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Rank 2
November 14, 2024
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I think my meter may have been tampered with?

  • November 14, 2024
  • 127 replies
  • 3142 views

Hi I need help I'm been charged 300 / 400 for electric some months I'm single parent in 3 bedroom house and my heatings been off since it warmed up in Feb 2022 .I've nothing turned on hardly in my house just a freezer fridge that run all day I have no heating we sleep down stairs but I'm still getting outrageous bills .

A meter reader said whwn I posted a picture of my meter it's been tampered with but my energy company won't listen they said the locks still on it but theirs more wires than b and q 

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 21/05/25 by Abby_OVO

 

Hey ​@Tazzyy74 

 

Is your energy supplier OVO? Have you sent your supplier a photo of the meters?

This is the information I found on our website with regards to meter tampering:
 

Energy theft – make sure you report it

 

Energy theft is tampering with a meter or its connections. This means the meter doesn’t accurately record how much gas or electricity is being used. Stealing energy is a crime and it’s dangerous. Keep yourself and others safe by reporting your concerns.

View REC Schedule 8 – Unbilled Energy Code of Practice

 

Energy theft can be fatal

 

Tampering with an electricity meter could lead to a short circuit, wiring overheating or even a fire. Wiring that seems safe can become ‘live’, so there’s a chance of a fatal electric shock.

Tampering with a gas meter could cause a gas leak. As well as headaches and possible loss of consciousness from the fumes, it only takes a spark to cause an explosion.

 

Tampering with a meter is a crime

 

Tampering with gas or electricity meters isn’t just dangerous – it’s also illegal. Energy theft can lead to a fine or a prison sentence.

 

If you suspect energy theft, report it

 

If you suspect any gas or electricity meter has been tampered with report it immediately. Call us on 0330 3035 063 or get in touch via our online chat.

If you'd rather not give us your details, visit the Crimestoppers supported stayenergysafe website or call them on 0800 023 2777.

If you suspect a gas leak, leave the property and call the 24 hour National Gas Emergency hotline on 0800 111 999 immediately.

127 replies

Tazzyy74Author
Rank 2
May 19, 2025

I'm goibg to end this chat now see what's the point always doubted again good old police aren't involved sorry was you thrown in a cell for 12 jours struggling with anxiety,  scratched all over for asking for your mothers ashes .... no ... did you see the TAU take a package from a house letter box that's app been having a grow and my electric quadruples in months ..... NO ....  DID YOU GET YOUR PHONE HACKED WHWN TAU gave you a orivate nimber NO .....so please don't say you FNOW   when you don't  ...reason im in this situation is because people like you assume and think they know it all have you never heard of corrupt ?? Happena in tje police too ... anyway thanks for your option but last time you spoke you said my meter had been tampered with and hadn't so not always right are we .... Good day 

Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 20, 2025

Hey ​@Tazzyy74,

 

We’ve offered advice, opinions, and resources to support you, as you requested when you came to the Forum. For further assistance with your complaint against Octopus, consider contacting Citizens advice  to ask about representation or support.

 

We’ve offered as much as we can with the limited options available as you’re with another supplier. 

 

I really hope you get things sorted soon and wish you the best

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 20, 2025

As mentioned in my previous message, your two threads have been merged to keep the conversation in one place. Tagging you again ​@Tazzyy74 for easy access. 😊

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
Tazzyy74Author
Rank 2
May 28, 2025

So I've mentioned the grow to octopus energy and guess what nothing except someone from haste have turned up at my door demanding I let them in or there'll get a warrant to check my boiler and other appliances hang on I pay British gas for that cover what have octopus got doing wanting to come into my house ?? 

 

I have a dying dog that's still aggressive and I've stayed I'm not having my dog that's on his way out disturbed or causing him any uncalled for stress ...... why do they need to look at my boiler , turn up in white vans no octopus or haste on them no app etc is this allowed ..... I've waited all day for a smart meter for them not to arrive and now I'm having issues again 

 

 

I'm really fed up of this company now , I've also had a hgas bill estimated 15.00 yet other months its over 100 my heating not been on for 3 yrs nearly now I just don't get it ....

Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
May 29, 2025

Hey ​@Tazzyy74 

I’m really sorry for the issues you’re having, it sounds like a really stressful situation to be in. 

Did this advice help?
 

Hey ​@Tazzyy74,

 

I don’t know if you remember but I was discussing the issue with you on your original thread below

 

The last advice we discussed was you were going to email the chief executive Greg did you ever get a response from them? Tomorrow i’m going to merge this thread with your old one so we can keep everything in the same place and in order so if you follow the link I left above you’ll find it all there. If you get the chance you can read about their complaints handling statement and how to escalate. 

 

I wouldn’t imagine that the police would be involved as you’d typically expect a whole department to deal with suspected grows and not individual units. You must have your own reasons for thinking like you do but you can report this to your local police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 


Has your complaint been escalated by your supplier?

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Tazzyy74Author
Rank 2
July 21, 2025

Morning I do really need advise now because o know something isn't right .

Octopus have called today to put a art meter in but couldn't all mains were off but sockets were alive they couldn't turn the electric to sockets off.

Now I know what's been going on with my neighbour and I have eyes and I seen TAU taking a package from the neighbours door who I know now was doing a grow for all those who said it wasn't......now the new neighbour in this house now is the druggies friend now he's waiting prison after a large grow so your telling metheir not corrupt , ive had outrageous bills since 2022 some months it lowered but nit many and still higher than I'd use .

So can someone explain what's going on , I don't want uts nothing to do with police and nit drugs I know what I know and I've seen what I've seen ....so just an explanation as to why my electric is still running please 

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
July 21, 2025

If a  Octopus meter engineer has been unable to turn the supply off then that represents a danger to life and they will have raised an urgent concern.

You can expect that further action will be swift to follow. I  fact I'm surprised that it hasn't already. An electricity supply that cannot be switched off poses a risk of shock and a risk of overheating/fire.

Usually if tampering is susoected then the Network Operator’s engineers and the police will turn up together.

The engineers to make the supply safe (which probably means it will be turned off for a time at least while they correct whatever has been done - if they can).

The police attend to protect the engineers and ‘the public’ and to arrest anyone identified as possible wrongdoers. (And to collect evidence and take away any grow if there is one there).

One thing puzzles me here however. If your supply and your meter have been bypassed so that they cant be switched off then they shouldn't be recording any use so your bills would be low not high.

Was it your meter that was supposed to be replaced?

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Tazzyy74Author
Rank 2
July 21, 2025

Exactly .... my neighbour is with octopus has solar panels ok but my bills are 3 times the amount I mean in the 180 etc a month his 50 ish ..... same house same as me single and he has all appliances on tvs I'm too scared to use anything .

Now I've just turned it off and checked the sockets and all sockets are still live ??? 

Now if that electric is coming out off mine and my bills are mega high which means it's no benefit to me ...... who's bypassing it and how .

Now my daughters rooms the loft the walls separating us the divide has had a fare few bricks taken out and I believe they were intact before I bought the house and I can verify they were intact whwn i moved in .... but the electric is coming to me so I don't get it 

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
July 21, 2025

If an Octopus meter engineer has been un able to disconnect the supply as you say then they have no option other than to report that and swift action will follow.

Your neighbour has solar panels?

That would be unusual for a drug grower.

But it would easily explain why as a normal user  their bills are less than yours - they are using free sunlight to generate electricity and keep their bills down, you aren't.

I'm sorry but you still haven't made clear about this Octupus engineer? Who was he supposed to be fitting a smart meter for? How do you know that?

Exactky what have you turned off that has left your sockets live?

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Tazzyy74Author
Rank 2
July 21, 2025

I haven't made it clear that an octopus engineer couldn't fit my meter because the sockets were still live after testing and mains OFF ..... I thought I said that can't think what else you'd like me to say im not an engineer 

But regardless anyone know what I should do who to contact because octopus have just left it as it is .