EDF have been guestimating my readings from nothing!

chriz1000

I have never once had a meter read, a meter reader has never attempted to gain access to the meter even though it’s easily accessible. I presumed that they were just reading it themselves then billing me accordingly.
The new meter was installed in September 06 and today I had an estimate form sent out for me to fill in. When I queried it I was told my meter has never been read. I went and told them the digits with are 87170! They have only charged me for 17500! (This is a business btw) Have I got any grounds to stand on with regards to not paying the full amount since I have never been asked to provide the meter readings and presumed they were billing me accurately?
Who should I complain to?

dellxps

You can always go to energywatch, the independent watchdog for advice.

http://www.energywatch.org.uk/bst/index.asp

I think the answer you're going to get is that you should have checked your bills and that the readings were correct. I know for residential customers the meter has to be read at the minimum once every two years; if the same applies for businesses as long as they read your meter before this september they've done nothing wrong.

Your best bet is energywatch as they'll know the rules and they'll be able to tell you straight up whether you've got an argument or not.

chriz1000

They do seem quite humbly apologetic about the whole thing. It’s more the principle than anything to be honest. We pay by direct debt so presumed that everything was as it should be. To then lumber us with a bill that’s 5 times higher than they have been charging us for since the meter was installed is just unacceptable in my books. There should certainly be a regulating board to stop this kind of thing from happening. Imagine if your window cleaner charged you £20 a month for 2 years then turned around at the end of it and said oh whoops I was only estimating it should have been £100 per month, you owe me an extra £1920.
If we were a new business an unexpected 5 figure bill like this could have destroyed us.

heeth

If you can prove no reads have been taken, you are protected under legislation that a supplier can only back track 1 year but Energywatch will clarify this for you.

You have learnt the hard way but you must get into the habit of reading your own meter, like you are responsible for checking your own payslip etc.

If you are on a low income and can't afford the debt, enquire about the EDF Energy Trust Fund.

Cardew

heeth wrote: »

If you can prove no reads have been taken, you are protected under legislation that a supplier can only back track 1 year but Energywatch will clarify this for you.

You have learnt the hard way but you must get into the habit of reading your own meter, like you are responsible for checking your own payslip etc.

If you are on a low income and can't afford the debt, enquire about the EDF Energy Trust Fund.

The OP stated it is a business account.

The protection/legislation afforded to business accounts is nowhere near as comprehensive as domestic accounts; the assumption is that a busines will monitor their accounts.

In any case, even if it were a domestic account, the 12 month back billing provision wouldn't be applicable in this case.

That provision is only if you have received no bill at all. The OP has received, and paid bills by DD, it is just that they were based on estimated readings and they only have to read a meter every 2 years. Even then there are 'get out' clauses for the supplier/

Cardew

chriz1000 wrote: »

They do seem quite humbly apologetic about the whole thing. It’s more the principle than anything to be honest. We pay by direct debt so presumed that everything was as it should be. To then lumber us with a bill that’s 5 times higher than they have been charging us for since the meter was installed is just unacceptable in my books. There should certainly be a regulating board to stop this kind of thing from happening. Imagine if your window cleaner charged you £20 a month for 2 years then turned around at the end of it and said oh whoops I was only estimating it should have been £100 per month, you owe me an extra £1920.
If we were a new business an unexpected 5 figure bill like this could have destroyed us.

As stated above:

The protection/legislation afforded to business accounts is nowhere near as comprehensive as domestic accounts; the assumption is that a business will monitor their accounts.

Obviously they should read meters more frequently, if for no other reason than they are suffering 'cash flow' problems by 'lending' you large sums - interest free.

However they also cut costs by not reading meters frequently, and usully buried in their 'terms and conditions' is the provision for them to estimate meter readings and stating the provision they make for you to notify them of the correct readings. 'Buyer Beware' I am afraid!