Paying arrears that are not your fault

bla_bla

Hi

I need some advice.
I switched my electricity meters from pre-pay to billed two years ago(two meters due to being 2 flats previously). When the first bill arrived it appeared to be only for one meter so called up my electricity supplier and asked them about the other meters bill, they said it wasn't anything to do with them. On 2 further occasions when their staff came to take meter readings I showed them the second meter but they also refused to take reading saying it was not their meter. On the fourth occasion the guy said it wasn't their meter but took down information and promised to look in to it. And lo and behold, the bill for the 2 years arrived for about £900. where do I stand? Do I have to legally pay this bill back?

DVardysShadow

Is the start reading on the new bill correct?

If it is, then offer to pay back over 2 years, the amount of time it has taken for the debt to accumulate.

bla_bla

Initially they had an incorrect start reading and incorrect current reading, after telling them the current reading they agreed to bill me from the start reading they had to my current reading which would have been a bill of under a £100. But me being the honest person I am, I queried as it how it could be that small a bill for 2 years so they decided to look in to archive of the original installation and now have a correct start reading.
I will pay it back if they agree small installments but I just want to see the reaction if I refused to with legally standing.

I read a case recently where a lady received wages for a full-timer when she was actually working part-time and the judge said she didn't have to pay anything back as it was not her fault.

dogshome

Well the good news is that with your efforts over a two year period, to alert the company that they were failing to bill you for the 2nd Meter, the company by the terms of thier licence cannot issue a bill for it that goes back beyond 12 months from the date they eventually issued the first bill - You have the readings, so it should not be too difficult to work out the cost of the One Year yopu have to pay for
Good Luck

Cardew

Certainly agree with the post above. It is in the Billing Code

As they never sent a bill, and it is their fault, they can only back-bill for 12 months.