EON just got a bill for back payment £1362!!!

brysiewysie

All previous bills on this account would have been sent to the builder because that's who Eon had on the account I assume. As Premier said if you don't tell them you're the one responsible they can legitimately bill you for any period. The bills you have been getting would clearly state which fuel it was for ie just electricity
.
Eon would accept a payment plan by DD for your monthly usage and the debt element spread over the same period of time that the bill covers (3 years?).

There is no 12 month rule in cases like this, you are liable.

One of the worst things to do would be to try to change supplier. Eon will then ask for the whole debt immediately.

karie

Aisling,

I have had a similar issue (although without the complications of the builder...) with absent bills despite requests to bill. I managed to resolve it to my advantage but it did take some time.

In my opinion you should write them a (as articulate and to the point as possible!!) letter, stating when you moved in, that you contacted them when you moved in to set up your account (if this is the case), and have been paying your electricity bill promptly since then. Go on to say that you have now received a gas bill for £1392 and request that they apply the billing code and re-issue you a bill for the last 12 months.

If this happens and you receive an amended bill, you should write to them again and dispute the new amount (i guess around £500ish) on several grounds, focusing on their failure to bill. But we'll go into that if you get to that stage.

At this point do not pay the outstanding debt, persevere with the letter writing route for the time being.

hope that helps,
karie

brysiewysie

Aisling108 wrote: »

When I called up she asked" have you just moved in?" and I said I'd been there over 3yrs; apparently the buliders had not transferred me over or something; it was a new build.. If that makes sense? .............

.........Go on to say that you have now received a gas bill for £1392 and request that they apply the billing code and re-issue you a bill for the last 12 months..........

Despite Karies comments don't get your hopes up. Builders do not notify suppliers to transfer supplies to the occupiers, that's your responsibility.

The billing code is irrelevant in this case if you didn't notify them you were the occupier and you didn't make sure the gas and elec were set up correctly.

In my view the best you can hope for is an extended period in which to pay.

Maldives_lover

My situation was exactly the same, new build, builders didn't notify EON but I did. I told them the builder had advised me that they were providing both fuels and set up a DD to pay. Over 4 years later they come to me for the money but because they had been sending the bills to the builder not me and they only read my meter in October last year the only billed me from that time. Don't give in on this one, keep the letter writing and contact Consumer Direct for advice. I ended up owing £800 ish for 4 and a half years electricty, but hey it wasn't my fault so I wasn't liable. this type of problem often happens with new build properties.

Aisling108

Thanks to everyone on this one; the lady has called me back today in respect of the issue; yes all the bills had gone to the builders contract and honestly I didnt realise we didnt get the gas bill; when we moved in my ex did all the sorting things out as i was a bit usless with it all.

I just paid bills as they came in ; I never question anything or wondered which bills are missing etc..
anyhow upshot of it is I think they are taking approx £900 off the bill and i will set up a payment plan; she is calling me later to confirm everything as she said her boss is in a meeting. so it will be in the region of £400
better than nothing and if i can pay it off slowly I will be very happy.

So theres no way I am not liable at all then? I have never recieved a bill to the occupier or any other type of bill
Thanks everyone : its good to talk to people who know ; Im abit rubbish I have to learn all this

Pssst

Sounds like you got off lucky with this one..:)

Aisling108

Yeah hopefully.. I really am good at paying my bills on time so you cna imagine my shock to get this huge bill I was worried. Anyways ; thanks again Everyone; it means a lot.

tightwadten

Premier wrote: »

How far back does the bill for £1362.61 relate?

Why have they not billed you for 3 years?

There is a 12 month back-dating rule which prevents utility companies from back billing domestic customers, where it is the fault of the supplier.

Unless they have a good reason for why they were not able to bill you for 3 years, then they can only back bill you for 12 months. You can still negotiate a payment plan to pay off whatever debt they can claim.

Is the 12 month back dating rule a legal obligation or just a voluntary code of conduct?

1carminestocky

Congratulations, it's a good job you didn't listen to the doom-mongering of the energy supplier employee on this thread, isn't it? LOL.

Premier_2

tightwadten wrote: »

Is the 12 month back dating rule a legal obligation or just a voluntary code of conduct?

I don't think you'll find it in any statute, but it is a ruling of the energy regulator Ofgem.