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Original poster

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

235 replies

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:09

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

OP posts:
CRD67 · 15/09/2024 22:37

I've deliberately under reported my meter reading. I was £300 in credit and was denied a refund so I wanted to redress the balance in my favour. I didn't lose a wink of sleep, and I don't think you should either.

GetBackInYourBox · 15/09/2024 22:43

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Absolutely none. I used to work for an electric ompany until June so well up on these things. Just submit the correct reading now - it's all computer driven, no one looks at individuals

BooneyBeautiful · 15/09/2024 22:45

Overthebow · 14/09/2024 09:11

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.

This.

ThanksHunPenneys · 15/09/2024 22:48

CRD67 · 15/09/2024 22:37

I've deliberately under reported my meter reading. I was £300 in credit and was denied a refund so I wanted to redress the balance in my favour. I didn't lose a wink of sleep, and I don't think you should either.

I think it should be illegal to deny customers a refund when they're in credit, especially so much money!

MuseumGardens · 15/09/2024 22:52

For all they know you'd been staying at a friend's house so the reading was lower last time but have recently had friends to stay who are forever showering so it's gone up more than expected this time.

PetulantPenguin · 15/09/2024 22:56

No risk at all I'd say and I work for an energy company. They will just assume you made a genuine mistake and bill you a catch up bill. If prices have gone down since you fibbed about the reading you can ask them to reestimate proportionally which would work in your favour. Seriously don't worry.

T1Dmama · 15/09/2024 23:15

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Just enter the new reading. If they query it play dumb and say you must’ve made an error .. they won’t call the police for a genuine mistake, just don’t admit to anything.

Lavenderblue11 · 15/09/2024 23:22

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

I would have thought zero! Stop panicking, it will be ok x

FinallyHere · 15/09/2024 23:27

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

This is never going to happen.

There is no evidence of wrongdoing. If anyone asks say you were upset and made a mistake, which you have since rectified.

Nothing to do with police.

Cojones · 16/09/2024 15:18

@OdetojoyAs long as you’re not stealing electricity from someone else’s property then you are fine. Do what everyone says, give them a current meter reading. Pay your bill, all will be well.

I’ve made a mistake the other way. Transposed figures in the meter reading, they sent me an enormous bill. I had to get them to come and read the meter to get my bill reduced. It was quite unpleasant until we all agreed I’d made an error.

I did have run-ins with EDF, they switched me from quarterly to monthly billing and didn’t tell me so I was frequently in arrears and being chased. I got fed up, paid up and left, at which point they were all over me like a rash, trying to get me to stay.

MellersSmellers · 16/09/2024 18:02

Haha! I deliberately put a higher reading in when prices were going up! Didn't realise there might be any legal implications..Now that excess has been eaten away and everything is regularised.
Yes, I don't think you have anything to worry about. It may have implications for your suggested Direct Debit though as their records of your consumption will be wrong. But over time this would be readjusted.

PenelopePitStrop · 18/09/2024 08:42

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Zero

husbandcallsmepickle · 19/09/2024 05:41

That was 9 months ago, what has happened in between? We have to submit meter readings every three months and if we don't then they get estimated anyway.

Fountofwisdom · 21/09/2024 17:55

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Zero risk. Just give the correct reading next time and they will adjust your bill or DD accordingly. End of story. You will not be in any trouble! Relax and stop worrying.

Kidznurse · 21/09/2024 18:10

Just enter the real reading. No one realisticly will question it the electric company just wants your money. In the most extreme scenario that something was said just say you read it wrong previously. Just relax and move on please.

Antonela · 21/09/2024 18:23

Just give the correct meter reading or if it is massive understatement gradually give an higher reading each time to make up for the low reading. I am sure, sadly, you’re not the first person who has been in your situation. The cost of living is crucifying many people. I am sure you’ll be fine-I hope so!

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 21/09/2024 18:42

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Absolutely zero.
Don't sweat the small stuff.

Relax.
Breathe.

Forgive yourself
Forget about it

Don't do it again

One last thing though. If you're £1000 out on what you owe you must have been doing this a long time since you won't have managed that on a single meter read.
So I wouldn't say I misread the meter.
Just submit the reading
Pay the money
And move on

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 21/09/2024 18:46

Oh. Just one thing.

The electricity companies do monitor high usage for the police. Cannabis farms in houses y'see.

If the police did get involved l, and I'm 99.9% sure they wouldn't anyway since there'll be no heat signature from your house on a flyby, then they'd only be worried about drugs.

And I'm sure you don't have those do you...

Atina321 · 21/09/2024 18:52

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Absolutely none.

Atina321 · 21/09/2024 18:54

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 21/09/2024 18:46

Oh. Just one thing.

The electricity companies do monitor high usage for the police. Cannabis farms in houses y'see.

If the police did get involved l, and I'm 99.9% sure they wouldn't anyway since there'll be no heat signature from your house on a flyby, then they'd only be worried about drugs.

And I'm sure you don't have those do you...

Utility companies do not monitor for high usage. They will advise if a property has high usage if the police ask as part of an investigation. Please stop scaring OP!

TwinklyKhakiPoster · 21/09/2024 19:26

I used to do this regularly when we went abroad for three months each year. I wanted to pay roughly £60 a month so would calculate the readings and submit them. Our business was closed for winter and by the time we came back,it was Easter so a bigger reading was acceptable. I did this once a year for six years and no one ever questioned it so please don't worry because after all,you are paying the bill and not going in the red with it.

thevoiceofreasoning · 21/09/2024 19:59

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Zero chance! Don’t worry at all. Well done for getting back on your feet! Just enter correct reading and pay what’s owed. No drama … if they do query it (which is unlikely) just act innocent and say you must have mistakenly entered the wrong digits last time. They can’t prove it wasn’t a genuine mistake and as long as you give them what you owe then they won’t take issue!

AbraAbraCadabra · 21/09/2024 20:27

Odetojoy · 14/09/2024 09:13

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

Zero. Just put in the new reading and pay what you owe. And then stop worrying about it.

bellabasset · 21/09/2024 22:27

The only issue I can see is if the charges have increased since you put an in orrect readi g in it could cost you more.I have a?fixed tariff with BG a d they put my standing order up this ..month. ut due to ill ess I have used .more so I was looking at it anyway.

Furryfeelings · 21/09/2024 22:27

I wonder if you would consider getting some support with your anxiety and maybe exploring your understandable feelings about the loss of your parent? The reason I say this is because when I saw the title of the post I honestly thought you had hit and run on a pedestrian, stolen someone’s kidney - something really morally and legally disgusting. Maybe I’m wrong but you seem wracked with guilt and prone to catastrophising. Your post reminds me of a time when I’d had a few difficult life events and stresses and felt I was living off adrenaline- then I got a letter in the post saying I’d been overpaid child tax credits and it was like a bomb went off in my head - started imagining prison sentences, bankruptcy etc., when really it was a sign I’d reached the end of my tether and needed a bit of tlc- just a thought x

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