Incorrect Industry read - can't dispute?

Harriet_2023

I moved into our rented property 22nd May. Previous tenant was with Octopus, however I was with Shell so stuck with them and processed the address change. 

When submitting my meter read on 19th June, it notifed me that the read might be incorrect due to being lower than the previous one. The opening read was by "industry" for 02401, even though the meter read i was given at check-in was 02382. My read on 19th June was 02391.

Shell rejected my reading on 19th June and sent me a bill based on an estimate. I've raised my concern that the industry read was incorrect, sending the evidence they requested of the date stamped pictures of the reads on 22nd May, and 19th June, however they are saying that the read is within the industry tolerance of 108m³ so I cannot dispute this. They're saying that this is in my favor because as soon as my meter exceeds 02401, the system will remove all estimates and bill me from the reading of 02401. So I won't have to pay for 19m3 (the difference between 02401 and 02382). They advise me to leave the readings as they are and wait.

Is this actually the right thing to do? It seems bizarre that you can't dispute an incorrect reading just because it's under a certain limit. Looking for advice on whether I just wait it out and keep getting billed estimates or whether I need to push Shell to fix the error.

Thanks

CSI_Yorkshire

Yep, they're right.  System working in your favour, don't complain.

[Deleted User]

Is this actually the right thing to do? It seems bizarre that you can't dispute an incorrect reading just because it's under a certain limit. Looking for advice on whether I just wait it out and keep getting billed estimates or whether I need to push Shell to fix the error.

I think that the supplier is wrong. It has final billed the previous occupant using an estimate but now tyst new evidence has come to light, it should revise the Final Bill that has been issued.

That said, as the error works in your favour, I would not make any fuss. You will not be charged any unit charges until the actual meter reading passes the industry estimate.

My advice. Wait until the meter index passes the estimated reading and then give an actual reading to the supplier. 

cannugec5

All this assumes that you opened an account with the deemed supplier, who you state as being Octopus, before attempting to switch to Shell? 

If you haven’t things might not run smoothly. 

Harriet_2023

cannugec5 said:

All this assumes that you opened an account with the deemed supplier, who you state as being Octopus, before attempting to switch to Shell? 

If you haven’t things might not run smoothly. 

Yes we didn't know the supplier before hand so when we told Shell we were moving we gave the new address and just stuck with them. I'm assuming that Octopus had the correct read so would have billed the previous tenant correctly for their end bill.. otherwise sounds like it's fine for me to leave it!