Incorrect labelling

hyposmurf

It maybe possible that my neighbour and myself have had our gas meters labelled incorrectly an have been paying the incorrect bills for over 2 years.He has come to me and thinks this is this case.We have looked at his meter and realised that th meter I have seems to turn when he turns on and off his gas.

How am I best to go about this?Hes recently changed his supplier and since discovered it.Should I wait for my supplier to contact me and for his new supplier to check his meter?Will they come out to check his meter?
Will I have to pay the difference?Over what time period and to to who?Weve been in the property over 2years now,can the supplier legally claim for something after that time if they have been incorrectly billing me all this time?I think paying my neighbour directly would be foolish, as my supplier could then charge me on top.
We live in flats so its still possible that even though he turns on/off his gas supply that another flat could be causing this.We wouldnt know exactly unless the tester is able to isolate all flats,which I doubt would be possible.

There is also the problem that our bill idnt start from 0 as the heating was as it was a show flat before.I think this could be the case for his heating to.

SwanJon

It looks like you are doing the right things.
If one of you turns off all their gas appliances, and the other turns theirs full on, it should give you a good idea of whose is whose.
Take the Meter Serial Numbers (usually near a barcode), and readings.
Pass all this information on to your supplier, and get them to sort it out.
As you've been paying all along, you are in a good position.

Did you/your neighbour supply readings when you moved in? That would cover the show flat issue.

hyposmurf

If we isolate our supplies and then turn one of them on it might indicate which is which.But its not 100% proof way of testing.In order to get a correct indication of who's meter serves who they would need to turn off the entire block of flats.You could turn one on think its your supply as the meter moves but it could be a neighbour using theirs.It's going to be a bit of a nightmare for the supplier to prove with testing all the supplies to this block flats.Until they have done a complete test I cant see why I should start paying for another meter.I took a reading when I moved in, but I'm unsure whether my neighbour bothered.He has recently left his old supplier due to issues with them.They would probably be the ones he'd need to get a refund from,whether his new supplier could chase this I don't know.
Do I legally have to pay,if both suppliers have billed him and myself incorrectly for 2 years?

Cardew

Whilst you have apparently been billed incorrectly, are you assuming that the supplier is at fault here?

Your gripe is with the developer/owner of the block of flats who gave the utility company the wrong information about which meter belongs to which flat.

If you are having problems sorting out the mess and, you have access to the flats, how do you think the Utility companies would have been able to sort it out when the flats were built/converted? They have to take the builder's word for it.

This happens quite a bit on new builds and there have been several posts about this on MSE.

The Utility companies have supplied the gas and received the correct payment for that gas; they don't have the problem. So why/what would they 'legally claim'?

The Utility companies will doubtless help you and start re-billing you, and might make a goodwill gesture in your case to whoever has lost out, but I suggest you are careful how you approach them.

If it is your neighbour that has been the losing party, he has to take action against the developer, or yourself for his losses if it cannot be settled amicably. He would need to provide evidence of how much he has lost.

hyposmurf

Thanks for your reply.
Your right this is the builder/developer's error labelling them up incorrectly.What would be best to do?Should I contact my supplier and let them know beforehand, to get off on th right foot?How would you approach them?You said be carefull,how?I guess they will then rebill me for my extra units used.(I've been with them since I moved in).As far as my neighbour goes he will have to contact his ex-supplier and apply for a re-imbursement.I'm not going to settle the bill with my neighbour,I could posibly then get billed from my supplier to plus the unit costs will be diferent.

Cardew

My approach would be simple - do nothing!

Your neighbour has the problem, not you, so let him sort it out with developer and/or Utility company.

Obviously co-operate, but explain gently to him that you have taken advice and, that as he is the one losing out, he needs to approach the developers first.

To cover yourself write(don't telephone) a very short letter to your utility company and explain that it would appear there has been a mix up with meters, and your neighbour believes that this has been to his detriment. State that you have requested that he contacts the developer and both his previous and current supplier. Copy this letter to your neighbour.

Personally provided he can provide written proof - all bills etc - I think you have a moral responsibility to come to terms with you neighbour; but you will need the gas company to agree.

His problem is having left 'your' company he will have difficulty sorting out bills.

Terrylw1

Hi,

Don't pay anything to your neighbour. Otherwise your Supplier may pursue you for debt which you have payed to him/her and they would have no ability to address it.

This is much worse due to several Suppliers being involved. The reason being that Suppliers can only send out engineers to sites they have registered and also cannot take an action that could leave another Suppliers property without gas/elec without their permission.

The engineers of course are slightly different. If they are the appointed company for all the flats, they can easily test all of them as long as they let the occupants know there could be a small service interuption.

Up until anyone changed Suppliers, yes the correct cash had been paid. However, it has potentially been paid agiainst incorrect accounts. So the Supplier will be keen to transfer money internally between accounts.

If your meters are crossed, then you could be overpaying for your neighbours supply or you could be underpaying. If you don't take steps to resolve that, you have to accept it could be eitherway.

Your Supplier might write off the difference if it's small as a gesture of goodwill or they may ask you to pay it. However, because they will be transferring data between accounts, you shold not make any third party agreement to pay your neighbours. Without a test you don't eve know if he/she even owes you.

I fear that this issue will take some time to resolve. I can't speak for the gas industry, but in the elec one I have dealt with these types of cases and they can take a while to get checked and the results back in. The worse part is not having access anymore due to a change in supply because if the Supplier uses a different agent, you have different engineers coming to do the tests. Not sure if thats the case with thr gas side though.

To a Supplier it's a bit of a waiting game whilst all the data filters back, then a matter of working out how to move everything around without inconveniencing customers too much.

hyposmurf

Thanks for the replies.I'm looking at doubling my units if its the other meter meaning about £120 bill coming my way.:eek:
Think my neighbour has changed his supplier 3 times I'm with the same supplier.

hyposmurf

Back on to this again.I contacted m supplier a few weeks back they aranged an engineer to visit site,but they mucked the appoinment up and there was a no show.Now awaiting another appoinment.Was wondering if my supplier collects payment from myself for the additional units on the meter that was mixed with my neighbour,surely the fee has already ben collected by the gas supplier and cant be charged for twice?It would be the same gas paid for twice in effect,isnt that a little screwed?I cant see th additional units ever being recovered from my neighbours payments as theyve changed suppliers numerous times over the years and left on bad terms.