No electric paid for 8 yrs - now chasing?

Wobbledoos

Hi,

We signed up with Eon (which was back then i think TXU) in Nov 2001, on a combined Gas/Electric account.

We've had Direct Debits for years, paying the bill automatically - then we changed it to pay per quarterly bill, paying each time the bill arrived.

Eon have recently been in touch to say that they haven't received an Electricity payment since 2003, and we now owe them £7000.

Having checked the records that we do have, and comparing this to what they've told us, it would appear that back in 2003 they changed name/ownership, and since then we have only paid Gas.

We have had 2 or 3 statements that have said "Your prepayment meter balance is a £XX" - but because we do not have a prepayment meter, thought that was an admin error their end, as we were on a combined account contract. (There was a prepayment meter in the property when we moved in in Sept 2001, but we had Scottish Power change it to a normal meter immediately).

Where do we stand with this? They are saying we informed them 18mths ago that we do not have a prepayment meter, and they are accepting that therefore they should not charge us for this 18mths, but we can't believe that this can be right.

When they phone us, they are saying the same thing over & over, they are not listening to what we are telling them, and we are now concerned that they are going to put this with Debt Collectors, and it become even more of a nightmare.

We have escalated a complaint with them, but don't really know where we stand legally.

Can anyone please advise?

Thanks.

KimYeovil

As you have been receiving bills but you have not bothered to confirm they are correct you are liable for the last six years (five in Scotland.) Back billing limitation to only previous twelve months should not apply. However, although you are legally liable, the more obstrepious you are the better the deal you will get - you should be able to negotiate at least a 25% goodwill reduction to the arrears.

Did you really never once check your meters over the last eight years to monitor how much you were using and to see how much you could afford (and thus scratch your head at why your bills were so low?) Oh, to be as rich as you and not to have to worryingly read my meters.

Wobbledoos

the bills are around £300 pq, so hardly low.

macman

But the bills will have said 'gas'.
A dual fuel account will still bill or itemise gas and electricity separately.
Have you not once read your meters in 8 years then and checked them against the bills?

KimYeovil

Wobbledoos wrote: »

the bills are around £300 pq, so hardly low.

So you were, on average, using £2,075 of fuel per year :eek: eight years ago when prices were a third or a half of what they are now and "did not notice". Pull the other one .

cherrytrees29

when we.had really big issues with our utilities supplier and they didnt listen or help we contacted ofgen who are avalaible on 08454040506 you have to have spoken to your supplier first. as they are the watchdog for the utilties they seem to be better at resolving disputes. hope this helps

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi Wobbledoos,

From the info that you have given this could be a complex case, this needs to be investigated properly.

I think you should speak to our Directors' Office (details on your bill) they are the correct people to deal with this issue, as you have not managed to sort this out when speaking to our contact centre.

KimYeovil is correct this probably won't fall under the billing code, but all depends on the individual circumstances.

I urge you to speak to E.ON asap to stop any follow up for the balance, as this will go on hold whilst the complaint is open and the investigation going on.

Let me know if you need any more info from me.

Helena

Mrs_Arcanum

Wobbledoos wrote: »

the bills are around £300 pq, so hardly low.

This is about average for dual fuel - unless you live in a draughty 5 bed detached with an ancient gas boiler. :rotfl:

dogshome

Hi wobbledoos - TXU were the supplier to the Eastern region way, way back, but got themselves into trouble by buying wholesale Elec on high priced foreward contracts, which left them up a gum tree when wholesale prices fell.
To get out of the problem, they stopped suppying Elec to households which meant that whilst they still had the contracts, they did not have to pay for Elec because they weren't selling any.

From memory, Powergen took the Elec supply to TXU's customers and it appears that during the transfer your meter records were cocked-up

What to do
In England late billing demands are limited to 6 years, so if the first notice of this debt was recieved by you this month, it cannot make a claim for anything prior to April 2006

A demand is not good enough, you are entitled to billing that shows the period each one covers, the estimated meter readings at that time and the exact details of the tariff charges that applied at that time.
WRITE to Eon requesting these bills and advise them you want all communications on this matter to be in writing.
( If you recieve anything from a Debt Collection Agency, send them a copy of the letter to Eon)

Your strongest card is the 'No back billing beyond 12 months agreement'
This does exactly what it says on the tin, but, for it to work for the consumer the consumer must be able to show that they made efforts to get the supplier to send them a bill - However you did advise them that you had a credit meter and not a pre-payment meter and Eon have acknowledged this, yet in the 18 months that have elapsed since then Eon have failed to read the meter issue or issue a bill.

I supect that this one will run and run and in the end go for adjudication - If this happens do not take your appeal to the Ombudsman who is funded by the Industry, but take it to Consumer Focus who are independant

undaunted

I agree with dogshome. I suggest you seek some legal advice on back billing & statute barred debt.

Whilst I would to a degree accept Kims comment on "pull the other one" the supplier should also have been expected to identify the problem in such a pro longed period - particularly as you say you contacted them 18 months ago - & can't in my opinion expect to just negate their own failings by blaming you alone.

sunflower_2

i agree with Kim also "pull the other one"

you would be totally stupid not to have realised what was happening - and ur posts certainly do not read as being written by a stupid person

you will of course plead ignorance as this is your best defence, but i think we all know the truth

not that i blame you at all - i would have done exactly the same thing (putting up shield ready for everyone to jump on me)

in my opinion - push it all the way and keep mentioning the billing code.
its a very grey area where backbilling is concerned in relation to bills being sent/estimated bills.

the fact is - they have failed to bill you for ELECTRICITY therefore you are entitled to only be billed for one year!!!
regardless of whether they have sent a bill - it wasnt for the fuel concerned.

push it all the way - and defo to the Ombudsman if you dont get anywhere.
yes its funded by the supplier and v expensive - but ask for a deadlock letter (which the ombudsman needs to look at case) this tends to make them see sense/reconsider...

good luck