Should I Pay My Backdated Energy Bill

BarbadosOne

I have just received a bill from British Gas for £1300! On phoning British Gas, I was informed that due to an error at their end the bill was for energy use dating back to 2006!!!

They advised that they have been using estimated readings for my electricity bills since 2006 despite the fact that I regulary provide readings to the company.

I was informed that I would pay this amount by monthly installments of £190! Not something I can currently afford.

Should I be made to pay for British Gas' error? I understand that I should pay for what I use but as someone who regularly provides them with readings (which they choose to ignore) and someone who pays their bills on time, I feel it's an absolute joke to come to me now asking for £1300!!

Any comments? If anyone knows of any regulation out their regarding this let me know as I want to be fully prepared when I take this complaint to a manger.

Incisor

BarbadosOne wrote: »

I have just received a bill from British Gas for £1300! On phoning British Gas, I was informed that due to an error at their end the bill was for energy use dating back to 2006!!!

They advised that they have been using estimated readings for my electricity bills since 2006 despite the fact that I regulary provide readings to the company.

I was informed that I would pay this amount by monthly installments of £190! Not something I can currently afford.

Should I be made to pay for British Gas' error? I understand that I should pay for what I use but as someone who regularly provides them with readings (which they choose to ignore) and someone who pays their bills on time, I feel it's an absolute joke to come to me now asking for £1300!!

Any comments? If anyone knows of any regulation out their regarding this let me know as I want to be fully prepared when I take this complaint to a manger.

Comments? Yes. Sorry, I don't have a lot of sympathy. You were switched on enough to give actual readings, but not switched on enough to check the readings which were used?

Now go and check whether the bill has readings which line up with your present meter reading and hope that BG are getting it wrong.

DirectDebacle

You need some proper advice on this. Consumer Direct are probably a good start. There is some rule that you cannot be backbilled for more than 12 months but I don't know if this applies in your case. Try to find out before speaking to B.G.

Cardew

DirectDebacle wrote: »

You need some proper advice on this. Consumer Direct are probably a good start. There is some rule that you cannot be backbilled for more than 12 months but I don't know if this applies in your case. Try to find out before speaking to B.G.

The 12 month backbilling rule only applies if you have not rec'd a bill, not an incorrect bill.

This problem occurs with all utility companies because of their over-reliance on 'the computer'. When it gets a reading that it 'thinks' cannot be correct it ignores that reading and uses an estimated reading.

Next reading is even further out and the computer ignores that reading -etc etc. There doesn't seem any provision to automatically bring this up for manual intervention.

Having said that to be £1,300 underpaid in 2+ years is a huge amount - underpaying by between £40 and £60 every month for that 2+ years and there is clearly fault on the customer's part as they have a reponsibility to check their account, and this surely must have been apparent. The Meter readings would indicate they were estimated.

From posts on forum it appears that the normal compromise(if you make a fuss) is for BG to reduce the sum by 10% to 20% and/or give you a lengthy time to pay back. You should get 20% if you agree to pay it back as a lump sum.

spiro

I have to agree with everything said above, you will have received at least 4 to 8 bills in that period and it would appear you have never check the reading and contacted them to 'rebill' you. If you provide a reading by any automated method the IT system will check it against the history and 'throw it away' if it doesn't fit. If you speak to a person and it doesn't fit they may say call back in a week with another reading, accept your word (especially if it means more money for them) or send a meter reader round (especially if they think your due a large refund).