If I have meter readings from August and have been given a whopping estimated bill

[Pawslikepaddington]

Can I still use them? It says on the back of the last (insane) bill I got, in my handwriting "rung 15th Aug-meter readings...."-and then gives the meter readings for the 15th Aug. I know I rang up the automated thing with them as they were so different from the estimated ones, and I can remember ringing with readings at some point so it must have been then, but then I have been sent a bill that still puts them as estimated, and gives me a bill of £800. According to my readings I have used 228 day units and 239 night units since the 15th Aug, but according to their estimates I have used 3196 day and 1698 night units. I don't live their any more, is there anything I can do?

? so did you move out on the 15th August then and was that the final reading you gave them? If you've moved out and someone else has moved in, then the energy company should have been given final readings from you and the starting reading from the new residents.

No, I moved out on 6th Oct, so they have final readings, but these are readings from aug that I rang in, but they didn't take note of, so I don't know if they are still valid IYSWIM

No, I moved out on 6th Oct, so they have final readings, but these are readings from aug that I rang in, but they didn't take note of, so I don't know if they are still valid IYSWIM

well surely if you gave them readings on 15th August and then the final reading on 6th October it shouldn't be rocket science for them to give you a final bill. A final bill must be a final bill and if they've had correct readings supplied on the day you moved out, they have to do a final bill on those figures.

But they haven't recorded the actual readings from aug on the bill, it is like they haven't gone on the system or something, so am worried they will say I am making them up.

but if its a final bill, surely you will only pay for what you used prior to you moving out, ie the 6th October. So really, the meter reading of the 15th August is irrelevant? What period does the bill you are referring to cover?

We checked the estimated reading to find that it was thousands of units higher than the actual meter reading at our office. When we phoned the electricity people, they said that their meter reader had found the same, but they assumed it was a mistake and carried on with their estimates.

We have had a £3000 refund!!! Unfortunately it's for work, not me!!

I have sent in three readings-one in feb when we switched to them, one in Aug and one in Oct, and they have recorded none of them, so have gone on estimates the whole time, which is a total difference of more than £1000!

Time to get snotty!

The other thing to watch is that the prcies went up for most companies on 1 Spetember - so make them calccualte your final bill on the basis of yuo August reading for the laower rate the only the differecne at the higher rate.

Surely just reiterating the closing one in October(which should match the opening one for the new occupier's account) will correct it ?

Paws - if you have readings from August and your final meter readings they can work out an average and "apportion" the rest of the bill back to Feb. I used to do this for npower.

It could be that when you switched to them they may have input the readings incorrectly so your readings in August seem wrong. Does that make sense?

As you changed to a new supplier they have no record of any previous readings on the meter so if they input a number incorrectly then it can spiral a bill out of kilter.

So 53 days with 228 day units and 239 night units so that would average 4.3 day units per day and 4.5 units per night.

You then calculate your entire bill based on the day you moved in in Feb all the way through to Oct 6th, so example if lived there from 1st feb to 6th oct then you would have been there 249 days total.

Then multiply those number of days by 4.3 to give you a total consumption of day units

249 X 4.3 = 1070 day
249 X 4.5 = 1121 night (we always round up)

so if you have your final meter reading you just minus 1070 from the day to give you your opening reading.

Will check back in case you have any questions.

to clarify that 53 days bit was based on your 15th august to 6th october period