Huge back-bill and wring address.

decisionfatigue

Hello,

I moved into my flat mid-2010 and have only just received my first electricity bill...sort of.

It turns out that EDF have been sending the bill to an address that doesn't exist for the past year an a half. They have been sending it to "Unit 2, 1st Floor, 102 ******* High Street" whereas my address and the one shown on my tenancy agreement is "Flat 2, 106 ****** High Street". EDF have been sending this bill to 'Owner/Occupier' and its only by chance that I picked it up and opened it because it had been floating around for a couple of weeks. The block I live in is converted offices, 6 flats above shops.

I called EDF and let them know that the address didn't exist, but I opened the bill and the Electricity Meter Number on the bill corresponded with the one stated on my tenancy agreement. The amended the address and have sent me a new bill based on a current meter reading for £887.48.

Now, they already knew when I had moved in, and had a reading for then. Which I think potentially means that I may have given it too them when I moved in, though I don't remember weather this is the case or not...

Considering they have been sending the bill to the wrong address for over a year and a half, is there grounds to reduce the bill? I read somewhere that they can only back-bill for 12months? Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

K

:money:

Cardew

There is provision in the Billing code that they can only back-bill for 12 Months, when the Utility company are at fault.

You can read the code here:

http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills/412-the-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills-back-billing-for-domestic-customers.html

The crucial clause is this:

Use of supply has been made by a customer but that no
attempt has been made by a customer to contact a supplier to make or arrange payment.

To have not paid anything for nearly 3 years, and it appears not made efforts in that time to get a bill or arrange payment, it might be that the back-billing provision will not apply.

On the other hand, unless you use gas for heating, £887 would be less than an average 12 month bill.

decisionfatigue

Thanks Cardew,

Am hoping that considering that have a meter read for when I moved in I gave it to them and there have been some sort of error on their part.

Also, we have very little on electricity. All hot water & heating are gas, leaving just lights, gadgets etc in a small flat hence the size of the bill.

Cardew

Your opening reading is very probably derived from the closing reading of the previous occupant.

It seems unlikely you gave opening readings to the Utility company without giving them your name - you said the bills they sent, but you didn't receive, were addressed to the 'owner/occupier'.

Bear in mind that the Utility company have no idea if/when someone has occupied a property - they can remain vacant for years.

In my opinion the 12 month back-billing provision will not apply as you appear to have moved in and done nothing to contact your supplier in nearly 3 years.

However now you have been billed, you need to sort matters out as an unpaid bill can trash your credit record. You will almost certainly be able to arrange repayment over a couple of years, and/or they may give you a reduction for paying it in one go.

You also should check that all usage has not been charged at 2013 rates.