EDF Energy

jenni2607

I am at the end of my tether. I moved into a new home over 3 years ago. I phoned the company I was told supply the electric (its a housing association property) about 6 months after I moved in to ask for a bill, and was told one would be sent. When it did not arrive I phoned again and again, and after another year (now living in the property 18 months) I decided to just leave it, I figured if they wanted the money they would send a bill.

All of a sudden a £830 bill has arrived for the past 3 years, and when I contacted EDF they said they have no record of me contacting them and that I have to pay this bill or they will get a court order and put a prepayment meter on my home and reclaim the money that way. I cant afford this, I got made redundant 6 weeks ago and am struggling as a single parent to pay the bills I have anyway.

Please help.

dogshome

Hi jenni2607 - In 2006 a rule was introduced that Utilities could not back-bill for more than two years when they had failed to send bills and the customer had made some effort to get bills - In 2007 this was reduced to one year.

You must WRITE to EDF setting out, as best you can remember, the appx. dates and number of times you phoned them to ask for a bill.
The chances are that EDF will reject this as a reason to bill for 1 year only - If they reply by phoning you, tell them you will not discuss it over the phone and you want a written reply - With a letter of rejection you can then take the matter to the Ombudsman.

It will be a matter of your word against theirs, but 3 years is very, very long time not to produce a bill and you stand a very good chance of getting a decision in your favour
Good Luck

jenni2607

Thank you very much for this, I have written today, fingers crossed!!!

Premier_2

I think you may need to have those fingers crossed extremely tightly!

What proof do you have that you contacted the supplier? The supplier has already denied any knowledge so I doubt you'll get any recordings off them.

Shame you didn't write to the company using recorded delivery at the time - then you would have proof; at the moment its simply your word against theirs and I suspect that won't be enough to satisfy the ombudsman.

Unless you (can prove you) contacted them, then the 12 month back billing rule does not apply.

Also shame you didn't put money by during the time you were not getting the bills. As you said, you "figured if they wanted the money they would send a bill", but you failed to plan for when that time eventually arrived. Too late now, but you'll know for the future if this ever happens again.