Accused meter tampering

[Locksmith]

Hi... This is a tricky set up. I have a shop, ground floor (No 33). There is a flat upstairs (No 35) accessible by a door next to the shop door. My electric meter is in the cellar under my shop but is only accessible by going into the flat door.

The electric company came to change my meter to a smart o e. I wasn't there (day off) but it was arranged the flat tenant would be there, letting the engineers in to do the work. I came to the shop the day after, turned a machine on and the whole lot tripped out. I rang the electric company and they arranged for a guy to come check the meter. He did, repaired it and all was fine.

Then a few months after that, a woman came into the shop saying she needed to check the meter. I explained she could knock next door and that's all I could do, as I didn't have access to the flat/meter.

While I was on holiday I got a call from the same woman saying they were getting a warrant to gain access to check the meter (bit excessive I though) but said again, it was not my property.

Now they're saying the meter has been tampered with, offering no proof (as there is none) and want to charge me £1300 for the meter being 'made safe'. No one but the engineer has been down the cellar. Once to change and once to repair the meter.

Where do I go? I have emailed, spoke on the phone but they are adamant i have to pay. To avoid charges I had to pay £450 and then set up a direct debit for £214 for the next 4 months.

At my witts end

[echat11]

Hi Locksmith

Welcome to LB

Is the billing in the 'Business Name'?

Regarding the 'tampering', what exactly has been the benefit from the 'tampering'?

It actually sounds 'ridiculous', they are trying to take advantage of the situation.

[PallasAthena]

Are you absolutely sure that this person is from your electricity supplier and it isn't a scam?

You could use your electricity supplier's formal complaints procedure to complain about this and seek more details. You haven't been told what the alleged tampering is nor how the £1300 has been calculated.

[Locksmith]

I have asked them to supply details of what the 'tampering' actually is. After reading stuff about meter tampering, I'm pretty sure if it were the case, I would be arrested for electricity theft. As my bills have not increased at all, there is obviously no theft. My bills are not even £40 a month, so no benefit from attempting to tamper and steal it.

I am now awaiting details of the alleged tampering. But I am at a total loss as to where to go now. It's costing me money I don't believe should be my responsibility.

[echat11]

I have asked them to supply details of what the 'tampering' actually is. After reading stuff about meter tampering, I'm pretty sure if it were the case, I would be arrested for electricity theft. As my bills have not increased at all, there is obviously no theft. My bills are not even £40 a month, so no benefit from attempting to tamper and steal it.

I am now awaiting details of the alleged tampering. But I am at a total loss as to where to go now. It's costing me money I don't believe should be my responsibility.

You need to make case. Get a spreadsheet, put billing and payments on a spreadsheet, show them that there has been no benefit and they are making 'spurious' claims against you with no proof whatsoever.

Update when they respond.

[Locksmith]

Are you absolutely sure that this person is from your electricity supplier and it isn't a scam?

You could use your electricity supplier's formal complaints procedure to complain about this and seek more details. You haven't been told what the alleged tampering is nor how the £1300 has been calculated.

Going through the formal complaints procedure. Its actually a bit pathetic. It basically all returns to "you owe us £1300 for the meter being made safe".

It's been escalated now. I am just awaiting details of the tampering, what was tampered exactly and apparent 'proof' of this. They basically have me over a barrel. Without paying a lawyer I'm not gonna get anywhere.

[echat11]

Going through the formal complaints procedure. Its actually a bit pathetic. It basically all returns to "you owe us £1300 for the meter being made safe".

It's been escalated now. I am just awaiting details of the tampering, what was tampered exactly and apparent 'proof' of this. They basically have me over a barrel. Without paying a lawyer I'm not gonna get anywhere.

I'm assuming your a micro business.

https://www.energyombudsman.org/?utm...ampaign=button

[PallasAthena]

So the £1,300 isn't for electricity they claim you have used but a "repair" cost to make the meter safe.

Let us know when details and evidence of what the tampering was.

[echat11]

This sounds like the energy company doing what they do best, the engineer fixes the issue, but also doesn't make it 'safe' etc. The engineer has made the company 'aware' (known bad practice) how he has left the meter, surprise, surprise a call a few months later 'the meter has' been tampered with, 'they know'.