n power a disgrace

Hi John, don't bank on smart meters to solve your problems, in fact you could find yourself with another headache with the new not so smart meters. As to your other issue with the current bill I think the UK average combined energy bill both gas an electric is roughly £1250.00. My customers ask me how much will their electricity bill be when they change their heating to electricity, the truth is providing they go on the right tariff and use the heating wisely then their costs rise by around £100 a year, it all depends on the type of heating system they choose to have. Have had a few complaints that their electricity bill has gone up by around £500 a year... Then I remind them that their gas bill has gone down the equivalent amount. 

For you to have a £3200 bill, kind of beggars belief especially if you live in a flat. Unless you have a heavy demand appliance such as a boiler or hot water immersion heater on say 12 hours a day I cannot see how they arrived at this figure, even if you did the appliances would shut down on temperature so there would be no demand. The only other exception I can see for this to be possible other than a faulty meter is that over the last 5-6 years they have only done estimated bills and now they have done an actual meter reading and have billed you for the discrepancy. Having said that somewhere in the back of my head I was told once that all energy companies have to read / inspect all utility meters at least once every 2 years, have just googled that and it is a legal requirement 

£3200 for a years electric! I find it really frustrating that you've taken the time and trouble to go to the ombudsman, who found in your favour but only offered what sounds like an unrealistic amount. Makes a mockery of the process.

The fact you've tried mediation and they've refused and now you have the hassle of taking them to court over their mistake, beggars belief. Maybe worth getting touch with Watchdog and also make some noise on moneysavingexpert.com. Try tweeting Martin Lewis, never know, may get a response! Nothing like a bit of publicity to get a change of heart 

Hi John

I took EON to task over their lack of customer service recently over believe it or not meter reading! (as per Barney's post, they hadnt read mine in over 2 years)

They threatened me with Court action if i didnt let them read my meter - simple i said pop round any time after 6pm. Their meter readers only work until 5pm and you have to jump through hoops to get one after that.

A most unpleasant experience, 4 threatening letters later i decide to go to Ombudsman. They found in my favour but got a poultry amount in compensation, but they did say EON should change their hours for meter readers.

Whichever utility provider you are with, you are a number not a customer and they seem to be able to dictate what they like with very little "customer service" unless you have the patience to take them to task.

One thing i don't get though, is if you have given them meter readings why haven't they confirmed the charges, or are they saying you have used £3200 with their readings, in which case sounds like you have either a faulty meter or as Barney suggests is it that they have under charged you somehow?

Good luck with your Court case 

What a  nightmare! We had problems with our smart meter so they are definitely not so smart....! Then I had a letter saying the gas was going to be cut off as we'd removed a meter without authorisation....the company hadn't told the gas board we had a new meter!!! It was sorted but pretty shoddy really.

Just read on the BBC News website that Npower are being forced to pay £26m over billing & complaint issues.

Link to full article - BBCNews 

Have been reading this thread and chuckling.. Even with such poor service , people in South Africa would be jumping at the chance for service like this ,believe it or not.. South Africa has possibly got the worst services possible.. A great example is load shedding where parts of a huge city will go into complete darkness and if you in the middle of cooking ,tough ... They also don't have the luxury of jumping ship as that would mean candles and a generator as there is only 1 supplier so you just have no choice

I sent the bbc loads of info about my problem with npower but like watchdog they pick and choose who they bother to contact 

I took the time to send them details the other morning as they asked for people to send in, not even an email reply 

shame on you BBC next time I won't bother 

john 

I tried watchdog 2 times again still waiting for a reply 

 will try Martin Lewis you never know