anything to begin anything ..plus was super unwell .

sugerplum2

The_Fat_Controller said:

If you have a meter in your home you are obliged to pay for the privilege in the form of standing charges  whether or not you use gas.

If you wish to have it removed you will have to pay any arrears and a fee for the removal.

Moving out will not solve the issue of any debt.

Your long posts here are really not all that clear as to the timeline of events and rather than seeking advice here I suggest you contact Citizens Advice will all the facts.

Citizens advice are close I have an appointment with the first thing Monday morning. If the property is empty and the meter is out of agreement no standing charge applies from what I can gather it's there on gas companies own websites ...I found more than one which mean it's definitely a thing and something to which they like to be governed to . I know the debt won't go away, but they will have to persue me for it and will do through court, I will then get the opportunity to present my case of evidence to the court and let the court rule on it. At their expense as they took the matter to court and I fall under vunability categories that limits charges for me. As I have 100% not used anything at all,the judge will simply turn to them and request to from them what it is they are supping they have supplied me ? What is it that they are saying I have had of theirs ,that the feel valid to charge me for? And basically tell them off , for waisting his precious time with soothing so rediculose. He may even fine them fore it .as it's illogical ..what they going to say , that they feel I been lighting my house with the display unit ..it would be seen as simply their fault that they refused to listen. I'm not saying he wouldn't tell me I need to deal with thing soon er and stuff, but I am I'll and he will ask the why have they not took those factors into account. Depends who you have obviously but even the worst would struggle saying anything different as it be based on fact.worst worst case the bill will be affordably reduced. Now if I had used a unit of gas it would be different but I did not ! The way they have treated I would highlight to ,so it's win win as they have to listen to judge order and not just do as they want with little legal and lawful practice as they are doing . There is not much time line really, untill now when there was this action.

sugerplum2

pochase said:

EDF has replaced the meter you are saying was broken, but now it seems it was just wrong use of the key if I understand correctly. They have replaced the meter as they are going to investigate what was wrong and if there was gas use. As you are saying gas has not been used they should not been able to find anything.

Regarding removing the meter that is not something that EDF will do on their own. This needs to be done through the DNO. Only after you applied to the DNO to have the meter removed and they have asked EDF to remove the meter EDF will do this.

1. Removing a meter | Meters

   I don't need my meter anymore. Can you remove it? There is a charge of £80 for having a meter removed, which is payable prior to confirming the appointment date. You’ll need to contact your area’s distribution network operator to arrange for them to disconnect your electricity or gas. You might have to pay for this. They’ll also contact us to ask that we remove the meter within ten working days. We’ll then get in touch with you to fix an appointment for this (you’ll need to be at the property for the appointment even if the meter’s outside). Can I have my Economy 7, 9 or 10 meter removed?

There is a charge from EDF for the removal, and also one from the DNO, which starts for the ones I know of at £700. Potentially the DNO will ask you later to have the gas meter removed, which will cost £1000 to £2000, but that seems not to be always the case.

If you don't own the property it is not just up to you to decide to get the meter removed, your landlord needs to be involved in this. If you move out you will have to pay for the reconnection cost of gas to the property.

Without the above EDF cannot just remove the meter because you tell them to. When they remove a meter they have to replace it, and if you want the meter removed you need to start the correct process.

As advised by others you need to get some urgent help with this problem.  You are understandable very emotional about the situation, but the Ombudsman will make its decision based on the facts presented, so you need to get some help looking just at the facts from your side and present them.

Yeah I know this, I am booked in to citizens advice for Monday. It's just Monday was along way away when ill. With the removal EDF energy employee stated that the it was free at my home any time. Then when I have asked for it now they are trying to charge me £80 ,that's fact. It is only really them that can action a removal . Like could not now just Google an engineer and request it be moved. I could however probable get my boiler pipes to the meter cut off from the meter and any supply I have going to it . Leaving the meter void of any use of gas,but obviously that would cost me .

Mrs_F_2017

I am glad you say you have an appointment on Monday - hopefully Citizens Advice will be able to help you. 

Probably worthwhile just taking some time before hand to make sure you take everything with you - i.e. every letter, email, dates of when the meter install happened etc, dates on any phone calls.

Hopefully they can help you find a way forward and help you feel less anxious.