Mums neighbours stealing her electricity!

Jaine

Hi,
My mum has a fixed monthly electricity bill. She got a call from her electricity company & they told her that they were considering increasing the bill or ending the arrangement as she had used too much. She asked how much she'd used and they told her it was around £700 over the summer!!! They even asked if she has a swimming pool! She had noticed that they had a washer & dryer on constantly over the summer & from the noise it sounds as though this was placed behind the wall of her downstairs loo. It sounds as though the electricity company aren't interested in investigating & even expect her to pay for that! She's now worried about using any electricity & has been turning everything off & climbing up high ladders to see if the meter's still running! What can she do? She's on a pension & has health problems. The neighbour is a bit of a thug & she's currently fighting a boundary dispute with him as he damaged some of her outbuildings. I'm sure he thinks that she's footing the increased bill.

asea

Did she tell them of her concerns? Perhaps tell the police as it is theft?

Jaine

Yes, I think she told them but it sounds as though they wanted a lot of money to have someone investigate it. I don't think she will contact the police as she would be worried about them possibly calling on her & parking a police car for the neighbours to see. I believe a local bobby already mentioned to her that her neighbour has a reputation.

scope

How does she know its the neighbour?

If they are connected; Why doesnt she turn off the main fuse when their washing is on? See what they say?

PasturesNew

I know of two houses that had been illegally knocked into one. Then the guy couldn't sell them as one, so knocked them back into two.

But he left a socket in the hallway of one house that was actually connected to next door's meter.

If it were me I'd be turning off the electricity to the sockets in that part of the house (might mean the whole of the ground floor) next time I heard the machine/drier on. That would prove if it were connected. Not sure what to do next though.

Jaine

Thanks for your responses, will get my mum to try out the suggestions.

Jaine

My mum already checked whether the two houses were ever one & that is not the case. The electricity company aren't interested, although if I were her I'd be more persistent with them. She thinks that my neighbours know that she knows & are being a little more careful as to when they're up to tricks.

siren13577

What a horrible thing for your mum to go through, have a look here to see if the energy ombudsman can assist you and your mum:
http://www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk/

I hope you get this sorted, try turning the ring main off downstairs when the neighbours have their appliances on, if they have hooked up an illegal electricity hook up they are most certainly breaking the law. Is it a rural area? I just thought seeing as you said your mum had outbuildings it might be. I hope you can speak to someone on your mum's behalf and get this sorted.

scat

Did she tell them she thought the neighbour was stealing her electricity? If so that would explain why they are being resistant! It does sound a trifle paranoid! She'ld be better off explaining that she's a single person living on her own and the meter must be faulty as she couldn't possibly use that much power - I'ld have thought they were obligated to come and check it then.

Teacher2301

You can get a device that actually records your energy use for the house - not sure what they are called (soeone else might know on this forum) - use it over a week and see how much your mum uses - then speak to the electric company.

When the house was converted did it have all the necessary electrical checks and certificates - again, not sure on the details on this (anyone else help out?) Has a qualified electrician been in to check the wiring at all - he/she might spot something that could be the reason (a faulty meter as you suggest).

Hope all helps and hope this gets sorted.

Jaine

Yes, she's in the countryside surrounded by farmland. It was the chap reading the meter who suggested that it might be her neighbour taking the electricity. According to him, he'd seen it happen on dozens of occasions. Anyhow, with a bit of luck, the electricity company will pay a visit to check the meter.