Pre payment meter

[george'sgran]

N power fitted a prepayment meter even though I was not in debt because of estimated readings.

 

Before they did so they left a warning notice saying my gas was unsafe to use because of leaves in floe(Sep 2015).

I had not used gas for sometime as boiler was broke.

N Power were aware of this.

 

I never fixed boiler and moved out last year so prepayment meter was never activated.

 

6 months after moving I receive a bill for over £800 in standing charges.

I have been to ombudsman who were useless even contradicting himself and inaccurate amounts and dates.

I have appealed but no joy.

 

My question is should a prepayment meter have been fitted if an at risk notice was attached or should my gas have been disconnected and hence no daily charges?

[dx100uk]

Imho they only fitted it extort standing charges over you

Ignore them now?

[mariner51]

I take it you were the T, not LL, & the person with the N Power Contract for metered gas supply.

It is not a dual fuel bill

How many months does 800 pounds s/c cover?

[ericsbrother]

di you tell them you had moved out? If so when? has someone else taken over the property or supply?

[ericsbrother]

standing charge would be about £100 a year so what have they billed you for as far as the billing period goes? they cant back bill for more than a year so if they did not send you a bill inside the 6 months you were last at the property they cant now demand any more than the 1 years standing charge.

 

When you went to the ombudsman what exactly did you complain about and what did you want them to do? Please answer this with my above post in ind as we need to know who is responsible for any previous and present usage and so forth. It may be that you owe less than a years worth of SC anyways

Edited June 25, 2018 by Andyorch
Paras and typos

[george'sgran]

Its very complicated but my boiler broke in 2012 and I was unable to replace it due to lack of funds.

 

I had an online account and because of an estimated bill at that time had paid for more gas than I had used. My account would not let me submit a meter reading less than what I had paid for. I contacted N Power on numerous occasions about this and eventually gave up. I was about £14 in credit and my account at that time had no daily charges.

 

I received several letters telling me I owed money but because I was not using gas (which they knew and acknowledged the fact in an email) I ignored them.

 

On 21/9/15 I arrived home to find a prepayment meter fitted but also a warning advice notice saying not to use as leaves over the flue. The meter was locked. I spoke to N Power about it and they told me my gas was capped and no charges would be incurred until I phoned the number on the meter to unlock it.

 

Again I never did and I had no contact with N Power until Dec 2017. When I had a bill for over £600 for fines, court warrant and fitting the meter. Then a further bill for £180 daily charge for prepayment meter.

 

I had sold my house in May 2017 so obviously the new owner had tried to activate the meter then. N Power offered £200 towards the debt and the Ombudsman thought this was fair and also required a written apology for bad customer service.

 

I cannot go back to Ombudsman about charges so that is why I am asking about fitting the meter even though the gas supply was not safe. Debt collection agencies are now involved!

Edited June 25, 2018 by DragonFly1967
Added paragraphs

[dx100uk]

DCA's are powerless muppets

[mariner51]

clear as mud narrative.

IMO N Power can fit a prepayment meter, even if leaves covering the flue. They capped the supply to prevent further gas usage and danger, but even with zero usage, the account holder is still liable for s/c until the Contract is cancelled.

[ericsbrother]

I dont think that is right, a capped meter would mean bo standing charge as it is not the same as not using the supply. where the SC would apply.

[ericsbrother]

whaty you dont terll us is why it went to court and how come you didnt fight that action.

You say bill for £600 in fines, what fines and what was the court that handed them down and what reason? If you mean a costs order then say so. Giving a proper time line with meaningful points along it will enable us to advise you where at the moment as mariner says it is as clear as mud.

 

So, everything in date order with the dates please

[mariner51]

post1 "My question is should a prepayment meter have been fitted if an at risk notice was attached or should my gas have been disconnected and hence no daily charges?"

 

I was wrong, the supply was not disconnected so s/c's accrued.

Engineer did not issue a Prohibition Notice, only advised T of potential problem with leaves on the flue.

I suspect N Power fitted the pre-payment meter to inspect the existing installation for signs of tampering, as no gas was app being used over several months.