No electricity bill for 2 years!

Scoopy

I've just had a letter through from Scottish Power stating that they are "very sorry" but due to a problem with their systems they've not sent me a bill for 24 months, they've therefore estimated I owe them £1.5k!!!! QUITE a shock as a single homeowner in the current climate!

Anyway just wondered if anyone had heard of a scam/whether this could be legit? I bought my ex husband out of the house 2 years ago and just moved bills into my name, I pay British Gas £68 per month direct debit but was under the impression this was BOTH electricity and gas (however I don't get paper bills, foolishly signed up for e-billing and don't know the logon etc etc!). Does this sound like a feasible cost of BOTH or have I really only been paying gas all this time?!?!

Has anyone else had this happen or can anyone help/advise me please!

Thanks!!!!!!

Magentasue

I am very patient. Really. Other posters aren't. But hang on here. You signed up for an online tariff. NEVER checked your bills ...

OK. £70 a month sounds reasonable if you live on your own. But a £1500 debt sounds reasonable over two years. Please tell us you've checked your meter readings ... occasionally?

Do you really have no idea of how much you've used in relation to how much you've paid. You need to read those meters and calculate. The good news is, worst case scenario, they'll probably give you plenty of time to pay.

smokingchills

Hi There,

I work for one of the big 6 - Im not going to say which one however the below will help you.

Scottish Power is a member of the ERA (Energy Retail Association) and in line with its policy on back billing you should only be invoiced for 1 Years consumption provided they have not made any effort to invoice you or obtain the responsable party.

Should you have received anything in the name of the occupier and taken no action then you may be liable for the full cost on your bill.

Check the invoice they have sent you - as the company has to show you what has been charged for the total period and then show you a deduction an adjustment or credit should show.

You can find out if they have correctly invoiced you and that you are one of there customers by telephoning your local MPAS office - if you search this on the internet you should be able to identify who your local electricity supplier is (Distributor) as they run the service and this service can tell you the current provider.

If all else fails follow the complaints procedure for the company and this informaiton can usualy be found on there website.

Good Luck

SC

jimexbox

Scoopy wrote: »

I pay British Gas £68 per month direct debit but was under the impression this was BOTH electricity and gas (however I don't get paper bills, foolishly signed up for e-billing and don't know the logon etc etc!). Does this sound like a feasible cost of BOTH or have I really only been paying gas all this time?!?!

Has anyone else had this happen or can anyone help/advise me please!

Thanks!!!!!!

The exact same thing happened to me about 7-8 years ago. I went duel fuel with whoever Eon were at the time, and they never 'actioned' the electric DD. I was under the assumption that one DD payment was made for both, it wasn't. After 2 years I received a welcome letter. !!!!!! I thought! Anyway rang them up and they wanted just under 700 quid. I said 'no', they said they would cut me off. For their incompetence I pointed out!

I was passed up the chain of command, I was always polite but firm that I was unaware of their mistake. They offered various reductions until a nice lady asked me how much I thought was fair. lol. Asking a tight northerner, she would only get one reply, 'zero', I replied. 'Fair enough, zero it is', she said.

So when you speak to them, mention incompetence, watchdog and Ofgem.

elektra

1) Go and read both your gas and electric meters now and thereafter once a month would be sensible. Also note down serial number of electric meter.

2) as stated above find out who MPAS thinks supplies your electric. Note down MPAN number from Scottish Power bill. See heer for MPAS.
http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5534&p_created=1210081598&p_sid=VFPMz7ij&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NTg1LDU4NSZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTE*&p_li=&p_topview=1

3) Find paperwork from British Gas from when you signed up to ebilling and see if you can find login details. If not maybe your last paper bill and give them a ring and get login reset so you can see exactly what you are being charged for.

4) They should be only to bill for one year and give time to pay.

5) Please post a response as to what resolution you end up with. A few come on here asking for advice and never post response.

6) Good Luck