I’ve done a terrible thing… what to do now

[Odetojoy]

Hi,

about 9 months ago I was really struggling financially. My dad had just died and I was in a very bad place.

I knew that I hadn’t been paying enough for my electricity and I was being badgered for a meter reading. Stupidly I submitted a lower reading. I’m ashamed of this and know it’s illegal.

im now in a better position and want to sort this. Do I just enter the actual reading now? I’m also considering just calling them up and being totally honest about what I did.

what should I do? Please don’t judge me - I know how bad this is

You just enter the new reading and pay the amount then you'll be all up to date. Don't panic!

Next time you could call the company and discuss payment plan options

just submit the real reading now, and don’t beat yourself up x

I would just enter the correct reading. You'll get a big increase on your direct debit or a large bill, depending on how you pay. You won't get away with free electricity and that's not what you want anyway so don't panic. You can sort this. Sorry to hear you had a bad time but well done for getting through it.

How much lower?

they will surely do an estimate?

Submit the new meter reading and pay it. If they question it just say you made a mistake when entering the last meter reading and you’ve just noticed so have submitted the correct one now.

Could you dress it up as an error ie putting in the wrong digit by accident?

I think that I’ll owe about £1000 but my plan is to enter the reading, log in and pay £1000 immediately

This.

You're prepared to pay and there's no point creating a kerfuffle unnecessarily.

What’s the risk of them reporting me to the police?

Yes, just put in the new reading.
I'm sure people accidentally misread their meters all the time so I wouldn't worry at all about being in trouble.

You’re overthinking this. It’s not the end of the world. Just submit the correct reading and pay what you need to pay.

As PP have said, just enter the current reading, your bill will be calculated using that accurate reading.
I doubt that there will be any question regarding the previous readings.

@Odetojoy i don't think they will go that far. What energy company is it?? Some are quite sympathetic when you have a problem x

Nil chance they will report you to the police

Utility companies simply don't do that.

Slim to none. Honestly I wouldn't even think about it. Just out the correct one in now.

Absolutely zero.
No need to be so anxious (is there something else going on?)
Just put the correct reading in now and pay the bill and forget it

Have they been using estimated readings since then?
(Just curious).
No-one will call the police. Just enter it correctly now - prices go up on 1 October so if you leave it, it'll be charged at a higher price.

My husband made a genuine mistake with our meter reading a few years ago*, nothing happened. When I realised I submitted a new reading, waited for the bill to produce overnight then paid a lump some of a few hundred to cover it.

You won't have the 'utility police' battering your door down.

(* obviously it was left to me to sort out!)

You are seriously overthinking this. Put in the actual reading now, they will send you a bill, you pay what you can then arrange something like a regular monthly payment plan for the rest if need be.
The police will not be involved.

Zero risk of police!

What are they going to report you for? Paying them £1000?

They'll have their money and won't care.

The threat of legal action is to stop people routinely doing this hoping it never catches up with them and running up enormous debts that they can't pay.

I doubt a human will even look at it. Put your new meter reading in, the computer will do its sums and recalculate your next bill.

Yes, just get on with it oP and it will all be behind you. If you run with their estimates it will build up.

Well done for facing your demons and you can look forward to a clean slate very shortly.

Cut yourself some slack - you were grieving.

No issue, just pay it now. If they ask, then you misread it. No harm done.

People will enter the wrong meter reading all the time I'm sure - whether by accident or on purpose. I wouldn't worry about it at all.