Having switched to a capped gas supplier six months back, I was surprised
to get a 'Notice of High Bill' letter from them - especially since I have
given them 'real' meter readings every time.

It turned out on investigation that their meter reader had been round and
read the initial '0' as a '1' - adding 10,000 cubic thingies to the total.

Based on how many we actually used, I estimate that would have been an
extra £30,000 for this quarter. I'm quite glad they have a sanity check
built in to their system!

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:59:17 GMT, PCPaul wrote:

Having switched to a capped gas supplier six months back, I was surprised
to get a 'Notice of High Bill' letter from them - especially since I have
given them 'real' meter readings every time.

It turned out on investigation that their meter reader had been round and
read the initial '0' as a '1' - adding 10,000 cubic thingies to the total.

Based on how many we actually used, I estimate that would have been an
extra £30,000 for this quarter. I'm quite glad they have a sanity check
built in to their system!




Did they ask you re-read the meter or were they just being polite in
telling you to empty your piggy bank?

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:00:58 +0000, fictitiousemail wrote:

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:59:17 GMT, PCPaul wrote:

Having switched to a capped gas supplier six months back, I was
surprised to get a 'Notice of High Bill' letter from them - especially
since I have given them 'real' meter readings every time.

It turned out on investigation that their meter reader had been round
and read the initial '0' as a '1' - adding 10,000 cubic thingies to the
total.

Based on how many we actually used, I estimate that would have been an
extra £30,000 for this quarter. I'm quite glad they have a sanity check
built in to their system!


Did they ask you re-read the meter or were they just being polite in
telling you to empty your piggy bank?


They seemed quite keen to pin down the source of the error - double
checking meter reference numbers etc.

To be fair to the meter reader it is sort of round a corner and poorly
lit - but then I would imagine many meters are like that...

In article , PCPaul
writes

They seemed quite keen to pin down the source of the error - double
checking meter reference numbers etc.

To be fair to the meter reader it is sort of round a corner and poorly
lit - but then I would imagine many meters are like that...

It's nice to see an outfit trying to correct an error before billing,
care to share the provider?
--
fred
BBC3, ITV2/3/4, channels going to the DOGs

On 11 Dec, 20:59, PCPaul wrote:
Having switched to a capped gas supplier six months back, I was surprised
to get a 'Notice of High Bill' letter from them - especially since I have
given them 'real' meter readings every time.

It turned out on investigation that their meter reader had been round and
read the initial '0' as a '1' - adding 10,000 cubic thingies to the total..

Based on how many we actually used, I estimate that would have been an
extra £30,000 for this quarter. I'm quite glad they have a sanity check
built in to their system!

The meter reader was previously sacked from his loss adjusting job

dg

On 11 Dec, 21:59, PCPaul wrote:
Having switched to a capped gas supplier six months back, I was surprised
to get a 'Notice of High Bill' letter from them - especially since I have
given them 'real' meter readings every time.

It turned out on investigation that their meter reader had been round and
read the initial '0' as a '1' - adding 10,000 cubic thingies to the total..

I have one meter where the 100s wheel has been mismounted so that it's
always between two digits. I read it low, but last time the meter
reader read it high. I dread the time when we both send in readings on
the same day and they think it's wrapped round and I've consumed
99,899 units!

Based on how many we actually used, I estimate that would have been an
extra £30,000 for this quarter. I'm quite glad they have a sanity check
built in to their system!

I was under the impression that the sanity check was done in their
PDAs because on one occasion my (EDF) leccy meter reader entered the
number then went back and read it again. I assumed he got a "don't be
silly" message, but I didn't ask.

Chris

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:31:11 +0000, fred wrote:

In article , PCPaul
writes

They seemed quite keen to pin down the source of the error - double
checking meter reference numbers etc.

To be fair to the meter reader it is sort of round a corner and poorly
lit - but then I would imagine many meters are like that...

It's nice to see an outfit trying to correct an error before billing,
care to share the provider?

Scottish Power called me a few months ago asking me to read the
electricity meter as they believed the reading by their 'Reader' was
erroneous. I read the meters evry month and post them (online0 to my
provider as I don't trust the Readers. Not that I think there is
anything faudulent just it must be so easy for errors to occur.

wrote:
On 11 Dec, 21:59, PCPaul wrote:
Having switched to a capped gas supplier six months back, I was
surprised to get a 'Notice of High Bill' letter from them -
especially since I have given them 'real' meter readings every time.

It turned out on investigation that their meter reader had been
round and read the initial '0' as a '1' - adding 10,000 cubic
thingies to the total.

I have one meter where the 100s wheel has been mismounted so that it's
always between two digits. I read it low, but last time the meter
reader read it high. I dread the time when we both send in readings on
the same day and they think it's wrapped round and I've consumed
99,899 units!

Based on how many we actually used, I estimate that would have been
an extra £30,000 for this quarter. I'm quite glad they have a sanity
check built in to their system!

I was under the impression that the sanity check was done in their
PDAs because on one occasion my (EDF) leccy meter reader entered the
number then went back and read it again. I assumed he got a "don't be
silly" message, but I didn't ask.

The PDA flags up any reading that's more than 15% different from what the
system expects based on your previous bills. It doesn't tell him whether
it's high or low but suggests the need to take the reading again and also do
a check for any tampering with the meter.
--
Dave Baker

On Dec 12, 1:56*am, wrote:
On 11 Dec, 21:59, PCPaul wrote:

Having switched to a capped gas supplier six months back, I was surprised
to get a 'Notice of High Bill' letter from them - especially since I have
given them 'real' meter readings every time.

It turned out on investigation that their meter reader had been round and
read the initial '0' as a '1' - adding 10,000 cubic thingies to the total.

I have one meter where the 100s wheel has been mismounted so that it's
always between two digits. I read it low, but last time the meter
reader read it high. I dread the time when we both send in readings on
the same day and they think it's wrapped round and I've consumed
99,899 units!

So why not get it fixed rather than waiting for it to happen? Whilst
not an identical situation, I have no sympathy for the (seemimgly
many) people you see on TV complaining about a very large bill because
they have never bothered to check the estimated meter readings for
themselves.

MBQ


MBQ

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:56:12 -0800 (PST) someone who may be
wrote this:-

I have one meter where the 100s wheel has been mismounted so that it's
always between two digits.

Then the meter is faulty. Your electricity charges include a
metering service, so ask your supplier to arrange for their metering
supplier to replace it.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

"David Hansen" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:56:12 -0800 (PST) someone who may be
wrote this:-

I have one meter where the 100s wheel has been mismounted so that it's
always between two digits.

Then the meter is faulty. Your electricity charges include a
metering service, so ask your supplier to arrange for their metering
supplier to replace it.


But make a careful note of the old and new meter readings - when our meter
was replaced, they got the readings the wrong way round and wanted to
overcharge us several hundred quid as a result.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:31:11 +0000, fred wrote:

In article , PCPaul
writes

They seemed quite keen to pin down the source of the error - double
checking meter reference numbers etc.

To be fair to the meter reader it is sort of round a corner and poorly
lit - but then I would imagine many meters are like that...

It's nice to see an outfit trying to correct an error before billing,
care to share the provider?

Don't see why not - it was Eon. I went with them for gas+leccy on a
capped deal - partly to avoid too nasty surprises, and partly for the new
toy energy meter ;-)

Unfortunately I buggered up the signing up online and went for the same
tariff but without the meter offer - I rang up when I realised and they
said they couldn't change it now but the bloke in customer support said
he'd make a note of it and get back in touch when the cointract was set
up to switch it and send me the meter... and blow me down he did, weeks
later!

I've heard bad things about Eon (and about everybody else as well,
really) but they've done it all right so far...

In article , PCPaul
writes
On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:31:11 +0000, fred wrote:

In article , PCPaul
writes

They seemed quite keen to pin down the source of the error - double
checking meter reference numbers etc.

To be fair to the meter reader it is sort of round a corner and poorly
lit - but then I would imagine many meters are like that...

It's nice to see an outfit trying to correct an error before billing,
care to share the provider?

Don't see why not - it was Eon. I went with them for gas+leccy on a
capped deal - partly to avoid too nasty surprises, and partly for the new
toy energy meter ;-)

I've got them for a small business premises, no-one could touch them at
the time on tariff. I too had heard bad things, and am suspicious of
branding changes (nee Powergen), but they seem ok so far, thanks for
sharing.
--
fred
BBC3, ITV2/3/4, channels going to the DOGs