Meter reading corrupted

[Karen W]

Hi looking for a bit of advice about an issue I have with some work arranged by a social landlord. The landlord had to fit a new consumer unit but sent out a contractor to fit an isolator switch the week before. He also renewed all the wiring from the mains fuse and the meter tails. When the new consumer unit was being fitted I got an email from my power company asking for meter readings. At this point I noticed a discrepancy in my meter reading of around 40,000 kw/hr. It’s one of the old style meters in the black case with the numbers that turn round.
The contractor originally denied having moved or changed the meter in any way however now admits moving it as I provided photographs which proved he did. The contractor and my landlord are both saying nothing could have happened to my meter during the works carried out. My power company intend to bill me as I have evidence of how the meter reading became corrupted during the work.

Can anyone here shed any light on what might have happened?

 

[Karen W]

The meter looks like a Sangamo Floton meter.
I found this on a forum from a New Zealand (basically all the same systems as the U.K) meter calibrator / tester.

The Floton bearing meters 1970's ( Sangamo series ) did not have any major problems at all except Jamming jumping dials.

Thank you. Yes it says Sangamo and Floton on the face of the meter. I’ll look into that too.

 

[baldelectrician]

Just had a look at the earlier picture, the meter seems damaged

Call your supplier and request they change the meter today as an urgent safety matter- let them know the social landlord contractor may have damaged it during works.
Emphasise you can see physical damage to the meter and you would like it replaced

As others have said- it is not possible to use this much power in that time, point this out also

As I said earlier- record the call and let them know at the start of the call.

 

[snowhead]

I'd be reluctant to let the meter be removed unless it was going to an independant meter test / calibration company.
Once the supplier has the meter and it's been thrown around in vans along the way, you've lost any evidence that the meter may be faulty.

 

[Karen W]

I have had an update from the power company that they can not send me a letter of deadlock as they have reopened an investigation and someone will be coming to inspect the meter within 21 days.
They said if the meter found to be faulty it will be replaced and I will be billed accordingly.

 

[Karen W]

Just had a look at the earlier picture, the meter seems damaged

Call your supplier and request they change the meter today as an urgent safety matter- let them know the social landlord contractor may have damaged it during works.
Emphasise you can see physical damage to the meter and you would like it replaced

As others have said- it is not possible to use this much power in that time, point this out also

As I said earlier- record the call and let them know at the start of the call.

I’ve sent the images to the power company to log them as evidence. They have a copy of all the email correspondence with the landlords too.
I have everything in writing as evidence should I need it.

 

[Karen W]

I'd be reluctant to let the meter be removed unless it was going to an independant meter test / calibration company.
Once the supplier has the meter and it's been thrown around in vans along the way, you've lost any evidence that the meter may be faulty.

The power company is now sending someone out to inspect the meter. I have kept all the photographs and emails as evidence too.
They said if the meter is found to be faulty they will replace it and bill me accordingly. Maybe I shouldn’t let them remove it until this is all sorted then.

 

[Mikegh]

Get something in writing re: the bill before they remove meter

A consultation with a solicitor is not out of the question either imo

 

[littlespark]

Hell, it’s already broken…. Smash the glass out and roll it back by hand.?


DONT DO THIS!

 

[Karen W]

Get something in writing re: the bill before they remove meter

A consultation with a solicitor is not out of the question either imo

Thanks. I’m starting to think I need legal advice myself.

 

[Vortigern]

I may be a bit old and stupid but I am sure 77001 - 17296 = 59705? i.e. 60k difference! Thus your meter moved back 60K by what appears to be the first digit slipping. I would be asking for a refund on the basis of the energy companys inability to see that it has gone back, and saying forward hence charging you for the extra. Incompetent hardly describes it.

 

[littlespark]

The supplier assumes it’s gone forward. Computer says no when it comes to them going backwards.

It sounds like it’s at least being investigated, which is a good sign

 

[brianmoooore]

Computer also says that if it's gone forwards, then you must have used the electricity.
That's the way things work with big, faceless companies. The default is that they are right and you are wrong, so they leave it to you to protest, and then protest again and again, and eventually someone will actually listen.
Don't take it personally, don't pay, and don't worry about it. Eventually they'll see sense, and you will normally get a little ex gratia payment for your trouble.