We have not paid any gas bill since moving into our property back in February 2009

neil0567

We notified our supplier of our opening reading when we moved in back in February 09.

We continued to have the meter read on a quarterly basis, but received no bills, reminders or correspondence from our supplier.

We have just recently changed our supplier and low and behold just received a final bill for the Gas for £759.40

Our supplier's summary is based on estimates for the whole period and not the actual meter readings that they themselves had taken. Because of this, are we liable to pay all, any, or a percentage of the bill?

As calorific values have increased over the last 12 months, is an 'estimate' a fair calculation for the periods that they have billed for?

We have been aware that we have not paid any gas bill, just the electric (also supplied by our supplier) for this period. But is it our responsibility to chase the supplier, even though they had received the opening reading and consecutively took their own readings?

Surely it is the responsibility of the supplier, once they are in receipt of the new occupants details and reading from their date of occupancy.

Please advise!

jrrowleyws

Do you still have your original reading? And do you have a copy of the reading taken when you switched? If so, how do these values compare? Calorific values wont have changes that much so I wouldnt get too concerned with that. TBH, you've used the gas so you should expect to pay for it.

There is something like a 12 month back billing system but its not compulsary for the supplier to do it. Have a google.

dogshome

Hi neil0567 -
Point 1) There is a back billing rule that limits the charges to only one year. You moved in February 09 and it is now May 10, but, for it to apply the customer should have made some efforts to get a bill - How is it that you are certain your meter was being regularly read? - If this is because someone in the house had to regularly admit the meter reader, it could be argued that you had no reason to be concerned about the lack of bills.
Point 2) The bill you have had should start with the Opening Meter reading you gave when you moved in, and end with Start reading of you new supplier - INSIST that you have a bill on these readings and not estimates
Point 3) Since April 09 Gas prices have been fairly stable, but prior that they were higher - If you can successfully pursue Billing for one year only, the difference won't matter, but if you can't demand your bill shows the all the dates and tariff changes
Point 4) Forget contacting the supplier by Email or Phone - DO IT IN WRITING
All the best