Problems with SSE/ extremely high meter readings

[Leelalee]

Hello everyone!

 

We are four students living in a house in Newcastle. SSE is our gas provider and the have send us an estimate for our gas bill which is 129.89 GBP for September 2012 till November 2012. According to our meter reading we have used substentially more. Instead of the estimated 238 units we have actually (according to the meter reading) used 511 units in the period. As we have not heated a lot in that period and became suspicious, we have been writing our meter readings down, finding that we use at least 70 units per week (according to the meter reading) if we heat our place 6 hours per day. This would be about 173 GBP for gas per month, without the standing charge. Calculating the next gas bill which is awaiting us, we will have to pay 518.75 GBP in total (from the 16th of November until now). Comparing this on compare the market we think that this amount is totally unrealistic, especially as we do not heat the house more that 5 hours a day, as we are afraid of additional costs (it is SO freezing!).

We told SSE the problem and they admitted that it seems a lot of gas use, but they insist that it must be correctly. They suggested us to make an OFMAT test which would cost us 80 GBP.

 

It would be great to hear which experiences you made and if you could give us an advice on what to do, as we have really tried all we could think of to find a solution (the technican said the boiler-use is okay, but maybe this was a subjective statement?).

 

Thank you very much!

Leelalee