smart meter not registering usage

forevertrying

Back in October I realised that my gas meter reading had not gone up, despite gas being used. I phoned ScotPower and they said to phone again in December and a new meter would be sorted. Rang again last week and they say now someone will ring in February to arrange new meter.
 My worry is they say they will only charge us gas from the last reading, which is effectively April. 
Sounds wonderful, free gas??? 
We are on their priority list, as my husband is over 80 and they know we are worried about running up a big bill.
Anyone else waiting for meter to be fixed?

housebuyer143

Hmmmm free gas indeed. 
I had a prepayment meter once for electric that froze and stopped taking our money. We lived in that house 2 years with free electric before we left. 

If the meter isn't going up, then surely they can't charge you?

MultiFuelBurner

If the meter isn't going up they can bill.you at historic estimated usage and it's up to the customer to contest this. But saying they won't have used anything would.be silly.

Put the money you would.normally have spent in a high interest account and await that day.

QrizB

forevertrying said:

Back in October I realised that my gas meter reading had not gone up, despite gas being used.

Can I just check that you've been to the gas meter and it is showing a reading, but that reading hasn't changed since April?

It's relatively unusual for a smart gas meter to have a good battery (and be able to show a reading) but for that reading not to change. More usually, the meter either keeps recording but stops sending automatic readings (which means it can be read manually), or the battery goes flat and the meter stops being able to be read at all.

If you're not in the habit of reading your gas meter, you will have to press a button to wake it up and make the display show anything. It will normally be blank.

forevertrying said:

My worry is they say they will only charge us gas from the last reading, which is effectively April. 
Sounds wonderful, free gas???

If that is what they say, and thy have said it in writing, take them at their word.

If it was just a Customer Service agent on the phone, I'd be more sceptical.

forevertrying said:

We are on their priority list, as my husband is over 80 and they know we are worried about running up a big bill.

As MFB says, they might bill you based on your typical consumption over previous years. In this case, there's no need to worry about the bill.

However, first we need to know exactly what's wrong with your meter, hence my questions above!

Brie

You're talking about the actual gas meter I hope and not the in house display?  

forevertrying

QrisB 
Yes the meter is reading the same as in April
Sadly only the spoken word for 'free' gas
Many thanks for your reply

MorningcoffeeIV

forevertrying said:

Anyone else waiting for meter to be fixed?

Without doubt, but that's of no relevance.

Unless you've decided to use an excessive amount of gas as a result of the failed meter, you won't be facing any significantly different bill to what you would have expected.