This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30214471
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Gas bills: 1.5 million customers overcharged by faulty meters | Gas bills: 1.5 million customers overcharged by faulty meters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than a million pre-payment gas customers have been overcharged because their meters are faulty, the industry has admitted. | More than a million pre-payment gas customers have been overcharged because their meters are faulty, the industry has admitted. |
| About 1.5 million meters have not been working properly since they were installed, some as long ago as 2007. | About 1.5 million meters have not been working properly since they were installed, some as long ago as 2007. |
| The industry body Energy UK said customers may have been overcharged by as much as 25p for each top-up. | |
| Those worst affected may have been overcharged by as much as £110, but most will have lost far less. | |
| "We apologise unreservedly to customers," said Lawrence Slade, the chief operating officer of Energy UK. | "We apologise unreservedly to customers," said Lawrence Slade, the chief operating officer of Energy UK. |
| "We have acted quickly, and we want those affected to get their money back as soon as possible," he told the BBC. | "We have acted quickly, and we want those affected to get their money back as soon as possible," he told the BBC. |
| Refunds | |
| Customers will be automatically refunded by their energy supplier, and can have their payment cards updated when they take them for a top-up. | Customers will be automatically refunded by their energy supplier, and can have their payment cards updated when they take them for a top-up. |
| The meters were not properly calibrated to measure the cost of the gas being used. | |
| Richard Lloyd, the executive director of the consumer group Which? said it was a "shameful example of energy companies failing their customers". | Richard Lloyd, the executive director of the consumer group Which? said it was a "shameful example of energy companies failing their customers". |
| He said customers need to be reimbursed as soon as possible, and with interest. | |
| On average, customers affected are likely to have lost up to £6.50 for each winter period, said Energy UK. | |
| British Gas, the largest supplier of gas in the UK, said more than 700,000 of its customers may have been overcharged. | |
| Are you a gas customer with a pre-payment meter who has been overcharged? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a gas customer with a pre-payment meter who has been overcharged? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Have your say | Have your say |