Are we being ripped off?

Hippyer

Hello

We have been to the CAB who have told us information we already found out and have sent the agency an email as below

Fao Jane Broomhead

I moved into flat 2 Withnell Road on 8th march. Since this time i have frequently reported a fault which
has'nt been dealt with or taken seriously. I have been told there is nothing wrong and nothing can be done.

The problem is with the gas consumption of the private gas meter for which i am being charged far too much. I have recorded how much each gas unit uses
and recorded the gas meter reading for this time. I have then researched this and contacted people who know about this who converted my information into
pence per kilowatt hour.

The average is between 2 and 3 pence per kilowatt hour i am paying 12.5 pence per kilowatt hour.As you can see there is a huge difference.
I cant afford to have any heat on and it costs me £1 per 10 min shower i feel this is not acceptable and have sought advice.

It is possible there is a debt on the meter or the landlord has the rate set to high, legally he can only charge my what he pays for gas.
Therefore i am requesting the landlords gas bills in an attempt to resolve this matter.

I would be grateful for your attention in this matter.

With thanks.

To which we received the reply

Dear Ms Sharp,

I apologise for not getting back to you, we thought the mater had been rectified. I apologises the matter has not been resolved.

Just to make you aware it is not your gas consumption, its your electric consumption.
The £10 cards that you purchase run the electric to the boiler ONLY
The £2 cards that you purchase run all the other electric appliances.

We do understand that the landlord can only charge you what he is charged for the electric, he can not charge a higher rate.

I have spoken to the landlord today, and he is unsure what rate he is charged for the electric on the property. He is going to consult his bill and let me know. As soon as I know how much, we will be able to calculate and work out what each unit should cost and how much you are charged to see if the amounts are the same.

Kind Regards

Rupert

Rupert Cobain

Repairs Manager

Is this right?
Are we paying 80p for 10 minutes electric to make the boiler work.
Does this mean we're not paying for gas at all?
Just electric?
Why is there 2 electric metres then?
One metre in the communual hall way (one for each flat).
And one in the flat next to the boiler.

We're confused

Has anyone got a better understanding of this than we do?

Please shed some light.

mute_posting

Well the confusing thing is electric isn't measured in cubic metres

It sound like there are 2 meters because general household (i.e. sockets and lights) are metered seperately (in the hallway meter?) from the "boiler"

Is it an electric boiler? (they are available)

If it is they are generally 9 - 10 KW (like a electric shower)
So for 1 hour would be 10 * unit charge (say 10p) = £1
therefore 10 mins would cost 17p (at 10p per KWh)
to be 80p for 10 minutes you will be being charged 47p per unit! (KWh)

mech_2

The meter as described earlier in the thread was quite clearly a gas meter. It sounds as though the landlord is either deliberately trying to confuse the issue or is simply disorganised and doesn't remember.