Catch up bills?

garysimpson

Hi

GOt a dispute with EDF energy

They want £500+ for a catch up bill, the meter is the right one so the bill is quite correct... but I understand that they can only claim up to 12 months in a catch up bill.... is this right?

They have threatened to get a court order for change of meter even if we are not home..... I made an ofitial complaint and was not happy with the answer... basically you have to pay and they 'dont know' if they can only claim for 12 months in a catch up bill........... and baSICALLY WAS MORE bully tactics than helping to answer my questions....... can they just change my meter when actually in a dispute? if not how do I stop them? do they have to summons me to court before a judge allows entry.. so we can make our claim... or does the law protect their bully tactics so people just do as they are TOLD!

Thanks

Gary

kjsmith7

The 12 month rule depends on a number of factors.

Where your original meter readings estimated and then you have had a correct meter reading? (Just checking if that is the case). Where you paying quarterly/upon receipt of the bill or via Direct Debit? Where you receiving your bills, either online or via post?

Each quarter, when you get a bill, it would have said 'estimated' on it. Did you ever check it against the meter and phone them? If you did, and they didn't use the meter reading, then you may be able to be back billed.

Was the meter read in the 12 month period, or did the meter readers attempt to read it (e.g. leave you a card?) Be honest, as this can also affect your chance to be back billed, and the meter readers have records of when they couldn't gain entry (e.g. if your meters are inside and you are at work).

If you have gone through their official complaints procedure and where not happy with the answer, did you not ask to escalate your complaint through their official channels? You may be able to take the complaint to the Ombudsman.

They may not realise that you are disputing the bill, if that makes sense - because unless the complaint is still open, it won't be classed as still being disputed.

I don't think the attitude of "the bill is correct, but I'm trying to get out of paying it" will necessarily get you very far with EDF. Another way of looking at it is, you accept the bill is correct so how can you be disputing the bill? If you received a bill each quarter showing 'ESTIMATED' and you did not check it against the meter, then you are at fault, as it is just as much your responsibility to check the readings as it is theirs.

If I was you, I'd get onto a payment plan. If you spread it out over a year via Direct Debit, it'll add £50 a month on - not great, I know, but in a year it'll be gone and then you can forget about it or move suppliers.

Legally, non-payment of a bill will result in them applying for a warrant from the courts. They are then legally allowed to force entry into your property, even if you are not there, fit a pre-payment meter (so that you can pay the balance and pre-pay for future consumption) and even charge you for replacement locks for your front door. It's better to not let it get that far, though. Hope that helps

charis18uk

garysimpson wrote: »

Hi

GOt a dispute with EDF energy

They want £500+ for a catch up bill, the meter is the right one so the bill is quite correct... but I understand that they can only claim up to 12 months in a catch up bill.... is this right?

They have threatened to get a court order for change of meter even if we are not home..... I made an ofitial complaint and was not happy with the answer... basically you have to pay and they 'dont know' if they can only claim for 12 months in a catch up bill........... and baSICALLY WAS MORE bully tactics than helping to answer my questions....... can they just change my meter when actually in a dispute? if not how do I stop them? do they have to summons me to court before a judge allows entry.. so we can make our claim... or does the law protect their bully tactics so people just do as they are TOLD!

Thanks

Gary

What's really at issue here? You used the energy as you freely admit. I think that EDF are perfectly in their rights to therefore charge you for it. I've heard mention of this so called '12 mth limit' but I doubt it actually exists or if it does it's probably not applicable to people who just want to get out of paying for what they know they have used.

Who do you think end's up paying for this energy if you don't? ME!!! and all the other customers out there who pay our way every month, keep on top of meter readings and let our supplier know if we notice an increasing difference in either direction.

So I say cough up love!