EDF - 2 Final Bills

NowThenAgain

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ValHaller

So how does a charge for a further £168 arise? No one can really comment until we know that.

NowThenAgain

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macman

A final bill (or indeed any bill) can be amended at a later date, up to 5 years. Even if the back billing code applied, they still have a year.
The only issue that matters here is which bill is correct, which you should be able to tell based on the dates.
The word 'final' does not remove their right to adjust it if it's wrong, not does the end of your contract in July remove the requirement to pay for any energy used up to that date.

ValHaller

NowThenAgain wrote: »

The point is that with me having paid my 'final bill' surely I have no contract with EDF and they have no right to demand any further payment from me?

It seems that basic contract law would imply that they don't, but there might be some caveat applying specifically to energy companies?

Your understanding of 'contract law' is completely mistaken. The contract is that they supply energy and you pay for it. So what matters is the energy you consumed.

NowThenAgain wrote: »

As to the £168, the first 'final bill' was for dates 15/2/13 to 13/7/13 whereas the second was 21/8/12 to 13/7/13. The first bill was calculated from their reading on 15/2/2013 (OUR READ on bill) and the second is from an estimated reading on 21/8/12 (ESTIMATED on bill). Up to the end of tenancy I had a direct debit with EDF and supplied fairly regular meter readings.

This is hard work - like pulling teeth. When did you actually move in? I am guessing it was 15:02:2013? And what was the date of the initial reading you gave them? Was it a move in reading?

I think you do not owe them any more, but as you are not very clear in your information, I could not be certain

NowThenAgain wrote: »

If the bill is valid somehow despite me not having a contract with EDF then I would question the meter readings on the second bill, but I don't think the bill is valid at all. That would be a simpler conclusion to the matter.

Let's get the facts straight first. The facts will dictate the correct outcome, not some mistaken understanding of contract law.

macman wrote: »

A final bill (or indeed any bill) can be amended at a later date, up to 5 years. Even if the back billing code applied, the still have a year.

6 years in England and Wales. 5 in Scotland

NowThenAgain

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ValHaller

NowThenAgain wrote: »

Thinking outside of the electricity industry for a second, if I have a contract with a supplier (as I do with many) and they issue me with a bill as final settlement of my account (final bill), then if I pay that bill that's the end of it. They can't chase me at a future date for payment of whatever extra charge they've dreamt up. That is what I mean by contract law. Commercial contract law. I fail to see why the electricity industry should be different.

EDF were given accurate and timely information and I paid their final bill in good faith. It's not crazy to consider that final bill to actually be final.

I moved into the property in early 2010. EDF received regular meter readings for 3 years.

Am sorry for posting this here. Perhaps advise from a legal direction would be more appropriate. Have a good evening all! :beer:

They are allowed to make a mistake with their bill and to expect an amended bill to be settled - in just the same way as you would expect any overpayment to be put right.

Where you are getting confused - and you are confused here - is that if a bill has been presented and paid, that bill cannot be presented again and be upheld. Your amended bill is for energy not originally billed - presumably and it is a different bill because it covers energy for a different period

Now we know you moved in 3 years ago, the information needed to resolve this includes the bill for period ended 21:08:2012. Presumably you are happy with this bill? So does it carry over debit or credit to the next bill? And do you agree with the closing reading on that bill?

Looking at your latest final bill, have you paid for all the energy included on that bill? And all the standing charges? The argument that you have already paid a final bill does not wash for this.

Now, I do get the feeling that you won't accept what I am saying here. Well never mind, EdF may take you to court and you will have a chance of arguing your case in front of a judge. At which point you will lose if you persist with your final bill argument.

Don't shoot the messenger.

NowThenAgain

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macman

NowThenAgain wrote: »

Your replies cause me to ask the question, do you work for an electricity company?!

You may be right regarding a final bill not being final (as illogical as that sounds), but if we all bend over and let EDF do as they please then we'll never know for sure.

Ah, the cry of the newbie down the ages...don't ask questions and then get upset when you don't always get the answer you would have liked.
Your grasp of contract law is tenuous to say the least. If you don't believe what we are saying, ask your own lawyer, who will enlighten you.
But I have no idea what makes you think that any supplier (in any business) cannot revise an invoice up to 6 years later if it proves to be incorrect. You agreed a contract to pay xyz for your energy, so if they have billed you incorrectly then they have the right to amend it. The word 'final' on the bill does not cancel that right.

ValHaller

NowThenAgain wrote: »

Your replies cause me to ask the question, do you work for an electricity company?!

No, I don't work for an electricity company. I just have a fairly good grasp of contract law and of utility billing. Do you work for a circus?

Now if you were ever going to get meaningful help with this, you would start by giving some details of the most recent previous bill which you agree. And then we would look at which of your final bills tally with that. And perhaps we might be able to show that EdF's later bill was wrong - otherwise we could at least show you that the latest bill is correct and you are not being ripped off.

But given that you are intent on your perverse view of contract law, you are cutting yourself adrift to go to court and have EdF's final bill upheld because you won't engage with the help which is available to get to the truth of the matter - which you will need to defend against EdF in court. The worst of it is that we will never know whether FdF's final bill is right or wrong, because you are not interested in getting to the bottom of it, so you won't even argue the point in court.

Do yourself a favour and accept that as things stand right now, YOU are the biggest obstacle to sorting this out.

NowThenAgain

Ha ha. I'm not upset nor do I work for a circus.

I was just making a judgment based on the way the two people who replied to my question immediately came at it from an angle of 'just pay them'. It wasn't very helpful. And indeed both seem to have a life dedicated to all hours replying (managing?) on this forum.

If I were running an electricity company I would certainly have people working to manage these forums. Pushing people towards satisfying the payment of vast French pensions.

As my last reply said, I'm prepared to test this and have taken legal advice to that end. Yes, we could all just roll over like my two friends on this thread seem to want everyone to do, or we could fight for what we believe is right. Luckily, I have the resources to fight. Grrrr. Merry Christmas! :xmassmile