Meter readings (be the reading main character)

Lesson 2 of 12 in our free Bills & Subscriptions guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

This lesson is in the full version.

Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Bills & Subscriptions is free for everyone.

Questions you'll answer

Your account shows you're £120 in credit after a mild winter. What can you do?

Photo of the meter on move-in day → Smart. Proves you're not paying for the last tenants' heating.
Ignoring 'estimated' bills for a year → Chaos. Could mean a huge catch-up bill. Ouch.
Submitting a reading every month or quarter → Smart. Accurate bills, no surprises.
Leaving without a final meter reading → Chaos. You might get billed for the next tenant's usage.
Fact: “Smart meters can send readings automatically.” — When they're working properly. Still check your bill looks right.
Myth: “An estimated bill is always too high.” — It can be too low too — then you get a big catch-up bill later.
Fact: “Taking a dated photo of your meter is good evidence in a dispute.” — Photos with dates beat 'I'm sure it was lower'.