I left Sainsbury’s Energy last year but it keeps inflating my final bill

Two readings but one less digit has taken what I owe from £32 to £1,841

In September 2017 I left Sainsbury’s Energy after 18 months as a customer. During that period, my gas meter was read twice and I was told I was paying the right amount. I was given a closing balance of £32.

Fast forward to this February and I was staggered to receive a new final bill from Sainsbury’s for £1,841. I complained and was sent an amended bill for £1,079. The firm claimed that although the meter had been read twice, it had been read incorrectly – it was a six-digit model and there were only five spaces on the form. I have now been given a third final bill of £448, but have no idea how this has been calculated. LC, Surbiton

Sainsbury’s Energy is supplied and managed by British Gas and, following our intervention, it has decided to write off your debt – whatever it was. It told us the serial number on your meter had been incorrectly recorded, which led to the errors.

Earlier this month the energy regulator, Ofgem, said it was formally banning suppliers from back-billing customers for energy used more than a year ago.

We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to terms and conditions

Contributor

Miles Brignall

The GuardianTramp

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