Discrepancy in opening meter reading

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874563#Comment_81874563

It appears to, back-billing rules still apply so they can't just find stuff from over 12 months ago, but if they are just using a valid closing meter reading which the industry subsequently alters they should be fine.

gpman

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874563#Comment_81874563

That would depend on the specific circumstances of the complaint.

The losing supplier is penalised if they do not create a final bill within 6 weeks of ceasing supply.

When a supplier issues a final bill, they have 10 working days thereafter to pay back any credit accrued on the account.

If the losing supplier has issued a final bill that is obviously wrong, the customer could start a formal complaint against them.

But I cannot see any reason a supplier could not issue a revised final bill at any later date if they have good cause to do so. Limitations Act would probably apply if they were attempting to demand money from the consumer - but that's after 6 years or so. (5 yrs in Scotland?)

Back billing rules may also be able to be applied to reduce the period to 1 year, as stated in previous post

EO would probably also assist if asked to do so, if a supplier issued a revised final bill after an unreasonable period of time (dependant on the reason for doing so), having first exhausted the suppliers complaint procedure.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874569#Comment_81874569

Wish it was deliberate - lk too close on my phone.

An old customer purchase manager I dealt with in 80s 90s used to use the term a lot when he thought suplliers including ours - prices too high

Swipe

In the OP's case, I'd wait for the first bill from the new supplier and then if the opening reading doesn't match that of the final bill they've just had or a subsequent revised one, I'd then raise a complaint with the old supplier.

Football56

Quick update opening reading has now been corrected to 9171. Cant believe how quickly this has all happened. New supplier online account all up and running

Football56

Many thanks for all your excellent replies

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874616#Comment_81874616

My complaint would be very simple, the process hadn't been followed.
To get a final bill the two suppliers would have an agreed figure, without that figure there can be no final bill as reading could differ.
The only way is it the final bill is the old suppler guessed correctly, if not a new bill will needed to be issued and that would then be the final bill, as the prevous one would just have been as estimate.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875570#Comment_81875570

The problem with that perspective is that the losing supplier does not control the process and is completely dependent on the gaining supplier and the industry 3rd party completing their flows in a timely manner.

The penalty for that not happening falls completely on the losing supplier even though they have done nothing wrong.

Octopus and others got caught like that when Tomato completely failed to follow the industry process in the period before they were banned from the inbound side of the switching mechanism.

gpman

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875570#Comment_81875570

Based upon the very simple basis you advance as cause for your complaint (something I would suggest is the specific circumstances of the complaint), may I enquire as to what remedy would you be seeking from making such a complaint?

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875601#Comment_81875601

I understand all that, but it's under the rules as written, even if it's unfair to the old supplier. Do the rules need changing because of this, then I would say so, but that's a totally different conversation.

I certainly know about the whole TE issue, Octopus had to pay me compensation due to TE. if suppliers want to get the rules changed then lobby to do that, not try and circumvent the current ones.