esb after a "hole in meter"

kerrellie

Absolutely raging here after just receiving an e-mailed bill from electric Ireland for 2,700 and something Euro!! I've been living in this rented house two and a half years,I've had situations of bulbs blowing and turning everything electric off but meter still ran like a lunatic,always meant to get an electrician to see if there was an electrical fault,unfortunately never got round to its,I have a toddler and now small baby on my own,life is bury,I forget to gel things done,

last month esb network came to switch old meter to a new one as they said they did with the whole estate,changed its but guy that did it said there was a "hole in the meter" took him saying it 3 times for me to figure out what he meant-somebody put a hole in the meter to do a "dodge", he then started getting narky with me as if implying I did its,started harping on about my actual reading and the reading they had was way off. I said yes they would be,my bills have been estimated here and there as meter guy used to never come in let alone knock sometimes as he was afraid of my dog who in fairness did seem scary but wasn't,when I had my baby and trying to sort Xmas and doc and health nurse appointments I just let them estimate to sort out after,so my actual reading was way UP not down as you'd probably expect from this hole??

Since then I spent all my credit ringing them,one girl I was speaking to mentioned the hole would have made the meter faulty,soon after she said her supervisor who was next to her told her to finish the call and to advise I would receive a call back,that was nearly 6 weeks ago,no call,

I've wasted two lots of credit with no joy,they sent me an invoice of 200e for the faulty meter which I'm not happy with as I don't see why I should take the rap for something I didn't do,meter reader knocked in between (my "scary" dog died recently so he's not hanging out the window staring anymore) I ate the face off him telling him the jist of things and in fairness he rang them and asked them to call back,yet again-absolutely nothing til the bill of nearly 3 grand this morning.

I've switched to prepay electricity,and there's a new meter,everything seems fine now I'm that sense,what I want to know is if there's any electricians (independent!!) out there,can SOMEONE please explain this hole and would it create a fault afterwards? I will pay them some of it as I know myself my bills were estimated and expected it to be a BIT more but this is outrageous,please please help! I've enough stress at the moment,this is driving me round the twist

Cabaal

Its a rented house and you knew it had electrical problems, why didn't you look for the landlord to get this fixed?
In fairness 2 and a half years of ignoring the problems wasn't a very good idea,

D3PO

if your bills are estimated for over 2 and 1/2 years a bill of nearly 3 grand isnt actually all that unexpected.

You cant go and blame the ESB you have the ability to submit customer readings to ensure this kind of problem didnt exist and you didnt. I have no idea what your taking about with the hole in the meter its incoherant to be honest but the fact is if you used the electricity then you owe the bill.

So you need to pay it. Id suggest your next step is to contact their credit department and come to some arrangement regarding paying in instalments and learn the lesson that if you ever move from prepay power agian that you ensure meter readings are submitted every 2 months.

kerrellie

Cabaal wrote: »

Its a rented house and you knew it had electrical problems, why didn't you look for the landlord to get this fixed?
In fairness 2 and a half years of ignoring the problems wasn't a very good idea,

I thought it was a small thing that just meant I'd be buying bulbs too early,obviously I didn't realize it was that bad. I've lost my job through unfair dismissal after being harassed,left on my tod with my child and plenty other stuff,I left things slide,it happens in today's world

D3PO

kerrellie wrote: »

,I left things slide,it happens in today's world

yep you let it slide and accrued the bill as a result. Its a harsh lesson but you still owe the money whatever way you want to try spin it.

goat2

i find it hard to follow you, no stops or sentences hard to read that paragraph,
but i gather that you have paid some through the time even though they could not read meter,
what did you pay each two months
do you have heating and cooking electric, do you have electric shower, and since you have children babies, you need to have heated properly, which suggests to me you could have that kind of balance,
what really is running on electricity,
cooking,
heating,
washing, etc

Stone Deaf 4evr

I dunno, in this day and age everyone is monitoring their money and expenditure on esb, etc. I find it amazing that you were quite happy to pay over the odds for power.

regardless, you'll have to open a dialog with them, with regards to the hole in the meter, if they havent had someone physically reading the meter, theres no way of telling when that damage was caused. I presume the person in the house before you got physical meter readings.

Eating the face off the guy who calls round isn't going to accomplish anything beyond making you feel better temporarily. hes just doing his job.

jester77

I had a similar situation in an old apartment. It was 18 months before an accurate reading was taken so I was only paying estimated bills during that time. I was never around when readings were done and was too lazy to send in the current reading. Got landed with a bill for just over 1200. Didn't really surprise me though as the estimated monthly bills were low. I bet if you look at what you were paying every month for the last 2+ years you will see that you were paying below average.

Shakespeare's Sister

Hi kerrellie,

This is a very stressful time for you so there's no point in shoulda-woulda-coulda. The thing to focus on is what to do now:

See whether your supplier will set up a long-term payment agreement for you. The amount is simply due to consumption, there's no over-charge here so it's not incorrect. All that can be used for billing is what it says on the meter.
Start submitting your own readings; don't rely entirely on the meter-reader. Have your landlord or whomever is applicable to have the electrics checked.

And please don't be "eating the face off" anyone. I know it's only the stress talking but it's not fair to blame people who are not to blame, and it won't help resolve things; if anything it could cause obstacles.

Best of luck with it.

kerrellie

Of course I've paid my bills all along,I've paid 70-100e a month.the meter is way up high in this house,I'd have to find something to stand on and still be on tip toes,they have not been estimated for the whole time,only here and there and people not reading properly,I said I intended to pay but I have an issue with 3,000 Euro due to a faulty meter,apologies if my writing and grammar doesn't look well,posting from a mobile (with free monthly data before anyone says anything-call credit is gone) and I've two babies here,I'm asking about the fault,thanks a lot for the remarks I must say

davo2001

You used a service and now the company that supplied you the service are looking for money for said service. I can't see why you're ranting at them.
Put it down to a life lesson but you will (and should) have to pay up!

kingtiger

the hole in the meter sounds like the auld trick of getting a needle heating it up and making a hole in the plastic housing where the meter spins the disc, then jamming the needle into the disc which stops it spinning and therefore does not clock up the units used

was this what was done to the meter?

(OP could you edit your post and add paragraphs? as its making me dizzy)

goat2

i get the bill every two months,
so you have been paying about same as me,
but i heat house with solid fuel and oil, most of my cooking is gas,
i do have electric shower,
i don't use the immersion,
if you do everything by electric,
with two babies to keep clean and warm,
then it is not a bad bill,

D3PO

kerrellie wrote: »

Of course I've paid my bills all along,I've paid 70-100e a month.

Bills would be bi monthly so if your talking 70 ero bill every two months tharts stupidly low and shoudl ahve been clear to you that you were way underpaying

the meter is way up high in this house,I'd have to find something to stand on and still be on tip toes,

Ive never seen a meter way up high. How high is it and where exactly is it located ? Sorry but Im calling this out as a lie you said you could see the meter wizzing around when all power was off the only way to see tha tis to look at the meter. Amazing how you could see the meter then but its too high .....

they have not been estimated for the whole time,only here and there and people not reading properly,

They dont read the meter wrong and sorry but I do not believe for one second they are only esitmated here and there you already said they never called to read it becasue of your dog.

I said I intended to pay but I have an issue with 3,000 Euro due to a faulty meter,apologies if my writing and grammar doesn't look well,posting from a mobile (with free monthly data before anyone says anything-call credit is gone) and I've two babies here,I'm asking about the fault,thanks a lot for the remarks I must say

Sorry but your posts are complete contradictory and franky you have caught yourself out lying and really dont tally with whats normal.

They dont make mistakes with reading of bills. You used is you pay it. Best get credit ring their credit department and get a payment plan put in place.

You need to stop trying to blame people and accept it

kerrellie

goat2 wrote: »

i get the bill every two months,
so you have been paying about same as me,
but i heat house with solid fuel and oil, most of my cooking is gas,
i do have electric shower,
i don't use the immersion,
if you do everything by electric,
with two babies to keep clean and warm,
then it is not a bad bill,

House is also heated with solid - back boiler,I never use the immersion,washing machine,Hoover,tv and kettle and small kitchen appliances,small baby equipment not used as not necessary,phone charger,that's about it really

jester77

kerrellie wrote: »

Of course I've paid my bills all along,I've paid 70-100e a month.the meter is way up high in this house,I'd have to find something to stand on and still be on tip toes,they have not been estimated for the whole time,only here and there and people not reading properly,I said I intended to pay but I have an issue with 3,000 Euro due to a faulty meter,apologies if my writing and grammar doesn't look well,posting from a mobile (with free monthly data before anyone says anything-call credit is gone) and I've two babies here,I'm asking about the fault,thanks a lot for the remarks I must say

Was there no official reading done when you moved in? Any time I've moved there has always been an official reading so as not to have any issues with non-payment from previous tenants. I would be inquiring why this issue with the hole in the meter was not observed until now.

jester77

D3PO wrote: »

<SNIP>

In fairness, my parents have a house from the 70's and their meter was installed in the kitchen up against the ceiling. Almost impossible to read without a step ladder.

kerrellie

D3PO wrote: »

Sorry but your posts are complete contradictory and franky you have caught yourself out lying and really dont tally with whats normal.

They dont make mistakes with reading of bills. You used is you pay it. Best get credit ring their credit department and get a payment plan put in place.

You need to stop trying to blame people and accept it

I put in actual readings myself when he didn't call plus I only had the dog a year,the meter is right up,just under the ceiling,the time I turned everything off,I had to climb up on my cooker and put a step stool on it to see it,I stated what I paid every month I know what they are,plus I am prepay now doing everything the same since new meter was placed,I'm using 18-20e a week

goat2

does the landlord live nearby or next door

kerrellie

jester77 wrote: »

Was there no official reading done when you moved in? Any time I've moved there has always been an official reading so as not to have any issues with non-payment from previous tenants. I would be inquiring why this issue with the hole in the meter was not observed until now.

The landlady took the reading when I moved in,there was one previous tenant before me here,then before that-it was the landlady and her husband

kerrellie

goat2 wrote: »

does the landlord live nearby or next door

No she's in a different county now

MrVestek

All I read here is "blah blah blah this isn't my fault".

Unfortunately for you it is your fault. Everyone's life is busy and yet everyone else manages to find the time to do it.

The last time I was hit with a high ESB bill my reaction was the same as yours but then when I sat down and thought about it I came to the conclusion that yes... although people hadn't been around to read the meter in a while I'm the one who has signed the contract with ESB for their services therefore it's my responsibility to make sure that I'm paying the correct amount.

It would have been very naive of me to just expect a utility company not to want to accrue their fees one way or another after the shortfall had been made up for.

goat2

i guess you will have to go back and find a way of paying this bill, i guess by paying extra onto what your bill for month is, you will have to go back to esb and set up a plan,
i think there is an easy way to face the esb bill set up with pos toffices where people pay some per week so as not to have a huge bill come end of month, it is a good idea

D3PO

kerrellie wrote: »

I put in actual readings myself when he didn't call

Im sorry but that just cannot be true. Your trying to tell us that in the past two months from a perfectly up to date reading the ESB are billing you near on 3 grand for electricity ......

Sorry but no chance.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I've had situations of bulbs blowing and turning everything electric off but meter still ran like a lunatic

How do you know the meter ran if you say you can't see it to read it?

I'm sorry but I find this whole thing very strange. You may just get on to their collection dept and you might also get charged for interference with the meter!

D3PO

Elle Crashing Multiplex wrote: »

How do you know the meter ran if you say you can't see it to read it?

I'm sorry but I find this whole thing very strange. You may just get on to their collection dept and you might also get charged for interference with the meter!

<SNIP>

Then theres the question over this hole / meter tampering now the OP says they read the meter sometimes. So how is it magically this damage is now noticed but has never been noticed before ....

RangeR

Assuming the OP is telling the truth.....

Maybe someone is tapping into your supply? If this can be proved, your bill will probably reduce.
Contact MABS. They will assist in dealing with the debt.

Cabaal

Got to wounder about some people's ability to see things,

Many people here seem to have an awful problem with:
1. A meter being up high
2. Being able to see the spinning disk spinning around fast but NOT being able to read the meter

I grew up in a house where the meter was right up against the ceiling (so around 8-9 feet high), if you stood back you could easily see the spinning disk so you'd know if usage was low or high.

But to read the meter you had to get a ladder, you just couldn't see the numbers any other way.

I don't see why people have such a problem with this, it certainly doesn't mean the OP is lying.

foggy_lad

D3PO wrote: »

<SNIP>

When a Meter is up too high to take a reading one can still see the marking on the dial and see it moving!

A2LUE42

Hi OP. Don't want to be making things worse for you, but you say your landlady is abroad. You should check that your rent is being paid properly or you could be liable for the tax due on it.

D3PO

RangeR wrote: »

Assuming the OP is telling the truth.....

Maybe someone is tapping into your supply? If this can be proved, your bill will probably reduce.
Contact MABS. They will assist in dealing with the debt.

The meter is in the OP's kitchen Its unlikely somebody is tapping into the supply.

cruizer101

D3PO wrote: »

The meter is in the OP's kitchen Its unlikely somebody is tapping into the supply.

True but assuming the meter is spinning even when everything disconnected it certainly warrants further investigation. Maybe there is an electrical fault somewhere which is causing extra electricity to be used.

Op might be no harm to try disconnect and switch offeverything and see is it still going.

I know its off topic but I'd also echo what what said before about landlord abroad, you need to be witholding the tax due on the rent.

Duiske

RangeR wrote: »

Assuming the OP is telling the truth.....

Maybe someone is tapping into your supply? If this can be proved, your bill will probably reduce.

If the op is being truthful about paying €70-€100 a month over the past 2.5 years, then an shortfall of €2700 does sound excessive. €2700 / 30 months = €90. This would suggest a "correct" bi-monthly bill of somewhere in the region of between €320 and €380. That does appear pretty high.

Still, a new meter has been installed so it's going to be virtually impossibe to find out if anything else was causing the high usage. Should have been looked into over 2 years ago.

D3PO

cruizer101 wrote: »

True but assuming the meter is spinning even when everything disconnected it certainly warrants further investigation. Maybe there is an electrical fault somewhere which is causing extra electricity to be used.

.

OP says that a meter reading was submitted every time so no estimated bills and I think the suggestion that a meter fault caused 3 grands of a fault in one billing cycle is a little hard to swallow

DrumSteve

Your best thing to do (and I see this sort of thing day in/day out) is to contact your energy provider and work out a payment arrangement. Regardless of the timeframe or amount, or who did what to the meter, you still benefitted.

Either way, id be expecting the majority of the balance to be asked for up front. Meter tampering is about as bad as it gets from their perspective.

D3PO

Duiske wrote: »

If the op is being truthful about paying €70-€100 a month over the past 2.5 years, then an shortfall of €2700 does sound excessive. €2700 / 30 months = €90. This would suggest a "correct" bi-monthly bill of somewhere in the region of between €320 and €380. That does appear pretty high.

Still, a new meter has been installed so it's going to be virtually impossibe to find out if anything else was causing the high usage. Should have been looked into over 2 years ago.

That assumed that the op didnt mean 70 - 100 per bill which is bi monthly. Which Id suggest they do mean as it makes no sense for somebody to mentione their monthly cost as opposed to the bill cost which is bi monthly.

In which case if op was paying 70 - 1-- every 2 months for electricity as opposed to 160 - 190 its not that surprising at all.

Duiske

D3PO wrote: »

That assumed that the op didnt mean 70 - 100 per bill which is bi monthly. Which Id suggest they do mean as it makes no sense for somebody to mentione their monthly cost as opposed to the bill cost which is bi monthly.

In which case if op was paying 70 - 1-- every 2 months for electricity as opposed to 160 - 190 its not that surprising at all.

You do realise that some suppliers bill monthly ? Which I'd suggest means there's a chance you are wrong.

Actually, if the op is with Electric Ireland then you are probably correct.

petes

D3PO wrote: »

OP says that a meter reading was submitted every time so no estimated bills and I think the suggestion that a meter fault caused 3 grands of a fault in one billing cycle is a little hard to swallow

Three times in the OP estimated was mentioned.

The amount in here skipping over posts/text just to get their own point across etc. is unreal.

Anyway I'd say we will never know as I doubt the opening poster is going to reply.

Anyway opening poster, get back on to them as this won't go away. As you said paying 70-100 per month should more than adequately cover the bills but as D3P0 said it's more likely this was paid every two months as per the norm.

JIdontknow

OP- you say your Landlord took / has a reading for when you moved in first. Therefore, I am sorry this bill they sent is accurate as it states exactly how many units you have used since then - you yourself can get the figure on the meter now, and calculate the total you have used since you moved in, ESB Will tell you if you do not know yourself how much your bills for this period have been, or how many units, and you can make up the difference yourself... This will tell you if the extra is accurate. Also take a picture of the meter now, (preferable using a digital camera / mobile phone so its not just some number scribbled down on a piece of paper), and try get the reading for when you moved in from ESB / Landlord, and do some calculations.

Try not strsss out over it, it is what it is now, but call ESB, explain the situation, they are human too and I am sure between you and them ye can sort out something.

Just on a seperate issue regarding the meter spinning with every appliance turned off - I experienced this before. Turned out to be a faulty pump in our well. It was old and not running efficiently, the electrician / plumber said straight away when he saw it- our electricity bill must be high, he was right! I am not sure in this case if it applies here at all.

Tordelback

The OP is in a panic because she owes nearly three grand, and is unemployed with two wee ones. Regardless of the wisdom or otherwise of letting things slide when they should be addressed, I think some understanding of the stresses of her situation is in order.

Who knows what was really going on with the old meter, but I can certainly confirm that I have lived in several houses where reading the meter required a tall step-ladder, but you could still see and hear its ominous whirring, as well as properties where turning everything off never seemed to stop its relentless spin: calling her a liar because of that is just daft.

I suspect there was no fault, I suspect the estimated bills were woefully off, which is an easy situation to get into, and the resulting balance is suitably terrifying. There isn't going to be a forensic enquiry into your meter OP, unless the landlord plans on conducting one, and that doesn't seem likely. Don't get angry or stressed about it, just get on to MABS and then follow their advice in coming to an arrangement with the ESB. It won't be pleasant but it'll work out in the end. Keep yourself and the kids warm and well, and concentrate on keeping on top of these things in the future.

The Muppet

D3PO wrote: »

The dial is as hard to see as the numbers in my opinion. If you can see the diall moving around you can see the numbers.

besides which with camera phones its easy to zoom in and see a meters numbers.

There is no excuse for not seeing the meter readings.

No its not, there is usually a red mark on one part of the dial that is clearly visible from the floor. I can clearly see dial in my mams house from the floor but I would find it hard to read the numbers on it it and I'm 6"1.

I do think the op is being economical with the facts though.

redbedhead

What I've read from the OP is someone letting off steam and relieving a little stress.
What I've read from the the boardsies is "Liar! Don't come 'round here looking for sympathy."

Might I suggest we lose the accusatory attitude and maybe provide solutions or explanations or nothing at all? It's a not a trial.
After all, your opinion is just that. If you're an expert, please tell us.

There are many people in the world who don't see every angle immediately and do let things slide.

OP, you probably will need to pay it off, but they will be reasonable about it if you are. When you have time to take it in and adjust, you may see it clearer - It could be 100 things. Maybe those €70-100 bills where too good to be true? Maybe your boiler is faulty? Only you can find out though.

Oh, yeah, my meter guy comes around every other reading date, before 7am, (I get the card on the mat when I get up) so that doesn't even count as an attempt at reading. All mine are phoned in.

petes

D3PO wrote: »

.

That post wasn't directly solely at you and subsequently re read the thread and found the second post where they said that the put actual readings in when they didn't call which contradicts the OP.

As said, we will never know the outcome and all this faffing about over whether or not the meter can be read is irrelevant.

The OP is going to have to engage with their supplier to arrange a payment plan. I've had estimates in the past although not as extreme but one was enough to make sure I submitted the readings from then on.

I know if I got a bill like that I'd be wondering wtf is going on.

Five Lamps

kerrellie wrote: »

House is also heated with solid - back boiler,I never use the immersion,washing machine,Hoover,tv and kettle and small kitchen appliances,small baby equipment not used as not necessary,phone charger,that's about it really

If the electrics were dangerous the ESB would have disconnected you. Is there a possibility that something else is connected to your property that is consuming electricity or have bills normalised since you got a new meter in?

€200 was cheap for a meter. I had to pay €460 for a new meter and relocations. As it happens this meter is installed above head height.

Unfortunately, there is a responsibility for you to check your bills against the meter. You could be over paying or under paying.

dudara

D3PO Please try to have some decency towards the OP, rather than attacking. The OP is coming across to me as being in an emotional state, so please bear that in mind.

Offer constructive, practical advice rather than attacking.

dudara

D3PO

will do Dudara. I have told them to contact the providor and setup a payment plan. The issue seems to be the OP refuses to accept they are responsible for this.

We can only help them if they are prepared to be helped i will tone it down though. Noted.

The Bishop Basher

OP - when was the last time you submitted a reading ?

A lot of people in here are saying you just pay up and the onus is on you to ensure you're paying the correct amount yet they lambaste you when you come in here querying a massive bill ?? I don't get it.

If you submitted a reading recently enough then the bill is wrong and you need to speak to them in a rational and calm way and have them investigate. Maybe they're adding in a punishment fee for tampering with the meter which is also not yours to pay if you didn't do it.

Difficult to know without more detail but I don't think it's cut and dry.

We had a very large bill once. Turned out to be a faulty dimplex heater that was plugged in and using power but not "on".

More investigation needed here anyway.

D3PO

Swanner wrote: »

We had a very large bill once. Turned out to be a faulty dimplex heater that was plugged in and using power but not "on".

.

The point is that was still your bill to pay regardless of what the cause was.

The Bishop Basher

D3PO wrote: »

The point is that was still your bill to pay regardless of what the cause was.

In that case, yes. It was our bill and we paid it. I was just calling it out as it can happen and is worth ruling out.

But if the OP has submitted readings as stated and there have been readings submitted within the last 6 months or so then I would query a 3 grand bill as it seems excessive. Had they been paying estimates for 3 years I could understand how it might happen but that's not what they've said.

ted1

OP you dropped the ball here. You know there was a problem and ignored it.

Now let's look at possible resolutions.

1. Contact your landlord and tell them that they have to pay the charge for the meter. Providing you didn't do it, it's there responsibility.

2. If the meter has been read and readings submitted, the ESB may have added some on as they know someone was taking some off.

3. I don't quite understand how the meter was spinning when no load was on. If the hole is to slow it down, why is it running fast? Are you sure there's nothing on? Is there a shed or garage with an appliance in it?

Call the CER www. CER.ie and discuss the situation with them. They'll be able to help you.
http://www.cer.ie/customer-care/complaints#I-have-a-Complaint---Who-do-I-contact

goat2

the only time i hear the meter spinning and going fast is,
when i have electric kettle on or if someone is in shower where it is an electric shower,
if you hear the thing whizzing so much, you had better go and check out appliances one by one, and switch all off, go round to all rooms and make sure nothing is plugged in and that includes fridges and freezers, then start plugging in one by one and keeping an eye on which item puts it spinning,
how old are these kitchen appliances, fridge, freezer,
is there a garage attached to the hose,
do you have access to that,