Cancelled Bills and Reissued

amyp84

Hi, new here and a bit desperate for advice.

Moved in to my rented property at the end of Jan.  Energy company sent subbie out to read the meter.  I also took readings, as did my landlord.  It’s an economy 7 meter and it’s faulty. It’s only recording 2 readings rather than 3 for rate 1, 2 and the total.  I spoke to the energy company, they were going to sort it and get back to me. They didn’t.  I’ve spoken to them several times about the issue. Last time they called I wasn’t able to have a discussion as I was busy so they were going to ring back. They didn’t.  Each month they’ve issued bills which I have paid, usually about £30ish.  I submitted a meter reading at the end of April before the first price rise which they have no record of. I also submitted one at the end of September.  3 days ago I receive a bill for just short of £3000.  They have cancelled all my previous bills (and removed them from my online account so I have no record of them) and reissued a bill for the full time I’ve been at the property, for what must be at a higher rate (but I can’t compare because as I say they’ve removed my old bills).

Can they do this?  The charges are incorrect anyway because as I say the meter is faulty, but to cancel all my previous bills and reissue like this, surely isn’t ok?

Sorry for the essay!  Any advice welcome.  I’ve tried ringing them and they hang up.

[Deleted User]

How do you know that the meter is faulty? You could/should have asked the supplier to carryout a meter check. They would have fitted a check meter. There is only a cost if the in-use meter is shown to be recording energy used correctly.

Without some actual meter readings and details of the tariff that you are on, it is impossible for us to know whether the bill is accurate or not.

The supplier has the right, and it is required, to issue a revised bill if meter readings are provided. These go through an industry validation process.

amyp84

As I said, it isn’t registering one of the rates. They themselves told me over the phone that it was faulty, given the readings also from the subcontractor they use who also came and read the meter.

They haven’t reissued based on an actual reading, they have cancelled ALL my previous bills and reissued at what I can only assume (because they’ve deleted all my previous bills) is a higher rate because the usage is the same.  

QrizB

amyp84 said:

As I said, it isn’t registering one of the rates.

You say you're getting one of the registers plus the total? Is the other missing register simply the difference between the two readings that you are getting?

They haven’t reissued based on an actual reading, they have cancelled ALL my previous bills and reissued at what I can only assume (because they’ve deleted all my previous bills) is a higher rate because the usage is the same.  

Your new bill should show what consumption they have billed for, and what tariffs they have used.

I realise that it's easy to say this in hindsight, but you should always download your bills and keep a copy somewhere safe