Received Electric bill 2 years old

gasman1065

Hi
Hope someone can help, i have today received an electric bill from Atlantic energy from over 2 years ago ( i have been with EDF since September 2009) i rang them tonight but they advised they can issue bills upto 6 years old , they said the last dd for £100 didnt go through as it was cancelled because we joined EDF,
Now i cant remember back to 2009 but can a utility company just send you a bill over 2 1/2 years old ??

Ive started a complaint with them , but just wondered if anyone knows where i stand?

Thanks again

dude89

gasman1065 wrote: »

Hi
Hope someone can help, i have today received an electric bill from Atlantic energy from over 2 years ago ( i have been with EDF since September 2009) i rang them tonight but they advised they can issue bills upto 6 years old , they said the last dd for £100 didnt go through as it was cancelled because we joined EDF,
Now i cant remember back to 2009 but can a utility company just send you a bill over 2 1/2 years old ??

Ive started a complaint with them , but just wondered if anyone knows where i stand?

Thanks again

Depends on the circumstances.

Read this and see what applies to yourself. http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/indu...ccurate-bills/

Do you remember ever receiving a bill from them at all?

gasman1065

Thanks, i cant honestly remember if we had a bill or not, it was just paid by dd, then we went to EDF, and have heard nothing until today demanding £100

Cardew

Any civil debt can go back 6 years(5 in Scotland) even if it is an error on their part - similarly you can claim a refund for an error.

There is of course the Billing Code where gas/electricity companies can only claim back 12 months, from when the mistake was discovered, and where they are at fault. However I have a feeling that Atlantic did not sign up to that code - you would need to check.

So I believe that you have no grounds not to pay if it is a legitimate debt, unless the Billing Code comes to your rescue.

dude89

gasman1065 wrote: »

Thanks, i cant honestly remember if we had a bill or not, it was just paid by dd, then we went to EDF, and have heard nothing until today demanding £100

If they did send a bill then imo the balance would stand. If they didnt then it wouldnt. It all balances on that question in my opinion

The back billing code would apply if they did send the bill.
But as long as they did send a bill then they would have upto 6 years to chase the debt.

Cardew

dude89 wrote: »

If they did send a bill then imo the balance would stand. If they didnt then it wouldnt. It all balances on that question in my opinion

The back billing code would apply if they did send the bill.
But as long as they did send a bill then they would have upto 6 years to chase the debt.

This is the latest publication from the Energy Retail Association that I could find. It seems to confirm what I stated above that Atlantic have not signed up to the Billing Code:

Introduction

This Code of Practice outlines the key commitments given by your energy
supplier to provide accurate bills as well as your obligations as an energy
customer. The Membership of the Code currently includes British Gas
(including Scottish Gas), EDF Energy, E.ON, npower and Scottish Power.
These member companies have agreed to abide by the Code and be
governed by the Code membership rules. The main reason for publishing
this Code is to assure customers of the suppliers’ commitment to high

standards that provide:

dude89

I am aware that certain companie shave not signed up to the billing code, but it was my understanding, though i could be wrong, that OFGEM's guidance on this is that they expect all companies to adhere to the billing code, and the ombudsman would rule this way also.

Though i could be wrong with this

Cardew

You are correct that they recently have 'requested' that they should take note of the code, but I have no idea how that guidance will be viewed.

dude89

Cardew wrote: »

You are correct that they recently have 'requested' that they should take note of the code, but I have no idea how that guidance will be viewed.

Thanks for confirming i wasnt losing my marbles. I have just spent 15 minutes trying to find that to make sure i wasnt making it up

spiro

It sounds like you cancelled the DD before they had taken their final payment and for some reason it has taken them some time to realise (unless you have moved since).

brewerdave

Is it a "proper" bill ie showing actual opening and closing meter reads?? If so, does the final read agree with the opening reading you gave to EDF ?? If it is just a demand for money,then you have a right to insist on a detailed bill.