Is it illegal for British Gas to use a false meter reading?

wasty

British Gas used a false meter reading, ie one they they had invented, normally if they didn’t actually read the meter then they say that it is estimated or that I had provided one, but this time they said “meter reading”, is that illegal.  I found out when I read my meter 2 weeks later, that the reading was actually less than their “meter reading”.

Please don’t ask for further details as I will not give them, I just would like to know the answer to my question.

TheMilkmansDad

No, it's not illegal. Without knowing the full facts it's more likely to be an error.

DullGreyGuy

What possible gain would they have for falsifying a meter reading when you are going to correct it shortly after and its easy to independently validate?

What you are really asking is... can a meter reader make an error and select the wrong meter or misread a dial then yes, absolutely. Particularly common in blocks of flats etc where the meters are all together and arent necessarily clearly labelled. 

born_again

Surely a estimated reading is just a invented figure, but may have been based on some algorithm from previous usage.

I doubt it would be considered illegal. As they will adjust to your correct figure supplied when you read the meter.

Mstty

Estimates are not illegal

How did you get on with your complaint?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79840964#Comment_79840964

dunstonh

British Gas used a false meter reading, ie one they they had invented, normally if they didn’t actually read the meter then they say that it is estimated or that I had provided one, but this time they said “meter reading”, is that illegal.  

What law do you think they have broken?

Please don’t ask for further details as I will not give them, I just would like to know the answer to my question.

Stop wasting our time then.  

[Deleted User]

born_again said:

Surely a estimated reading is just a invented figure, but may have been based on some algorithm from previous usage.

I doubt it would be considered illegal. As they will adjust to your correct figure supplied when you read the meter.

Suppliers are required to use meter readings provided by a customer  for billing:



All meter readings provided by the customer are validated by the supplier’s appointed data collector before being applied to the account with the exception of a reading taken by an industry meter reader: these readings are treated as being validated. It is also worth saying that if I provide a meter reading today and my billing date is in a week’s time then the supplier will bill on an estimate which takes into account the meter reading provided. Finally, the more actual meter readings that a customer provides, the more accurate any estimate will be.

wasty

DullGreyGuy said:

What possible gain would they have for falsifying a meter reading when you are going to correct it shortly after and its easy to independently validate?

What you are really asking is... can a meter reader make an error and select the wrong meter or misread a dial then yes, absolutely. Particularly common in blocks of flats etc where the meters are all together and arent necessarily clearly labelled. 

They were charging an outlandish DD and I expect they were trying to justify it, to bolster their coffers!

Unless they have changed their terminology, it wasn’t a meter reader’s error, because their comment would normally have been we read your meter.

wasty

Mstty said:

Estimates are not illegal

How did you get on with your complaint?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79840964#Comment_79840964

I still have not had a reply YET, and so this is a continuation of the saga!

wasty

dunstonh said:

British Gas used a false meter reading, ie one they they had invented, normally if they didn’t actually read the meter then they say that it is estimated or that I had provided one, but this time they said “meter reading”, is that illegal.  

What law do you think they have broken?

Please don’t ask for further details as I will not give them, I just would like to know the answer to my question.

Stop wasting our time then.  

So why did you waste your time replying, I purposely added that so that people would not waste their time?

TheMilkmansDad

If this is a continuation of a previous post then why start a new thread?

More information given means you are more likely to get more rounded responses. Providing information b drip feeding generally leads to a negative outcome borne by frustration for all parties.