Bill error proves costly

Gas mix-up meant man paid wrong supply for two years

A HOUSING association tenant has been left £215 out of pocket after paying gas bills for two years in good faith – only to find he was pay i ng for h is neighbour’s supply.

James Kelly, of Broomhill Wynd in Monifieth, holds Hillcrest Homes responsible for the issue, which only came to light a year and a half after he moved into the new-build block.

The 56-year-old had been sending meter readings and payments to Scottish Power for a meter marked with his flat number since he arrived in November 2017.

But a recent annual inspection unearthed a costly mistake – that engineers had confused the meters for his flat and that of his downstairs neighbour and labelled them the wrong way round. The error has since been corrected by engineers in ballpoint pen.

However, the neighbour who lived there has since left.

Hillcrest has accepted responsibility for the meter mistake but has told Mr Kelly to seek redress from Scottish Power.

It has offered him a settlement of £50 – described as “compensation” by the firm – in exchange for absolving it of any blame and banning him from seeking further redress – something he is not willing to agree to.

“Hillcrest says it’s nothing to do with them but it is – because of them I’m having to go through all of this,” Mr Kelly said.

“I know which meter is mine now but they want me to talk to Scottish Power, even though it is their mistake.

“I feel this is what they want – to blank people in the hope they give up on having things sorted through them.”

In a response to Mr Kelly’s complaint Stuart Dow, director of Hillcrest Enterprises, said it was not standard procedure for the firm to ensure new properties’ meters are correctly matched.

Mr Dow said: “Hillcrest should have provided correct information about which meter connected to your property.

“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise.

“If, after a period of time, if is clear that Scottish Power is refusing to reimburse you, we will underwrite the costs involved to ensure you are not out of pocket.”

Hillcrest has offered the assistance of a member of staff to secure a refund from Scottish Power.

Mr Kelly – an experienced housing officer himself – believes Hillcrest should pay up and draw a line under the matter. He is preparing to appeal to the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland.

“If I have to go to the Hillcrest office on Explorer Road and ask chief executive Angela Linton to write me a cheque, I will,” he said.

Hillcrest and Scottish Power were both contacted for further comment.

James Kelly beside his gas meter.