Please help me!! EDF backdating bills

Cardew

wilson.luke wrote: »

Words of advice from my experience if you truly think the company is at fault for not billing you and it was more than 12 months ago then dispute it. And make sure you read the codes of practice, if the call handler does not have knowledge of the codes then seek a supervisor who does

That frankly is incorrect and so is your 'homework'; and with respect you couldn't have read the billing code very carefully. Albeit I am not surprised that EDF have written off the sum - not because your case has merit, but it isn't worth fighting the case for the sum involved.

The billing code specifically covers cases where you moved in, didn't notify EDF you were in occupation, and moved out. In that case the 12 month back-billing rule does not apply.

http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/documents/BackBillingDocumentforConsumerFocus090510-Websitecopy.pdf

Customer’s responsibilities

Customers should pay for energy used and the Code is not intended as a means for avoiding payments. Customers have an obligation to assist suppliers and can
expect to pay for all energy consumed if they:
• Have been using the supply but have made no attempt to contact the supplier to make or arrange payment, including moving into a property and making no attempt to let a supplier know they are the new tenant.

I make no criticism of you for fighting your corner as you see it - good luck to you.
However to advise people they can move in, use electricity(on a deemed contract) make no attempt to contact the supply company, and move out without having to pay for that electricity is not correct.

Freddie_Snowbits

wilson.luke wrote: »

In 2008 i moved into a new build 2 bedroom apartment property

Something we have not been told, was it a new build, then I gateher the regulations you mention are valid. This happened to me and Freda when we bought in 2002.

But alas

wilson.luke wrote: »

Did my homework and got the electricity serial number, with this i then contacted EMPAS and found out who had originally supplied the property i lived in during 2008. EDF have been supplying the property since 2007 so a phone call to them to discuss a few matters i.e when was the first bill sent out? (2010) and what dates i was being billed for (apr-nov 2008).

Seems it was not wuite a new building? If this is the case, I doubt the condition applies

newleaf

We moved into a new build property in early 2000. It took months of repeated telephoning with meter readings and meter reference numbers to persuade the supplier (npower in our case) that our house existed. They insisted that they knew nothing about us and persisted in telling me not to worry about it! The site developer didn't want to know.
Obviously, I knew we were racking up a potentially huge bill and was anxious to set up a DD payment, but they wouldn't have it because we were 'not on their database'. Eventually they contacted me with a huge bill for the preceeding 10 months, (at which point we discovered that the back up immersion heater had been accidentally switched on and left on for the duration :eek: ), they also sent us the bills for the whole street as we had a similar row about our existence with the the 'postcode people', who refused to give us a postcode for ages, and then refused to acknowledge the other 6 houses on the road:exclamati
Fortunately we had budgetted for the expense - although the immersion fiasco was admittedly a shock.
We were later contacted by the water company, who had been billing us, but told us they had been given the wrong meter number by the developer and had been billing us for next doors water supply for over a year (there's a young family of 4, plus two dogs and two guinea pigs, next door and we're a childless couple). Where is the rolleyes smiley when you need it?
The system for new build registration with power suppliers etc. is not very effective in my opinion and no-one would accept responsibility. Would never buy a new build again, the stress was unbelievable!

wilson.luke

Sorry am i not being clear enough, if you read my original post i clearly state i made efforts to locate/register with a supplier as i had not received any bills, also i make clear reference to the fact if you think the company is in the wrong then you MAY have a case to fight.

I have not advised anyone not to pay i have simply advised on my experience when the company was in the wrong i.e leaving it 2 years before ever billing me.

Cardew

wilson.luke wrote: »

Sorry am i not being clear enough, if you read my original post i clearly state i made efforts to locate/register with a supplier as i had not received any bills, also i make clear reference to the fact if you think the company is in the wrong then you MAY have a case to fight.

I have not advised anyone not to pay i have simply advised on my experience when the company was in the wrong i.e leaving it 2 years before ever billing me.

What you stated in the opening post was that you contacted Scottish Power who(correctly) told you they didn't supply the property. You said nothing about contacting other companies - particularly EDF as you didn't know they were supplying you until you got their bill.

In any case saying 'I made efforts' would hardly stand up in court unless you had some written evidence.

In 2008 i moved into a new build 2 bedroom apartment property, one of the first things i did was contact scottish power to set up an account.

You also have stated your careful reading of the Billing Code supports your argument that in your circumstances EDF are in the wrong and thus cannot bill you under the 12 month back-billing rule.

However the billing code states quite clearly that in your circumstances the 12 month rule does not apply. The onus is quite clearly on you to have taken steps to find out who was the supplier and contact them.

There have been loads of cases on MSE where in similar circumstances the customer has to pay - which was why several of the contributers to this thread advised that the bill was valid.

The simple fact is that you used the electricity and seem quite pleased with yourself that you have found a reason not to pay a valid bill; that is up to you.

Whilst you have softened your stance in your latest post, your previous post is advising people that they can also escape payment under similar circumstances. You state unequivocally that you are correct, that the line manager agrees and you are so certain of your grounds that you would take it to the energy ombudsman.

That frankly was poor advice.

wilson.luke

Cardew wrote: »

What you stated in the opening post was that you contacted Scottish Power who(correctly) told you they didn't supply the property. You said nothing about contacting other companies - particularly EDF as you didn't know they were supplying you until you got their bill.

In any case saying 'I made efforts' would hardly stand up in court unless you had some written evidence.



You also have stated your careful reading of the Billing Code supports your argument that in your circumstances EDF are in the wrong and thus cannot bill you under the 12 month back-billing rule.

However the billing code states quite clearly that in your circumstances the 12 month rule does not apply. The onus is quite clearly on you to have taken steps to find out who was the supplier and contact them.

There have been loads of cases on MSE where in similar circumstances the customer has to pay - which was why several of the contributers to this thread advised that the bill was valid.

The simple fact is that you used the electricity and seem quite pleased with yourself that you have found a reason not to pay a valid bill; that is up to you.

Whilst you have softened your stance in your latest post, your previous post is advising people that they can also escape payment under similar circumstances. You state unequivocally that you are correct, that the line manager agrees and you are so certain of your grounds that you would take it to the energy ombudsman.

That frankly was poor advice.

Simply answer......... each case is viewed on its own, i simply gave advice on my experience which is why i set this topic up. Am i pleased i dont have to pay £350...... hell yeah i am, who wouldn't be. Had it come to it and the ombudsmen decided i had to pay then i would of.

I don't remember saying i was going to court.