£2022 electric bill

crescent678

in 2008 my husband went with hydro electric for gas and electric on a duel fuel,they took of a certain amount per month and each year they give us a small amount back saying thats what we are due,this week i received a letter stating we have never been charged for electric and they want £2022 for our electric since 2008,on the bank statements it says its duel fuel which i thought meant gas and electric, my husband died in 2009 and the bills are still in his name, do i have a legal right to dispute the amount they want.

many thanks

Alter_ego

What does it say on the bills? They usually itemise gas & elec.

You should change the account to your name.

crescent678

we never receive bills,i think it must be an online statement but i dont even know the details to log in,this is the first bill i have received from them.

HappyMJ

I think closing the account and getting a new account in your name would be the first step then you can figure out what to do with your departed husbands bills. They should have been finalized and paid from his estate. If they want payment at the moment they have to take your husband to court and I don't think he can attend to defend himself at this point in time.

spiro

Agree with above, as soon as your husband passed away you should have had the account transferred into your name. Currently until this happens the supplier cant discuss the account with you. In terms of how much you owe this will depend why they have not charge you for elec. The letter specifically says 'we have not billed you' rather than 'we have undercharged you'?
If it is their fault then they can only back bill for 12 months under the ERA Billing Code. If the bank statement does say 'dual fuel' then this should be a clear indication to a customer that they are paying for both. Once the supplier will talk to you ask for a detailed bill for the £2022 and if it cover any period before March 2010 ask them to explain why they have not applied the ERA Back Billing code when it is clearly their fault.

DUTR

crescent678 wrote: »

in 2008 my husband went with hydro electric for gas and electric on a duel fuel,they took of a certain amount per month and each year they give us a small amount back saying thats what we are due,this week i received a letter stating we have never been charged for electric and they want £2022 for our electric since 2008,on the bank statements it says its duel fuel which i thought meant gas and electric, my husband died in 2009 and the bills are still in his name, do i have a legal right to dispute the amount they want.

many thanks

The overdue /incorrect bill will come out of the estate, as others have mentioned, get the account changed over to your name, whilst I can see your point they cannot charge a deceased person, likewise you are using a deceased person's account, can't have it both ways

maddipops

check to see if all the bills are estimates, if they are, have you been asked for readings? has a meter reader left cards at your address to read the meter? things like this mean you can get some of the bill written off if these things werent done.

crescent678

the company has always been allowed in to read meter and they never said bills,they just always take there monthly payment by direct debit and on my bank statements it has duel fuel gas and electric and this is why i thought payment was for both but now there saying its only for gas and it doesnt include electric.

many thanks to all that has gave advice.