Scottish Gas Electricity billing & meter problems

Audreymcg

Hi there

Was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice on electricity use and some meter problems that my parents are having. They used to have white meter heating and then got gas at the end of 2007. Electric meter was designed for white meter heating and had several rates e.g off peak, etc. Got a call from Scottish Gas to switch suppliers and agreed as looked as though would be cheaper. They came to change the meter but put in like for like meter meaning that the current meter still has different rates.

Called them to discuss this and it seems they will not change it unless receive fee of £60. They also called last week and said that if we don't pay to have meter changed then they will start charging at different rates recorded by meter in terms of old white meter heating. So either way, my parents will end up paying them even more than they do already. This is supposedly Scottish Gas' new policy. Can they do this legally? It would seem to me to be extortion. If switched to another supplier, would they fit new meter for free?

Also have a problem with bills as not changed much and no longer includes cost of heating over the winter. When queried are being told that these are correct but parents use a lot less electricity than I do in my own home and our bills are cheaper. We constantly have televisions, 2 computers, sky and dvd players, games consoles etc running every evening but my parents don't and I can't understand how theirs can be more expensive as they are not at home all day either just like ourselves. Is there any way to have the meter checked for free as I underdstand that current supplier won't check it unless we pay (again!!) Anybody have any idea how we can check if meter is running properly. Parents have always paid quarterly, have never missed a payment and are not in debt, so can't be running faster to recover monies owed.

Any advice provided will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Audrey