Do you seem to be paying too much for your bills? Have you just received a bill you didn’t see coming? Maybe your prepayment meter is flashing up an error message? If you’re a tenant, you need to let your landlord know because your meter could be faulty, and it’s the responsibility of your energy supplier to fix it.
Do you have a faulty meter?
It’s easy to see if a prepayment meter is faulty. The screen will go blank or you’ll see a message like “error”, “battery” ‘or “call help”. Your energy supplier must then come out and repair the meter within three hours on a working day or four if the fault occurs on the weekend or a bank holiday.
If you have a credit meter, it’s also relatively easy to check for faults yourself. First, turn off all your appliances. Then, check your meter again. If the numbers continue to move, the meter is probably faulty. If it’s a gas meter, take immediate action because there may be a leak. You’ll need to contact your supplier and arrange for the meter to be tested.
You should also check the state of your outdoor gas meterbox to ensure that the problem isn’t a result of vandalism. If your box needs replacing, consider a durable cover like those supplied by https://www.meterbox.co.uk/
Get a meter test
Before your supplier undertakes a meter test, they may ask you to keep regular meter readings over the course of seven days. If this is the case, make sure you comply so your suppliers can rule out unusual usage on your part. They should then conduct meter testing, which is free. However, if the results of the test show the meter is not faulty, you will be required to pay for the test.
Your electricity meter will be tested in your home, and your supplier may even fit a temporary meter. A gas meter will be sent away for testing, so the energy company must install another one in its place. If you’re not happy with the results of the test, you can pay for an independent assessment.
If the meter is found to be faulty, you’re entitled to a replacement. You can also claim for any overpayments on bills and are entitled to compensation.