New meter installed but meter readings not as expected

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Switching Energy Suppliers - Opening/Closing Meter Readings.

Oldanalogger

after 2 1/2 years of ‘estimates’ I finally got my meters changed and decided to change supplier.

The 3rd Party Meter Independent got Electric right, but declined to accept my780 reading and estimated 18351 for Gas!!!

Shouldn’t alarm bells be ringing? Who are these people? How/who do I complain to?

New supplier is trying to sort it!

WiserMiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81887483#Comment_81887483

Welcome to the forum.

Just a gentle suggestion: it's usually considered better to start a new thread rather than tagging on to an existing one, otherwise it can get very confusing when replies relate to different posters.

Just click on the Report icon and ask for it to be moved to a new thread.

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81887483#Comment_81887483

Your new supplier

But it sounds like you already have made the complaint, or your supplier was otherwise already aware in which case no complaint necessary at this stage.

Ensure your bill and/or online account reflects the correct gas meter serial number. Sounds like your new supplier has picked up the old meter serial number by mistake.

Easy mistake to make. Easy correction to make.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81887483#Comment_81887483

Given the 780m3 number for the reading at supplier swap date - would it be reasonable to assume - that the new meter had been in for a while - certainly a few bills at old supplier - say approx 9m old by the time you swapped suppliers (median Ofgem TDCV 11500 kWh is just over 1000 m3 so 780 - maybe 9m - longer for lighter use - shorter for heavier).

So can we assume that any errors due to old meter estimates had been resolved using final meter readings at the old supplier at the time of meter swap - and your new smart ? meter billing was working OK on new meter ? Just curious why you mention it ?

If as above you had been on the new meter at old supplier - were your monthly ? statements / bills looking sensible ahead of the supplier swap.

Can you give us key dates and readings - purely on new meter - for day 1 (often but not always 0?) - there should be a tag in your meter cabinet with date and readings if dont have that bill still - the last bill before supplier swap and supplier swap date (the 780?).

Did you keep photos of all readings on old and new meters at time of both meter swap and supplier swap (assume the 780m3)

AS a guide to what used to happen to your final readings at the mysterious third party

https://octopus.energy/blog/secret-life-opening-meter-reading/

But unless there has been some weird meter crossover problem - some failure to record correctly by old supplier the new meters at your address perhaps - I cannot see why they have come up with that number.

Theres certainly something whacky going on as the error - c17500 m3 (183xx-780 assuming both metric meter and both volume estimates - one not kWh for instance) - is around 17 years normal use. I'm surprised the supplier swap didn't fail to be honest.

Your new supplier operates a pull process via a mysterious third party - sorry dont have a name or a contact number - not sure if you have access to the third party.

How long has this limbo existed - what are the new supplier doing - if anything about it ?

What reading have you had on any interim final bill from your old supplier - as the 183xx sounds like if used would trigger a massive debt - and they would then presumably just block the transfer anyway ?

Oldanalogger

huge thanks for the comments 👍

I take the point re posting on an old topic - I will in future, but leave these here as Google sent me to the original thread!

It does look like things are finally getting resolved after 6 months of hell! New company have just issued their bill with same reading as old company used - phew!

The link to Octopus was really useful - is it really still so complex 9 years later?

my experiences with old supplier / ombudsman / 3rd Party are truly horrifying! I truly hope I’m in a tiny minority with these experiences!

I’ll post the full story if anyone is really interested. Old Smets1 meters were changed on 5 Nov - after raising with Ombudsman. Switched to new company on 6 Jan - 2 months later.

Thanks again - Take Care

Scot_39

2m much shorter than expected - had you realky used 780m3 around 8,700kWh of gas - in 2 months on new meter ?

i susp3ct with many on smart getting an accurate bill every month these dsys - tge range if still usedon reading vet is much tighter.

Some suppliers are generating initial final bills almost immediarely as well which would give even less dependency on forecast periods since last validated reading if the third party can now capture that update. My supplier for instance reads my meter data nightly but only uses it at cap changes and monthly billing dates.

On old digital i only submitted monthly - on old rts 3 monthly - and at one stage even only billed 6 monthly and so updated 2 weeks before when requested. Leading to much longer vet windows in past between resdings.