electricity supply

[danchip]

my partner moved into her house 4 years ago and has been paying �30/40 per month for electricity, in these 4 years nobody has ever visited to take a meter reading and she has had to ring up with the readings herself.
2 weeks ago she got a phone call from her supplier saying that they have just realised that she has 2 meters and she hasn't paid anything for the 2nd one and she now owes them �3000 due to this. They told her she wouldn't have to pay due to it being their fault although she would have to make a nominal contribution.

Then last week she received another call saying they had wiped off �1400 due to their error but she is liable for the remaining �1600 which she must pay off �200 extra per month or her supply will be disconnected

Can they do this as it was their fault and have admitted that!

[Hammer]

Yes they can. It wasn't their fault that she used electricity. If she used it, she must pay for it. The fact that they haven't asked for payment before is irrelevant. They have already knocked �1400 off the bill for their error, so in a way she is lucky.

[wisewomen]

Im confused. Why has she got two meters?

[redcrx]

and have they read the other meter? If they have been reading it why didnt she have bills before?

[dizzy_girl]

Are you sure this is right?? That would mean on metre 2 she was spending �62.50 ??? It doesnt seem right thats like �100 a month on electric bit steep?

[JonnyBoy12]

Are the sure the meter isn't for another house or flat near there? It is very rare to have two meters in a domestic property.

[pauln90]

The second meter could be for Economy Seven for running storage heaters,hot water etc off peak. This would account for the high second meter reading

[danchip]

the second meter is for hot water/ heating, they have never been to read either meter

my partner didn't realise that the 2nd meter was also for electric as it is very rare

i just cant understand how they have no record of a second meter when it was them who installed it

[redcrx]

i dont understand how she didnt realise she had 2 or that they suddenly billed her for it.

has she checked their readings?

[danchip]

one is under the stairs and one is in a box on the outside of the house with the gas meter, she has never been in the box because the gas meter readers come and take readings quite regularly

they said they some how realised after 4 years that she had 2 meters so they billed her for the 4 years

[redcrx]

speak to the energy watchdog

a quick google found this http://www.energywatch.org.uk/

[ojread2]

Surely �100 per month for electric is bloody extortion!
Even on a prepayment meter you wouldn't pay that pm

Use the linl redcrx has given you - and fast!

[themas]

The supplier has to have a code of practice or customer charter or some such thing, and I believe one of the things these should include is an obligation on them to visit and read meters at least once a year. The Ofgem website may also help with info. on the supplier's obligations.

Look at their website and see if you can download their charter, or ask them to send a copy. Then you can go through their formal complaints procedure and - if not satisfied - go to the Energy Supply Ombudsman (see website) if the supplier is a member of that scheme.

If you do have to pay anything, you should not accept what they say about the speed of payment - they should be willing to accept a payment rate that you can reasonably afford.

If necessary, get help from your local CAB to deal with them.