Energy supplier mistakes.

Thoraherdscows

Good afternoon all...

Bit of a curve ball one this and a bit concerning. I moved into a flat this time last year and have been paying the supplier since. However, it transpires that the meters were set up back to front with the flat upstairs (he was noticing inflated bills since I moved into the flat below him).

I have received two 'revised' bills (still somewhat confusing as they are conflicting amounts)  - this part I will clarify with the company, so that there is an accurate bill, however alarmingly a revised total is nearly £1400. I shall certainly be seeking some kind of compensation for the administrative time, the stress caused and the fact that I was unaware of these consumption levels.
In addition, I am wondering if anyone would have any knowledge about my rights, given that it is the electricity company's error. Any assistance gratefully received. This has hit me quite hard this afternoon, and I'm certainly not in a financial position to be able to just write it off.

Thank you in advance. 

DE_612183

If it's an error they are obliged to give you the same amount of time to pay as the debt has accrued - so perhaps £100 a month?

EssexHebridean

First up, have you done all the necessary checks to be certain that the meters HAVE been transposed?

First task is the Meter Sanity Test if not already done:  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78850409#Comment_78850409

Thoraherdscows

Thank you - is the time span a legal obligation ?

Thoraherdscows

EssexHebridean said:

First up, have you done all the necessary checks to be certain that the meters HAVE been transposed?

First task is the Meter Sanity Test if not already done:  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78850409#Comment_78850409

Yes -  we stood with the land lady and did this once the error was suspected.

QrizB

Thoraherdscows said:

I have received two 'revised' bills (still somewhat confusing as they are conflicting amounts)  - this part I will clarify with the company, so that there is an accurate bill, however alarmingly a revised total is nearly £1400.

If your neighbour is willing to share their records of the readings on your meter, it should be trivially straightforward to calculate the cost of the electricity that you have used since moving in (as recorded on the meter your neighbour was reading) and the equivalent cost of the electricity used by your neighbour (as recorded on the meter you were reading).

If you have really used £1400-worth more electricity than you have paid for to date, your neighbour will presumably have used £1400-wotyh less than they have paid for.