Problem with gas supplier

Does anyone know whether utility cos. can bill based on an estimate? Mine - EDF - is charging me a fortune for gas consumption for last summer. The initial reading for that period is based on an estimate; the final one is based on my reading. The final total is completely out of whack with previous summers bills. The initial reading is an estimate b/c EDF used to be Virgin and me thinks there has been a cock-up. EDF are being very inflexible. Any consumer rights/protection on this or will I have to pay?

 

Gas Supplier Problem!

Hi, I am new to the site but have worked for BG for many years and am aware of all the problems.
First of all make an appointment with your supplier to come and read your meter, this will conform with the standards laid down within the industry. You are under no obligation to pay a estimated bill, and have the right to ask for a correct reading. Last of all go back to BG they may not be as good as they where but are still way ahead of the other suppliers who after all have no experience of the gas industry.

Hope This Helps! :SLEEP:

 

I would never go back to British Gas, sorry Wolfie, they tried to take me to court because apparently I'd managed to use £874 of gas in one day, this was during a house move. Only the solicitor who was preparing the small claims court documentation saw sense, and that when they finally admitted that they had made a mistake
Cab, you can take a reading yourself and ring EDF I think, that's what I've done before.

 

I was with British Gas for a while, and every month they'd invite me to pay by direct debit, I'd send the form in then they'd send me a quarterly bill.
That went on for a year.
So I left and will never go back (especially as there's no gas here, apart from my own!)

 

wolfie...what legal reference can used to back up what you say about no obligation to pay an estimated bill.

wolfie/lordsummit

the problem is that start reading is the estimate and that was for june 04, so there is no way to provide an accurate ready. i provided the end reading. the dispute therefore conerns proving that the start reading is accurate. of course, no one can. EDF are getting very aggressive about payment even though i have asked them to prove their start reading is accurate (which they can't, of course).

any ideas?

 

British Gas are dreadful. They kept sending letters for a debt collection to a former occupant. I told them that they should stop and was told "They will be sent to you because there's no forwarding address and they have to be sent somewhere". I suggested that this could be cause for me to change suppliers if they did not change their tune and their response was "That's your choice sir".

A month later I got a call from them saying "We see you're leaving us and is there any reason?"... I told them what had happened and the guy on the other end of the phone was quite apologetic and said that he could see my point and understood why I was leaving. Didn't try to get me to stay...