Is there a 1 year rule for 'catch up bills'

garysimpson

Hi

Is there a law that means if a company (EDF) claim for a 5 years 'catch up' bill because the meters were read wrong................ can they claim the full amount or is there a 1 year maximum that they can claim for as the meter firm were advising them of the wrong meter readings over the last few years.

I thought I read on here a while ago about this law......... any advise appreciated. Also what do I do if there is this 1 year law so not to not have to pay the full amount........

Gary & Helen.

MrLazyBones

Hi Gary,

Sorry to hear about your problem. You may be in luck....

1) The Statute of Limitations provides that contractual debts become statute barred after 6 years (5 years in Scottish Law) so yes EDF can legally catch up at the moment, however....

2) What you are referring to is the 'back billing code of practice' - "The Code includes a requirement for consumers to be protected from debt where the supplier is at fault for not billing energy supply. Where the supplier is at fault, consumers cannot be back-billed beyond 12 months from the date on any subsequent bill."

For part 2 I believe that you need to have 'managed your account effectively' - did you also submit meter reads etc

Premier_2

garysimpson wrote: »

...I thought I read on here a while ago about this law.........

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1684407


Edit: Your thread on essentially the same thing about 3 months ago
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1984593

Cardew

I assume that you have been receiving bills based on estimated meter readings?

If that is the case, have you taken action to correct those estimated readings?

As indicated in the posts above, the back-billing rule applies where you haven't been billed, not for incorrect bills.

As customers it is in the conditions of the contract* that we correct estimated readings by notifying the company. Otherwise if the Utility company wrongly estimated meter readings, none of us would ever correct the readings and hope to get an advantage under the back billing rule.

* You don't have to sign a contract, once you use any electricity you are bound by the conditions of a legally binding deemed contract.

dogshome

Hi garysimpson - To help we need more info
Is an Electric or Gas meter ? What was the error the meter readers were making ?

garysimpson

dogshome wrote: »

Hi garysimpson - To help we need more info
Is an Electric or Gas meter ? What was the error the meter readers were making ?

Hi DH its our gas meter...it was the wrong meter reading by a meter reading company, we were being billed for 'feet' not by 'meter' so they made it up the bill for the part that was incorrectly billed.

We made a complaint to EDf and had a reply and they still state they want the money and they are not responsible for any mistake....... we did and do give meter readings so they are not always estimated reading s on our bills.

We have decided to just pay it and tell EDF to stick their products up their *rse's and we're going to switch suppliers and never use them again. ironically they owe us 30+ on our electric bills at one piont it was 116! as they have been over charging!

Sod them.

Thanks for the replies

dogshome

Hi gary simpson - For your post it would appear that you don't have to worry about wether or not the 'Back billing' rule applies - If you do ineed have a Metric meter and EDF have been chargeing you as though you have an Imperial one, they will owe you a shedfull of money.
However If you have an Imperial meter and they have been chargeing for a Metric meter, I'm afraid you owe them, and they are entitled to backcharge for up to 6 years

First thing to do is check the meter you have. On the front it will be marked M3 for metric, or Ft3 for Imperial
Then check your past bills - Divide the number of meter units used into the number Kw charged, if the answer is appx. 11.2 you are being charged for a metric meter - If the answer is appx. 31.5 you are being charged for an Imperial meter.

Be aware that the type of meter you have is recorded by a central agency, and it's from them that EDF would have got thier information. So if you just change suppliers without first sorting the mix-up out, the mistake will just be repeated.

If it is you that is owed WRITE to EDF, do not Email or phone, heading the letter Complaint asking that they send you fresh bills covering the entire problem period, that are individually calculated for your metric meter.
If you owe them WRITE pointing out that this debt has built up through no fault of your own, you have previously paid their bills on time and that you require the same amount of time over which the debt built up, to pay it off
Good Luck