Broken Meter how will they charge me

Pickle3079

I've had a broken gas meter for 2 years.  I have continually reported it and even the meter reading man reported it.  During this period I have been paying on an estimated bill by monthly direct debit.   They have eventually replaced the meter after I threatened to report them to ofgem.  The lady on the telephone told me I had a legal obligation to provide a meter reading at least once a year - is this true?   How will I be charged for gas usage during this period?  It covers a time when prices  were higher and we drastically reduced our usage.  Can anyone advice please?  

DE_612183

Which company is this?

Was it the actual meter or the in home display?

If the meter has not been recording at all for two years they will estimate the charges - they may be only able to go back 12 months.

When did you notice the meter was not recording?

BarelySentientAI

Pickle3079 said:

The lady on the telephone told me I had a legal obligation to provide a meter reading at least once a year - is this true?   

It's the other way around.  They have to get a reading from you at least once a year if at all possible.

Pickle3079 said:

I've had a broken gas meter for 2 years.  I have continually reported it and even the meter reading man reported it.  During this period I have been paying on an estimated bill by monthly direct debit.   How will I be charged for gas usage during this period?  It covers a time when prices  were higher and we drastically reduced our usage.

Based on the estimates that were on the bills you've already had.  They won't assume that you've reduced usage.

If you think those estimates were too high, then you might be able to convince them of that based on what the readings from the new meter say over time.

DE_612183 said:

If the meter has not been recording at all for two years they will estimate the charges - they may be only able to go back 12 months.

If they already have estimated, which it sounds like they have, then it can pretty much go back as far as they want as long as they're not adjusting upwards.  

Pickle3079

I notified them in 2022 that it wasn't readable and they just kept sending me links on how to read a meter.   I repeatedly telephoned to say I couldn't read it and after sending out 2 meter readers they have eventually changed the meter.  
They have already been sending me bills based on estimated readings.   I have been paying these as I didn't want to run up a large bill.  

DE_612183

so best thing to do is wait and see what it says on the bill for the "final" readings - then go back and tell them theirs estimates are too high as you curtailed your usage.

Have they sent you a bill yet that includes the final estimated readings?

vacuumcleaner1968

Hello , I am experiencing the same my meter died 2 years ago and got changed finally 8 weeks ago 
I am now being told to pay on estimated usage based on 2020-2022 even though ive pointed out 2 children left home and didnt we all turn our gas down last year ...its like a little britain sketch because all they reply with is Ofgem guidlines although when I ask for a copy of the guidlines it all goes quiet ! they offered me £50 today as a goodwill ( or stop bothering us ) gesture.
any advice would be much appreciated

Marvel1

vacuumcleaner1968 said:

Hello , I am experiencing the same my meter died 2 years ago and got changed finally 8 weeks ago 
I am now being told to pay on estimated usage based on 2020-2022 even though ive pointed out 2 children left home and didnt we all turn our gas down last year ...its like a little britain sketch because all they reply with is Ofgem guidlines although when I ask for a copy of the guidlines it all goes quiet ! they offered me £50 today as a goodwill ( or stop bothering us ) gesture.
any advice would be much appreciated

You are nest starting a new thread as people will reply to the first post and then it's gets confusing.