Scottish Gas

mishkamoose

Looking for advice about a dispute with Scottish Gas relating to my late fathers energy bill. He had a smart reader which did not work and we constantly complained about it. My Dad paid his bills even though they were estimates. He passed away in October 2023 and I contacted Scottish Gas who told me not to pay any bills until the house was sold. The house was sold in October 2024 and I provided actual meter readings. I queried the amount of the bill which was £1300 approx and was told on 1st November 2024 they would look into it. I heard nothing until I received a new bill on the 10 October 2025 now for £1700. I have raised a complaint but as far as I am concerned my previous complaint was not addressed. Where do I stand on paying this. Does this come under back billing? I have asked them to prove the amount which is outstanding.

MeteredOut

Are you complaining about the final bill, or the smart meter not working?

Do you have the final bill? For what period does that cover? Do you have meter readings and/or previous bills? You need to determine actual usage and work out what state the account is in.

Without that, you cannot say whether the amounts your dad was paying based on the estimated bills did or did not cover his actual usage. 

You might be able to argue that since the final bill was issued in October 2025, any usage before October 2024 should be included on the bill. Was any energy prior to that date included? Not that any credit payments already made can be applied against historical energy use.

Or, if the issue is your dads complaint about the smart meter not working, what resolution are you after?

mishkamoose

I dont have a complaint about the smart reading not working. The final bill covers a balance brough forward plus fuel used between March 2024 and October 2024. The actual meter readings were provided but they are using estimates on the final bill. The balance b/f includes fuel used since October 2023.

QrizB

mishkamoose said:

The actual meter readings were provided but they are using estimates on the final bill.

How similar / how different are the estimates to the actual readings you supplied?

mishkamoose

Actual 9408 estimate 10115 gas
Actual 2148  estimate 2280 electricity

MeteredOut

mishkamoose said:

I dont have a complaint about the smart reading not working. The final bill covers a balance brough forward plus fuel used between March 2024 and October 2024. The actual meter readings were provided but they are using estimates on the final bill. The balance b/f includes fuel used since October 2023.

A final bill should never use estimates. Does it state "final bill" on it? I missed before that the house was sold in October 2024, so I assume the bill(s) you did get cover March 2023 - October 2024? Was the account full up to date (paid based on actuals) for usage to March 2023?

If SG did bill your father for energy used prior to October 2024 but that was not settled, those amounts will still be due (back-billing does not cover scenarios where customers simply do not pay their for their usage). And any payments made for energy used prior to October 2024 can be used to offset energy in that period and, if any is remaining, also energy used from October 2024.

I'd contact them asking for a final bill, but pointing out back billing rules and see what they say.

Sharing whats on the bills (kWh usage, date ranges, estimate or actual) and any readings you have would help clarify things.

QrizB

I agree with MetereOut that a final bill can never be based on estimates. There should be a handover reading agreed with the new supplier / new customer via the Data Collector.

mishkamoose said:

Actual 9408 estimate 10115 gas
Actual 2148  estimate 2280 electricity

The gas difference is the bigger problem.

That's 707 cubic metres (about 8000 kWh) of gas, roughly £400 worth. And 132kWh of electricity, about £35 worth.

mishkamoose

My Dad always paid his bill even if it was an estimate the last payment made by him was 2 September 2023. Unfortunately I am missing a couple of bills covering those payments. It is headed as a final bill. I also have another bill which seems to covet the same period. It is very confusing.

WiserMiser

MeteredOut said:

You might be able to argue that since the final bill was issued in October 2025, any usage before October 2024 should be included on the bill. Was any energy prior to that date included? Not that any credit payments already made can be applied against historical energy use.

Did you mean to say:-

You might be able to argue that since the final bill was issued in October 2025, any usage before October 2024 should not be included on the bill. Was any energy prior to that date included? Note that any credit payments already made can be applied against historical energy use.