Someone else has been paying my gas bill

Sam1123

Hi there, I have a strange tale to tell about my gas bill and I'm hoping someone here may have an insight into what my plan of action should be.

I attempted to switch from E-on to N-power a month ago. My electricity changed fine, but my N-power informed me my current supplier was blocking the gas transfer. Thinking that E-on were trying to be cute, I phoned them up to enquire, only to be told that they hadn't supplied my gas since Feb 2009. When I enquired further I was told (by E-on) that the account has been transferred to Southern Electric. This is news to me as I didn't request the transfer, nor have I ever had a bill from them.

So I contacted Southern electric, gave them my meter number, and was told it was registered to an address in London. i corrected them, at which point the nice lady took my number and told me she would get back to me in ten minutes. This was a week ago and I've yet to hear back from my enquiries.

So, I have a gas bill which I assume is to Southern electric being paid by someone in London since 2009. What should I do now? I assume I will be billed eventually for the last 2 and a half years. Will I have to pay it and how quickly can they demand it? What if it was on some ridiculously expensive tariff? What should I do in the meanwhile about getting my gas supply transferred?

Sorry for the weirdness, I'm just a bit lost as to what I should be doing now. Appreciate all replies.

Thanks - Sam

macman

So it's an erroneous transfer with the meter nos transposed? Do your own bills match your own meter serial number?

Cardew

If you thought you were with E-ON for Gas, who have you been paying for gas since Feb 2009? Any bills from E-ON, payments by DD?

Sam1123

Hi, thanks for following up. I unknowingly haven't paid a gas bill since 2009. I wasn't paying enough attention to my bills to see that e-on were only billing me for electricity.

On my last bill I have for gas the meter number matches up with my meter, but speaking to e-on last week they say that the number is registered to a London address.

I didn't request the transfer to the different gas company (if it is southern electric- they haven't confirmed), and I haven't received any paperwork or billing.

ihateyes

Sam1123 wrote: »

I unknowingly haven't paid a gas bill since 2009. .

spectacular.......:beer:

macman

So they should give you just under 3 years to repay it...did you not notice that your bills were a fraction of what they should be?

Sam1123

I didn't notice no...just as I guess someone hasn't noticed that their bill is far too high for the last 2 and a half years. I'm pretty stingy with gas. The winter of 2008-2009 I got by on less than 50 quid if that gives you an idea.

So it's 3 years from the date they finally send me a bill? And do I have any control over the tariff they've been billing me for? (since after all they didn't give me any option as to what it was). Since Southern electric aren't returning my emails or calls, who should I contact now?

thanks again,Sam

macman

No, it's not automatically any particular period. But it's reasonable to expect them to allow you to repay over the period that the debt accrued. However if your annual expenditure on gas is only £50 (which I find impossible to believe if you have any form of gas CH or hot water), then you willl only owe maybe £150-so you're laughing really. Presumably you will be billed on standard tariff.
You need to persevere with SSE, they should have a specialist team dealing with erroneous transfers.

timbo58

macman wrote: »

So they should give you just under 3 years to repay it...did you not notice that your bills were a fraction of what they should be?

macman: similar situation: after a right kerfuffle with edf changing my meters, they eventually did the electric one some 6 months+ ago but despite emailing them 6 times, their ceo twice and phoning a couple of times also, I haven't had a bill yet!
I had a gas statement today which is hilarious as I'm still on a PPM as they haven't changed that yet (9 months and counting, funny as they quoted 4 weeks initially!).

Are you saying if I get an whacking great bill now (which I could afford to pay albeit on my overdraft or credit card) I can demand that I pay it over 6 months instead with no penalty? (I'd estimate around 80 units so far).

(after the screwing around they've caused me I might well do that!)

Sam1123

macman wrote: »

No, it's not automatically any particular period. But it's reasonable to expect them to allow you to repay over the period that the debt accrued. However if your annual expenditure on gas is only £50 (which I find impossible to believe if you have any form of gas CH or hot water), then you willl only owe maybe £150-so you're laughing really. Presumably you will be billed on standard tariff.
You need to persevere with SSE, they should have a specialist team dealing with erroneous transfers.

Thanks for your help. It was £50 for a few months between october and jan. I don't need to use the central heating too much where I live and I like cold showers (seriously). i will take your advice on contacting SSE.

undaunted

I find it impossible to believe that you didn't know you were not being billed for gas & suspect that so will anyone else to be honest. I tell you this because you will need to convince them that you have behaved reasonably if you wish to try and invoke any back billing regulations.

There is clearly supplier error here but that isn't intended to act as an excuse for people to knowingly acquire free energy.

Macmans post seems the most likely outcome to me too. I also agree with him that £50 per winter sounds unlikely if you do have gas heating etc