Martin Lewis backs 12-day warning to Brits to take important photo at home

When it comes to getting financial advice in this country, there's probably plenty of Brits who would trust Martin Lewis more than themselves.

The money-saving expert has established himself as a true man of the people and one of the most important dates in his diary might well be meter reading day, especially when you consider the huge price increase we've seen in our energy bills in recent times, something that's only been exacerbated by the war between the US and Iran, and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Now, an energy consultant has issued a warning ahead of meter reading day on 1 July and the photo that nearly every Brit should be aiming to take before then.

Justin Nielsen, energy consultant at Wolf River Electric, told The Mirror: "The one thing I would tell every household to do before July 1 is take a clear meter reading and keep a photo of it.

You could find yourself out of pocket otherwise (Getty stock)

"It takes less than five minutes, but it gives you a record of exactly where your usage stood before the new rates came in. The price cap does not mean your bill is capped. It caps what suppliers can charge per unit of energy and standing charge, so your final bill still depends on how much you use. That is why accurate readings matter so much."

This has previously been backed by the big man Martin himself, who said: "I would still get your phone out and take a picture of your meter today just in case of a future dispute, you don't need to do anything with it, you might want to email it to yourself so you've got proof."

And it also echoes the advice you can see on the Money Saving Expert website, as the team there also advises taking a picture of your meters and entering them yourself, to ensure that there's no funny business if you end up getting a bill that's far too big.

That's definitely a possibility, as Nielsen suggests that suppliers can determine your bill based on an estimate if they don't have an up-to-date reading.

Make sure you act before it's too late (Getty Stock)

He adds: "That estimate might be reasonable, but it is still a guess.

"The risk is that some of your cheaper pre-July usage could be pushed into the more expensive period. Even if the difference is not huge for every household, nobody wants to pay more than they should because of an avoidable estimate."

He added: "A photo is useful because it gives you proof. Make sure the numbers are visible, and if your phone records the date automatically, even better. Keep it until your next bill has arrived and you are happy the reading has been used properly."

So, now you've been warned, you can head down to your garage or your basement or wherever you keep your meters to make sure that you've got this photo to hand before the big day.