OVO charges for meter reading?

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EssexHebridean said:

You seem to have overlooked my earlier comments by the way - the answer to the first paragraph here would help people to establish whether your position is reasonable or not, and so to advise you if you have grounds for any form of complaint. The second para makes a suggestion of how you can get around the problem in the future. 

Not overlooked, I was not in a position to answer. 

Update:
I supplied meter readings in February 2023 and they paid me £20 for it.  They came to read the gas meter in August 2023.

And now they are cold calling me with empty threats in December 2023. 

I have updated my meter readings yesterday, they owe me £3000.  their estimated readings and bills in between have been spot on with my actual usage,  the readings I gave yesterday were exactly in line with the useage since the last bill on 1st November.   

I have reduced my Direct Debit to £5 a month. Their minimum amount.

I will be looking for a new supplier.

Qyburn

If you want to keep in top of things, maybe choose a supplier who lets you pay variable DD, so no credit or debit balance and no arguments about where your monthly DD should be set.

400ixl

Seems to me that you are stuck in the 1980's and applying this to supplier contracts you have taken up since then.

OVO T&C's state

8.2  To help make sure your bills are accurate, you must also give us a meter reading at least once every calendar quarter (unless you have a functioning smart meter to do it for you automatically). We may also ask you for (and you agree to give) meter readings more often if there’s a reason that we need them.

and if you don't they reserve the right to charge you for home visits including:
to carry out a meter reading if you haven’t provided us with one

Your view of free meter readings by the supplier is no longer aligned to the contract you are in with your supplier, and their letters and calls are to remind you of your obligations and the consequences of not meeting those obligations.

Not that this is going to change your view as you are clearly fixed in the you are right and they are wrong.

If you look for a new supplier then they will likely also have in their T&C's that you need to provide regular meter readings if you do not have a smart meter. As an example Octopus will be even worse for you as signing with them you commit yourself to suppling them monthly readings.

By agreeing to this Contract, you are agreeing that you will:
provide meter readings at least once a month using the link in the email sent to you (which can be via smart phone or computer) or via a mobile phone application that we may provide or allow us to take readings automatically through your Smart Meter

Instead of digging your heals in, why don't you just arrange for smart meters to be fitted and then you won't have to supply readings.

As for the level of credit, that is partially your own doing by not giving frequent readings to allow for a clear view of your usage for decisions and recommendations to be made.

Essentially you are currently your own worse enemy. You are out of date with the contract you have with your supplier and are not meeting your obligations. 

Troytempest

Seems to me that the OP has more money than sense - £3k in credit, ludicrous.

ecraig

I saw a post from the OP earlier in the year about their high credit.
People kept replying and suggesting they ask for a refund from supplier, but alas, it seems they did not. 

Maybe OP is keeping the balance high so there is something interesting to tell John at the pub, Barbara at the salon and Vanessa who collects Alfie from school on Wednesday afternoon. 

EssexHebridean

ecraig said:

I saw a post from the OP earlier in the year about their high credit.
People kept replying and suggesting they’d ask for a refund from supplier, but alas, it seems they did not. 

Maybe OP is keeping the balance high so there is something interesting to tell John at the pub, Barbara at the salon and Vanessa who collects Alfie from school on Wednesday afternoon. 

And, sadly, “Martin who uses information about customer credits to help educate others about managing their energy accounts” - it is situations like this which skew the figures and make it appear that the situation with credit is worse than it is. I do wonder how much the amount being held by the energy companies of customer money would drop if those who knew what to do to to resolve the situation but simply didn’t bother were removed from the figures.