Year and a half later, EDF are STILL chasing a bill that isn't ours

insurgente

Any advice would be greatly appreciated . This has been going on so long I need to rearrange the facts in my head.

I used to live in a shared house with a couple of friends, and we got electricity/gas with EDF.

We always paid our bills on time and in good faith, thinking we were doing everything required of us. A fair while later, EDF got in touch with us to say that in fact we'd been paying for the WRONG meter, and that our premises had two meters: one for us, and one for flat 'A'. There was no flat 'A', but our landlord had a lock up out back and the meter most likely belonged to that.

EDF said that despite us paying what we thought were our bills, we owed them well over £1,000 on top; i.e. it was our responsibility.

A lot of EDF people we talked to on the phone were quite understanding and they said it would go to some kind of arbitration. Eventually this arbitration decided to let this bill go, to ensure that we were paying for the CORRECT meter, and that we could go forward in peace.

They told my friend this several times over the phone (not sure if she has it in writing ). I moved out of the house soon after, and my friend moved out a few months later. When she moved out, she closed down the account we had with EDF and made the new tenants open a new one. In doing that she confirmed with EDF that it was closed, that there was no outstanding balance.

This was well over a year ago.

Today she has received a letter at her NEW address from a solicitors, looking for her on behalf of EDF energy. Naturally she's pretty worried about it as she thought this was all the in past.

I wonder, 1: How they got hold of her new address? 2: Why did they not get in touch with me, as my name was also on the bill?. 3: What do they want? We owe nothing

I'm not sure what to advise my friend. I told her not to reply until we get it figured out, but she's worried that there will be this outstanding debt on her credit report. I've told her to get a free credit report just to make sure everything's in order.

Can anyone offer advice? Are there any national bodies that offer advice on these kinds of matters?

Thanks!

jalexa

insurgente wrote: »

Today she has received a letter at her NEW address from a solicitors, looking for her on behalf of EDF energy.

I wonder, 1: How they got hold of her new address?

Not important or relevant. Provide the address but nothing else. The ball will then be back in Edf's court.

From what you say they do not seem to have much of a case. Unless they are trying to make a refund (for which there may well be a case:D)

BTW please post more about the "arbitration". I doubt there has been "Arbitration" but *if* Edf think so the outcome is binding.

insurgente

I may perhaps have misused the word 'arbitration' there. As far as I understood, they held us liable for the money... but in the end they decided that it was a combination of their fault along with our landlord, so took the balance off our account and we didn't pay it

Provide the address but nothing else. The ball will then be back in Edf's court.

She should get in touch and confirm that's her address?

jalexa

insurgente wrote: »

She should get in touch and confirm that's her address?

In my opinion she should respond to the letter. If the letter is asking for address confirmation then fine, but no admission of anything else. I say this because "hiding" is virtually impossible, but it is not impossible to contest an Edf change of heart.

If the letter makes any allegation, deny the allegation.

Wise-up on the Billing Code, it may be relevant.
http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/industrycodes/code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills/

Terrylw1

What's the debt for though? If there are 2 meters based on what you have said 1 meter is yours and the other your landlords.

It could be that the meters are crossed in their records, it could be the addresses are wrong, it could be they have billed both meters to you only.

Did you pay very little as the consumption was low due to being on the other meter? Who was paying the other bill, the landlord and we it more likely yours based on usage figures?

Its really difficult to say without more information.

jalexa

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Its really difficult to say without more information.

Of course. But a metering registration/billing problem is described. After a delay of more than 12 months the supplier would need to consider whether the Billing Code applies (or not) if "new money" is going to be requested.

As far as the OP is concerned it is never a good idea to "do a runner" whether intentionally or unintentionally. When originally notifying the house move and requesting a final bill, was a forwarding address requested (AFAIAA a script request) and what was the response?

insurgente

If the letter is asking for address confirmation then fine, but no admission of anything else

yea I hadn't thought of that, I'll pass it on. Sounds like the letter is only asking for an address.

What's the debt for though? If there are 2 meters based on what you have said 1 meter is yours and the other your landlords.

It could be that the meters are crossed in their records, it could be the addresses are wrong, it could be they have billed both meters to you only.

Did you pay very little as the consumption was low due to being on the other meter? Who was paying the other bill, the landlord and we it more likely yours based on usage figures?

From what I could tell, there were 2 meters at the property; one for our house and one for this lock up round the back

EDF said that we'd been paying for the wrong one, and that we'd been paying for the lock up instead of ours. However, the amount we were paying seemed normal to me for a house that size, so I never suspected something was amiss. I've been in the lock up and whilst there's a couple of lights in there, there's no heating and it was barely ever used. No idea how the bills would in that case be that high, unless the landlord was running a sweatshop out of there

When originally notifying the house move and requesting a final bill, was a forwarding address requested (AFAIAA a script request) and what was the response?

Not sure to be honest...I'll pass this thread on to my friend, she may even reply

thanks for the sensible tips!

undaunted

It would not be difficult to find your friend - there are companies who do it for a living. What they want is obviously their money.

Whether your friend - or you - actually now owe any is another matter.

It appears from your post that someone probably does owe some money but that the back billing code would probably apply

To suggest that you could confuse consumption of a little used lock up with a shared domestic property does not seem credible. Just what bills (in either £ or KW) were you and your friend actually paying?

jalexa

undaunted wrote: »

To suggest that you could confuse consumption of a little used lock up with a shared domestic property does not seem credible.

That is a perfectly reasonable point and its disappointing when posts are "economical", however the argument cuts both ways. The industry processes, including the requirement for periodic statutory reads, are also implicated.

You are right to ask about what the reads on the bills stated. And whether actual or estimated. A householder "accepting" a bill containing an actual read (or estimated read close to the current meter reading) has discharged responsibilities with regard to Billing Code "back billing". Accepting "estimated" reads significantly below the current meter reading may not satisfy.

At this stage it is just speculation.

Terrylw1

jalexa wrote: »

Of course. But a metering registration/billing problem is described. After a delay of more than 12 months the supplier would need to consider whether the Billing Code applies (or not) if "new money" is going to be requested.

As far as the OP is concerned it is never a good idea to "do a runner" whether intentionally or unintentionally. When originally notifying the house move and requesting a final bill, was a forwarding address requested (AFAIAA a script request) and what was the response?

Very true but we would be crediting the supplier with following the code and not trying to pursue money until a customer points the billing code out, which happens. Without understanding what has been paid, we can't see whether we have 2 properties paying for each others consumption and we need that to comment really.

Terrylw1

OP I would suggest the supplier is chancing their arm here with them agreeing it was wrong to pursue before, however did that person investigate it right to come to that conclusion? Perhaps they didn't and someone now has.

If the other property just ran a few lights your bills would be very low so it doesn't sound right. It should be easily clear to differentiate between the two. You need them to break down every bill, reading, etc and you may spot something. Without seeing some of these values, its hard to say.