No bill for 12 months

Viper_7

Question...

what are the rules regarding billing?

I've not had a correct bill for over 12 months.
Said quarterly bills have all been estimates - and of zero usage.

I've tried many time to provide my reading both on-line and by phone, but the supplier can't take it as there is "a bill in progress"

I've E-mailed them, and they just say to submit the readings by E-mail to "move things forward"

What's the deal with estimates? Can they use estimates for ever?
If over a year, do I have to pay for the energy used that is over a year? I believe they can only bill for up to a year?
I've not sat back on this - I have tried to get them to send out a correct bill, bot no joy.


Thoughts?

startech

Suppliers are obliged to take a reading at least once every 24 months.

Make sure you keep a log of your meter reads if (and presumably when) a bill is finally raised.

Cardew

Under the Billing Code, Utility companies can only back-bill for 12 months if they haven't sent any bill at all and it is their fault.

Incorrect bills for any reason don't come under this 12 month rule - if they did the companies would raise very little revenue!!!!

One of the problems with these new computer systems is that they will sometimes reject actual meter readings because it 'thinks' the reading is a mistake; and it will then substitute a estimated reading.

Your best bet is to write a formal letter of complaint about the situation. (don't phone/email). You should get a 'goodwill' reduction on the amount owed.

Premier_2

startech wrote: »

Suppliers are obliged to take a reading at least once every 24 months.

Make sure you keep a log of your meter reads if (and presumably when) a bill is finally raised.

Clarification.

Suppliers have to make reasonable attempts to read meters within two years of the last visit (this includes, if necessary, getting a warrant for entry). Although most will try to read the meter more frequently they are not obliged to do so.
Licence Condition 12 clearly states that a consumer's meters must be read at least once every two years. Suppliers are not required to read meters at the consumer's request. The company may choose to charge the consumer if they are asked to visit to read the meter.
However there is a difference in how the legislation applies to gas and electricity meters. In the event that a supplier takes over an electricity supply, they have two years from the date they become responsible for the electricity meter to have it read, but due to the extra safety risks, a gas meter must be inspected every two years what ever changes in supply registration occur.

http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5563&p_created=1210083034&p_sid=c7vLhTKj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MzIzLDMyMyZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1tZXRlciByZWFkaW5n&p_li=&p_topview=1

Further clarification:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]This condition states that suppliers should make “reasonable endeavours” to inspect meters at least once every two years it has been the supplier for those premises . As part of the inspection (which is visual and primarily for safety purposes) the meter must be read. A “reasonable endeavour” to obtain a reading might include a visit from a meter reader where no access was obtained and a card left for the consumer to send in their own reading.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]The condition for gas suppliers places greater emphasis on the safety need to inspect and makes specific mention of the entitlement to obtain a warrant to enter the premises if required. This is provided for under the Rights of Entry (Gas & Electricity Boards) Act 1954, backed up by codes of practice detailed in the Licence Conditions. ...

http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1311&p_created=1097162769&p_sid=XadBMiKj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=5563&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MTE4LDExOCZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1jb25kaXRpb24gMTI*&p_li=&p_topview=1[/FONT]


Edit:
Code of practice on back billing here:
http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/pdfs/9437_Codes%20of%20PracticePages.pdf[/FONT]

Mind_Overload

I've not had a gas bill for the whole 2 1/2 years i have lived in my new build property.
I rang the supplier 2-3 times when i moved in but they seemed unintrested and said you will receive a bill soon, that has never come.
What would happen if i moved out and someone else moved in? would they find my details and bill me to a new address?
Any advise in what i should do? i have put money aside each month

spiro

marcus-darkus wrote: »

I've not had a gas bill for the whole 2 1/2 years i have lived in my new build property.
I rang the supplier 2-3 times when i moved in but they seemed unintrested and said you will receive a bill soon, that has never come.
What would happen if i moved out and someone else moved in? would they find my details and bill me to a new address?
Any advise in what i should do? i have put money aside each month

It would have been better if you had written because you have no proof that you contacted them. As you say it is a new build contact the MPRS service (someone will provide number) and they will advise you how the supplier is if any. If there is none, pick one of your choice, phone them up and explain the situation and they will be unlikely to back bill you or if they do it will only be for part of the period. If there is a supplier registered and they have sent no bill, and this includes 'to occupier' then it is their fault and they can only go back 1 year. In this case write to them and ideally send it recorded delivery, this will act as your proof that the onus is on them.

Cardew

marcus-darkus wrote: »

I've not had a gas bill for the whole 2 1/2 years i have lived in my new build property.
I rang the supplier 2-3 times when i moved in but they seemed unintrested and said you will receive a bill soon, that has never come.
What would happen if i moved out and someone else moved in? would they find my details and bill me to a new address?
Any advise in what i should do? i have put money aside each month

When moving into a property you have entered into a legally binding 'deemed contract' and the onus is on you to contact the supplier.

The supplier does not know the property is occupied and whilst you have phoned them, many people don't! They simply hope they 'will get away with it'!

As said above you should have written to them(preferably recorded delivery) and then you will probably come-under the 12 month back-billing rule.

If you move without paying, the normal action of the Utility companies is the pass the debt to a Debt Collection Agency(DCA) and these bloodhounds will hunt you down and you will have a black mark on your credit record at best - a court order at worse.

Viper_7

Thanks for your responses all.

Still having no luck with them.
I noted on the last bill that they claim they read the meter in March - this is a total lie. As the reading they "read" is the same as the Estimate reading 3 months previous.

I've provide my meter readings as required, and I work out it will be about £800 since the last accurate bill.
Guess what - I receive another bill and it's for £23! and again is another made up estimate
and now it's a demand for not paying!!

I'm not chasing them again, how do I complain? To the supplier directly or to Ofgen?

Oh, and It's Npower if anyone is interested.

Rgrds,

Vipes

Premier_2

Viper_7 wrote: »

...I'm not chasing them again, how do I complain? To the supplier directly or to Ofgen?...

You need to follow their compaints procedure, details of which should be on the bill.

... or is available here: http://www.npower.com/prod_contribb/groups/wcms_content/@wcms/@busi/documents/digitalassets/puttingthingsright100108.pdf

barrymung

Don't be surprised if the company concerned demand payment over a very short period for the energy used, even if the error is their fault.

Keep any money you would have spent on one side so that you can pay them once the bill ultimately arrives..

Viper_7

Yes, I have the means to pay when the "lump sum" bill does eventually arrive.
However I will try to be cheeky and say I'll be paying it back £10 a week or something like that ;-)
Billing should be simple, it's only batch jobs, nothing difficult in the grand scheme of things and even when I want to pay, they still can't get it right time after time.