I believe this business has been over charged for over a year, can we claim back money?

Dragonflew1010

Not my business ( a small shop) but a close relatives who's been on estimated readings for years. His bills shot up to over £1000 a month (using 13000+ kWh per month which is ludicrous when the shop is the size of 2-3 large bedrooms).

Currently the estimates i've been reading over a couple days have been just over 20kWh (which is also lower than expected as there is a good number of fridges / freezers) nevertheless:

Is there a away we can claim back the absurd bills? He unfortunately isn't financially savvy so it's been going on for long.

Thank you for any advice in advance.

voluted

Provide them with a meter reading.

If you are right their reading will be high and you're due a refund. If you're not they're right and they need to find a way to pay.

20kWh per day seems low for a "good number of fridges and freezers" but 433kWh per day is also equally absurd.

Get the meter readings and supply them to the energy company.  All bets are off if the relative is running a cannabis farm or some sort of crypto-mining farm.

Robin9

Then get your relative to ask for a Smart meter

Mark_d

There is no excuse for being on estimated reads for years.  This would suggest your relative also hasn't reviewed/changed energy supply contract in years.  Is this laziness or lack of business acumen?  Either way the future doesn't look bright for the business.

Business energy contracts are slightly  more complex than residential contracts, however there are business energy brokers who can advise and support getting the best deal for the business.

Dragonflew1010

Mark_d said:

There is no excuse for being on estimated reads for years.  This would suggest your relative also hasn't reviewed/changed energy supply contract in years.  Is this laziness or lack of business acumen?  Either way the future doesn't look bright for the business.

Business energy contracts are slightly  more complex than residential contracts, however there are business energy brokers who can advise and support getting the best deal for the business.

Indeed i'd say both, but it is a small business after all. I cannot judge what he does but i just want to fix it to help him.

Dragonflew1010

voluted said:

Provide them with a meter reading.

If you are right their reading will be high and you're due a refund. If you're not they're right and they need to find a way to pay.

20kWh per day seems low for a "good number of fridges and freezers" but 433kWh per day is also equally absurd.

Get the meter readings and supply them to the energy company.  All bets are off if the relative is running a cannabis farm or some sort of crypto-mining farm.

That is what i plan to do very soon. But does anyone know if we can backdate? Or where i can find out more?

Robin9

Get an up to date bill first -  then see what sums are involved.


Please update when you can

Dragonflew1010

Robin9 said:

Get an up to date bill first -  then see what sums are involved.


Please update when you can

Thanks i've attached the bill.


The summer month estimates were lower than the earlier months but for these months (May, June and July) its been around 4000kWh a month. 

This might be a bit too complex to figure out; i wonder if energy companies have a time limit for wrong estimate bills?

cannugec5

What  are the ACTUAL readings now, for both day and night? 

That will give an estimation of how far out the estimates have been (!)
Can you go back and find an old bill with an ACTUAL reading on it - even if it is some years back. 

Have you / the business owner now submitted an actual reading to the supplier? 

Robin9

Can you read the meter please - then we have some numbers to use alongside @cannugec5  's   old reading.

Dragonflew1010

Here are the readings i've requested:

08/09/2024:
Day: 12262
Night: 31844
Total: 44506

11/09/2024:
Day: 12666
Night: 31856
Total: 44523

I'm not going to be submitting the actual readings until i know the meter is working correctly so i can tell them what i estimate is the correct use (as the previous estimates are way off). Right now, 17kWh over 3 days seems too low. i'm going to take another one tomorrow.