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Original poster

Gas meter reading

36 replies

Gwenhwyfar · 01/07/2020 17:49

Hi
I'll be leaving my flat soon. My gas company is badgering me for a reading. This is obviously not in my interests having been working from home for four months so I'd much rather pay based on an estimate. Can I just not give a reading? Would they come after me afterwards?
TIA

OP posts:
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/07/2020 17:56

I would have thought you'd have to settle the bill properly (with a real-time reading) if you're moving. Even if you don't, the new resident will be asked to do a baseline reading on moving in, so you'll be pursued for the outstanding amount you still owe.

Original poster
Gwenhwyfar · 01/07/2020 18:08

Ok, thanks New. I thought they'd just charge me an estimate.

OP posts:
mencken · 01/07/2020 18:12

yep, you aren't going to get away with not paying what you owe unless the new resident doesn't send a reading. And this is why you should always send readings when you move into a property, you never know what debt the previous occupant has left.

nice try but the rest of the world was not actually born yesterday.

Original poster
Gwenhwyfar · 01/07/2020 18:14

Not a very nice comment mencken. Wasn't my fault I had to work from home.

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 01/07/2020 18:16

Of course you have to pay for what you have used and not just an estimate!!

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/07/2020 18:20

@Gwenhwyfar on a related note which might help you a bit, I am sure that you can claim circa £6.00 a week from HMRC for all the weeks you were working from home (I recall reading about it soon after lockdown). Link here. If you've been working from home for 14 weeks that would be £84. It might not cover the entirety of the extra gas you've used but would certainly help. Good luck!

dementedpixie · 01/07/2020 18:20

You need to give a reading so you pay for what you have used and don't leave the next tenant with a debt hanging over them. You've used it and need to pay for it

Tatty101 · 01/07/2020 18:21

Wow

LovingLola · 01/07/2020 18:23

Not a very nice comment mencken. Wasn't my fault I had to work from home.

Presumably you’ve saved money on commuting and other work related costs?
Did you actually think you don’t have to pay for what you use?

acatcalledjohn · 01/07/2020 18:47

@Gwenhwyfar

Hi I'll be leaving my flat soon. My gas company is badgering me for a reading. This is obviously not in my interests having been working from home for four months so I'd much rather pay based on an estimate. Can I just not give a reading? Would they come after me afterwards? TIA
You think the energy company or the next tenant should be liable for the costs? To quote yourself: It's not their fault you had to WFH, so why would you expect them to foot your bill?

Christ on a bike.

Just give a truthful meter reading FFS.

MrsMoastyToasty · 01/07/2020 19:21

If they don't get a reading from you or the new tenant they will do an apportioned bill.

AlwaysAJoker · 01/07/2020 19:24

Wow, this is one of the cheekiest things I’ve read on here.

Get a reading, pay what you owe, and stop trying to make your bills someone else’s problems.

Original poster
Gwenhwyfar · 01/07/2020 20:13

" If you've been working from home for 14 weeks that would be £84. It might not cover the entirety of the extra gas you've used but would certainly help. Good luck!"

Thanks. I did know about this, but I don't think it will refund all my working from home costs. Like I said, electricity has also gone up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gwenhwyfar · 01/07/2020 20:15

"Presumably you’ve saved money on commuting and other work related costs?"

You don't know anything about my commute do you?

OP posts:
Original poster
Gwenhwyfar · 01/07/2020 20:18

"You need to give a reading so you pay for what you have used and don't leave the next tenant with a debt hanging over them."

Why would the next tenant have to pay? The flat is managed by agents who would change the names so it would be clear when I leave and when the next person starts.

OP posts:
LIZS · 01/07/2020 20:18

Whoever takes over will also give an opening reading so if it is much higher than estimated they will chase you for the difference.

LovingLola · 01/07/2020 20:19

No. I know nothing about your commute.
What I would like to know though is why you think you can steal money from your gas provider and leave someone else to deal with your mess?

Original poster
Gwenhwyfar · 01/07/2020 20:24

@LovingLola

No. I know nothing about your commute. What I would like to know though is why you think you can steal money from your gas provider and leave someone else to deal with your mess?
  1. I see no reason why the new tenant would have to pay as it would be clear at what date I leave and they start.
  2. Not particularly bothered about large corporations for whom it would not make a huge difference.
OP posts:
LoveSatsumas · 01/07/2020 20:58

op, you're having a laugh. If your post isn't a wind up, hang your head in shame.

Shinesweetfreedom · 01/07/2020 21:13

I fucking don’t believe you.
Not in your interests to pay your bill.

LIZS · 01/07/2020 21:52

I'm doubtful your gas bill will be significantly higher than usual . We have had largely mild weather in last three months after all.

RedCatBlueCat · 01/07/2020 22:02

If you dont give a final reading, the initial reading given by the people who move in next will be used. Units dont just "dissapear". Someone, somewhere will need to pay for the usage. You are better giving a final reading - and taking photos so you can prove you were accurate.

jackdaw141 · 01/07/2020 22:02

You might find it easier to cheat on your taxes. For example, you might want to claim a few extra business miles in your car each month. An extra 100 miles might save you £18 in tax, so over a year that is a whopping £216.

BarbaraofSeville · 02/07/2020 10:11

Well it wasn't your choice to work from home, but it wasn't your gas company's or the next resident of the property either. Even if the gas company can write off the cost of the gas you don't want to pay for, they couldn't afford it if everyone did this, and you're setting the next occupant up for a whole load of hassle because the number they give won't match your number and the gas company are likely to try and get them to pay for the 'missing' gas in the first instance.

You use gas, you pay for it. Sorry. And anyway, for April and May the weather was scorching, so you won't have used much heating anyway. Our gas bill for the month to mid May was £20 and to Mid June £10, so it's likely that it won't be much or you're arguing about pennies anyway.

TheHighestSardine · 02/07/2020 10:23

If you skip out on paying they'll chase you through letters then sell it off to a debt agency, and you may end up in court. Pay the fucking thing.