Hope someone can provide some advice on a course of action to take.


I had moved into a property supplied by first-utility as a tenant. I immediately asked first-utility to move onto a plan I thought was best for me to which they agreed. I asked for them to sign me up so I could provide meter readings online. I wrongly assumed this would be as simple as a login & password but this simple exercise turned out to be more painful than I had assumed. I spent the next 4 months chasing this login which never happened and finally I gave up. I kept paying all the bills they sent me.


The plan expired 12months later and I defaulted onto their default plan. ln December 2016 when it was time to vacate the property I paid all outstanding bills and notified them that I was vacating the property and provided final meter readings. I was then sent what they called a final bill detailing all my energy usage for the entire 24 months I spent in the property with only two actual meter readings, the initial actual meter reading from 2 years ago and a final meter reading I provided on my last day. everything in between was an estimate. They now are demanding that I pay nearly £1300 as a result.


I phoned their customer services to explain the bill to me and they simply said the estimates meant I had underpaid during the entire duration.


I am at pains to try and find a way to either reduce this bill or have it cancelled altogether or find a solicitor/lawyer to help fight back.


I have read the ofgem back-billing guide on the ofgem website but it still looks like its a 50-50 case. I pestered them for a login so I can provide readings. They also never sent anyone for routine meter readings in between and I provided occasional meter readings over the phone but I never kept a record of these telephone calls. silly me


It feels as if I'm being robbed as they now have engaged a debt collection company to come after me after not having heard from them after I told them I had paid up to the last day I occupied that property.


I would like to know what course of action I could take as an individual to stand up to them or should I be thinking of paying lawyers to resolve this?


Any help would be appreciated.


Thank you.