Man reads meters but bills estimated

fangoose

A man has recently been to read our meters and I was expecting a bill based on the real numbers.
But no, latest bills show an estimation.

So is this someone scouting the house for nefarious reasons, a job creation scheme, a meter reader not submitting his work, someone just checking the meters haven't been tampered with or another?

pochase

Do you submit regular meter readings yourself to avoid estimated bills?

[Deleted User]

There are a number of possible scenarios here. Most suppliers have a billing cycle. My Octopus bill arrives on the 29th of every month. If, for example, my meter was read on the 25th and I hadn’t provided a meter reading then the supplier will estimate a read based on the actual meter reading of the 25th. The same thing would happen if I provided a reading on the 25th. 

Meters no longer have to be read, but suppliers are required to carry out periodic meter safety checks (this will normally include a meter reading and a check to ensure that there has been no meter tampering).

The other scenario is that the visit was arranged by a previous supplier. I had a visit from a meter reader a few years ago on behalf of supplier that I had left 14 months earlier.

SAC2334

fangoose said:

A man has recently been to read our meters and I was expecting a bill based on the real numbers.
But no, latest bills show an estimation.

So is this someone scouting the house for nefarious reasons, a job creation scheme, a meter reader not submitting his work, someone just checking the meters haven't been tampered with or another?

I m an ex meter reader and I m afraid that one or two of my former colleagues used to and still do just pretend to look at the meter if its in a very awkard position and difficult to get to especially some makes  of smart meter such as the Liberty Secure meters.
They would just add "no access " to the data collector and occupier would be no wiser.

My old company MDS now get paid  for a visit .The old contracts they only got paid for obtaining a reading . 
 Bonus s for readings has more or less gone too so there are no incentive payments for actually getting the readings for meter readers 
Even a meter safety check needs the readings .

On the other hand it could just be a glitch with the supplier not updating from a manual reading 

imeach

Despite suppliers paying meter reading companies to visit properties to do the visual inspection and take reads, for some reason they don't always, and sometimes never use the readings taken for billing.
Seems bloody stupid if you ask me but it happens all the time.

There are several meter reading companies with the big 2 probably Morrison Data Services and Lowri Beck, and all meter readers should be in company uniform and have photo ID.

If you are worried , set up a password with supplier and the meter reader "should" have it when they visit 

chris_n

Deleted_User said:

The last meter reader I had visiting misread 1 digit (viz. read a 2 as a 7). It's a small error, which will work in my favour, so I'm not going to argue about it.

If he has under read then if you don't supply readings then you are likely to get charged at the new higher rate when they catch up. Hardly a saving!

pochase

chris_n said:

Deleted_User said:

The last meter reader I had visiting misread 1 digit (viz. read a 2 as a 7). It's a small error, which will work in my favour, so I'm not going to argue about it.

If he has under read then if you don't supply readings then you are likely to get charged at the new higher rate when they catch up. Hardly a saving!

I would assume it was over read when @Feralhog talks about in his favour. He will be paying upfront now at the current rate.