2 Ombudsman cases, still none the wiser!

Unb123

Hi all, I'm new here but I've been reading posts for a while now, they're a valuable resource!

A bit of backstory:

I've come into the family furniture business to help my elderly father out. My brother entered a contract with an energy supplier back in 2018, but provided no meter readings for 2 years, resulting us having to pay a very large bill, as it was all based on estimated usage and I could not prove our readings one way or the other.  This case went to the Ombudsman, and resulted in a £12k bill, which we just about paid, both sides accepting the remedy set by the Ombudsman.

Meter readings were provided regularly by myself throughout this process as i did not want to fall afoul again, and pay a balance for something I could not disprove.

This bill was paid in March 2021, our contract due to end In May 2021. In April 2021, the energy supplier then hit my with another £5k bill, which I am contesting. Another case went to the Ombudsman, which has not been resolved in a satisfactory manner. The first case was looked at forensically, and although it cost be dearly, I accepted. The second time round, there was nothing concrete in the remedy, I accepted as i was assured my charges would come down, instead they went up to £7k.

I have one meter which resets itself, so it reads lower, it has done this twice that i can prove, with photographs. I contend this meter is faulty, but the energy company is refusing to acknowledge this, never sending anyone to check it despite concerns about this meter being raised as far back as 2019. In support of my position, the meter in question was sparking/glowing so I called out the grid to make it safe. Since they did, its been reading forward nicely. 

My question being, where do I go from here? I've been stuck in the Ombudsman/Energy companies dispute process for years now, and I am just as confused now as when it all began. I know something isn't right, the energy company completely disregard any reads I provide, as it "doesn't fall in line with industry reads", but I can only provide what I see. They also refuse to acknowledgement the reads being all over the place are caused by a faulty meter, and are happy to issue me with a big bill as soon as the readings don't make sense, rather than inform me as get further proof of the readings.

I have looked at getting a solicitor, and have spoke to some firms, but I haven't had any luck as the amount is below £10k, and I suspect this matter will end up in court, as I am not happy to pay for something I do not believe to be accurate.

I guess i'm just feeling lost with this, we've had the family business for 20 years now, and have never run into this problem, or paid so much in energy bills, even through the pandemic when we were shut for months on end. It really could be make or break for our business.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

You appear to have a faulty meter. Your supplier is obliged to replace it. While your meter is faulty, they might estimate your consumption but you can challenge these estimates if you think they are incorrect.

You are also able to employ an electrician to fit your own meter, after the supplier's one, so you can check one against the other.

You may have lost both Ombudsman cases, but they are not legally binding on you. You are at liberty to ignore the rulings and take your supplier to court instead (or let them take you). I am not able to comment on whether this would be a wise decision, or not.

Reed_Richards

Get an electrician to install a second meter and compare the readings from that to the readings you don't believe.  That should give you the evidence you need to prove your meter is faulty and does not read correctly.