Error's in Electrycity estimations

EvilMonkey

Morning all,

I was wondering if anyone has any advice, I've recently got a bill through for £1220 (previous bills come in at around £20 - £100). After talking it over with London Energy and them deciding its not the meters fault they've pointed to the following process as the issue.

Apparently when a meter reading is done, its analysed by someone back at HQ, if they decide its too high, they wipe it off and the system puts an estimate in for that reading. This seems to be able to continue indefinitely (although the lady on the helpdesk intimated it should be checked after 3 re-occuring estimations)

In my case, even though we've had countless meter readings and several self readings over the phone everyone of them for the last 2 years (since we moved in) has been ignored and an estimation put in instead. So they now want 2 years of back payment...

I've asked for all the meter readings for the 2 years to make the comparison myself, but what other steps should I take. Is there a way OFGEM could help (rules around estimations?) or Energywatch?

Any idea's?

E.M.

MATH

I can understand your frustration. Sometimes the way these account systems work beggers belief. However, as a customer it is your responsibility to check what you are using and being charged for. If as you say, you have done self reads on at least two occasions then you knew you were being undercharged when the bill came with a much lower estimated reading.
I am currently being undercharged on electricity due to an estimated reading and have put the difference aside for when it rights itself which it eventually will. The company is well within it's rights to bill you although I would have a stab at negotiating repayment of the shortfall in monthly instalments rather than having to find a lump some straight away. Good luck