Gas Meter Still Increasing Whilst Gas Isolated (Siemens/Landis+Gyr E6S)

MeteredOut

@jaggers It sounds like you're doing all you can to evidence the issue, should that ever be needed.

Does your previous (pre-2024) supplier still exist, or did they go bust and you were transferred over?

If the former (which I suspect, since you say "I was passed over to"), I think you're out of luck - there is no-one to claim against, and the SOLR will not assume responsibility for any overcharging prior to them taking over your account.

But, if you just transferred to a new supplier, or the new supplier purchased them as an ongoing concern (so they are effectively the same legal entity) I think you should still claim that - but that might be a separate claim with then, and possibly with the Energy Ombudsman too, if you transferred to them.

Another thing to be wary of is getting agreement on the extent of the claim. EDF have paid me for (some of) the overcharging between the date I first raised the issue with them and the date my meter was replaced, but the Ombudsman's decision was that they should re-bill back to when I joined them. We're still in that dance...

jaggers

@MeteredOut thanks — AFAIK my last supplier (Shell Energy) didn’t go bust, I believe it was a strategic sale, not due to financial distress.

For now I’m just monitoring and logging, so I’ve a pattern of phantom consumption and meter behaviour to fall back on if this needs to get escalated to the ombudsman. For now I’ve no reason to think my current supplier won’t be reasonable once they see the fault is with the meter, but as you say obtaining a credit refund for the overlocking plus compensation to account for the clear faulty meter is likely to be a messier affair.  

jaggers

Also… with millions of households likely having the same smart meter model, and mine clearly faulty, it really makes you wonder how many other meters out there might be misbehaving unnoticed.

For anyone about to head off for a May or summer holiday, it might be worth turning your gas ECV off completely before you leave — then doing a simple before-and-after meter reading when you get back. Take photo evidence of the ECV off and gas meter reading, not the kitchen IHD. 

It’s an easy test to do when there’s no need for heating or hot water, and could flag up any phantom gas usage. Much harder to spot when the boiler’s firing every day…

MeteredOut

I bet those that have followed this thread from the start assumed it was all over. Well, its not.

Even after the Ombudsman ordered EDF to re-bill my Gas account back to its opening date, based on the significantly reduced usage recorded by the new Gas meter compared to the proven-faulty meter, EDF only re-billed from the date I raised the issue with them (August 2022),

And they completely miscalculated that amount too, so the account credit was lower than it should have been.

Since then I've been working with the Obmudsman to get them to implement the resolution correctly.

EDF told them that I said the issue only arose from the date I raised the issue (August 2022). I'd place this statement somewhere between incompetence and a downright lie. I asked for evidence of where I stated that, but nothing was provided. As time went on, and EDF were not complying, it was clear that the Ombudsman just stopped trying to get EDF to properly implement the resolution, and eventually stopped communicating with me.

I raised a complaint with the Ombudsman at the start of this year, using their formal complaints process, on the basis of a service failure to enforce their decision, and also their stopping communications.

Their response is in… that i stated that the issue with the meter only arose from the date I raised it (August 2022), so there is no further action to take. I went back to ask for evidence of where i said that but they are again refusing the engage in any conversation.

So, its now been raised with my local MP. I expect it'll be a few weeks before I hear back from the MP's team, so I'm also getting details in place for a Letter Before Action and then a Small Claims submission, but won't submit those until I do hear back.

I've estimated I'm still due £ hundreds of over-billed energy.

gpman

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81901897#Comment_81901897

Irrespective of what was or wasn't said beforehand, you accepted in full & final resolution of the complaint the resolution as proposed of the EO.

I'm not fully clear where that actually leaves you, (as there appears to be a dispute over what the agreed resolution actually states, which would be a simple matter of fact) but I feel sure you intend to use it to support any legal claim. I'm simply suggesting it may also be used to defend or rebut any legal claim.

MeteredOut

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81901912#Comment_81901912

There is no dispute over what the resolution said. The full and final resolution was re-billing back to the date I joined EDF. They have not implemented that resolution. The reason they have given for that was that I stated the issue only arose fromt the date I raised it. This is incorrect and they have been unable to provide any evidence that I did state that (because I have never).

All evidence strongly indicates the meter was faulty at that time I joined EDF. It's all upthread if you have a few hours to waste.

Edit to address your edit. Exact wording from agreed Ombudsman resolution (my emphasis):

• Replace the gas meter.
• Send the original gas meter for an OFMAT test.
• Confirm in writing that the results will be shared, and the usage reassessed back to your date of joining.

gpman

Please accept my sincere apologies if my previous post appeared to you to be confrontational in any way as that was certainly not my intention.

I was simply attempting, perhaps clumsily, to summarise the current situation taking into account both sides apparent positions as I perceived them from your post (and without forming or expressing any view), and then explaining how this could eventually play out.

MeteredOut

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81903265#Comment_81903265

No need to apologiese, but the EDF position is based completely on a false premise. I do appreciate that I'll still have a fight on my hands.