recieved electric bill after 2 1/2 years..

trishanaik

hi was hoping someone could help... i moved into my property in nov 2007 and contacted n power to change the supply into my name.. at which point i gave them my meter reading as well for electric.. i never heard from them until dec 2008 when they sent me bills which were totally incorrect. (before this i contacted them several times to ask for bills and they said they were still processing). finally in dec 2008 when i did recieve incorrect bill i contacted them to let them know that bill did not match my meter reading at all and i am not a business, but a residential customer. so they said they would make changes and this took ages again. once again i contacted them sevral times trying to get any info but no luck.. then in dec 2009 i recived a bill with the correct meter readings but still being billed as business with high standing charge. i asked for this to be chnaged and i got a call today that all the changes had been made and that my bill should be paid now...

i feel it is very unfair that i have had to chase them for 2 years to get a proper bill, i even told them in 2007 that can they send me a correct bill soon as i do not want to pay a large sum later..

i heard from a friend that i will only be liable to pay bill for the last year and they cannot claim for any payments before this date. also if i had to pay for only a year how would the claculate what i used when the only exact meter reading they have is the one on the date that i moved in which i gave them.

if anyone could kindly shed some light on this...

thank you...

DUTR

trishanaik wrote: »

hi was hoping someone could help... i moved into my property in nov 2007 and contacted n power to change the supply into my name.. at which point i gave them my meter reading as well for electric.. i never heard from them until dec 2008 when they sent me bills which were totally incorrect. (before this i contacted them several times to ask for bills and they said they were still processing). finally in dec 2008 when i did recieve incorrect bill i contacted them to let them know that bill did not match my meter reading at all and i am not a business, but a residential customer. so they said they would make changes and this took ages again. once again i contacted them sevral times trying to get any info but no luck.. then in dec 2009 i recived a bill with the correct meter readings but still being billed as business with high standing charge. i asked for this to be chnaged and i got a call today that all the changes had been made and that my bill should be paid now...

i feel it is very unfair that i have had to chase them for 2 years to get a proper bill, i even told them in 2007 that can they send me a correct bill soon as i do not want to pay a large sum later..

i heard from a friend that i will only be liable to pay bill for the last year and they cannot claim for any payments before this date. also if i had to pay for only a year how would the claculate what i used when the only exact meter reading they have is the one on the date that i moved in which i gave them.

if anyone could kindly shed some light on this...

thank you...

Who needs enemies with friends like that?
not sure why you would have gone so long without a bill, I usually threaten npower with court if they don't come and read my meter, however they are regular now, as you have the original reading and current reading, I can't really see what the problem is with billing?

Andy_WSM

DUTR wrote: »

Who needs enemies with friends like that?

Actually, I believe their friend is correct.

As long as you can prove that you have been chasing for a bill and the utility company have failed to deliver then they can only back bill you for 1 year. - I'm sure someone will come along to verify / dispute this soon enough!

DUTR

Andy_WSM wrote: »

Actually, I believe their friend is correct.

As long as you can prove that you have been chasing for a bill and the utility company have failed to deliver then they can only back bill you for 1 year. - I'm sure someone will come along to verify / dispute this soon enough!

A friend of mine used to get estimated bills for about 6yrs, as there was a low usage pensioner in the premise before the bills were unrealistically low, BG sent a bill for the right amount of gas based upon meter reading , ok he never had to pay it in one go, but he had to pay the bill.
Sometimes when folk want to 'get away' with paying what they should it can affect their 'customer record' should they want to take their custom elsewhere

Cardew

The one year back-billing provision is only if you have not received a bill and the utility company is at fault for not sending a bill.

You have received bills - albeit incorrect bills - so IMO the back-billing provision does not apply.

If the one year backbilling rule applied for incorrect bills(wrongly estimated etc) then few of us would ever have to pay a gas and electricity bill!!!!!

You haven't paid for 2+ yrears so have had presumably interest on the money you put aside for payment - and doubtless you will get time to pay what you owe.

I hardly think it is 'very unfair' as you will have done quite well out of the situation.

A_fiend_for_life

My understanding is if they haven't billed at all they can only go back 12 months.

Not sure what happens if they have the correct meter number (?) , name and address but bill as a business.

I'm assuming npower have the correct meter number on the bill?