First Gas Bill in 5.5 Years! Not from lack of asking.....

hellokitty08

Well here is my story, if you can offer any help or advice that would be great.
I moved in to my current property in August 2008. After 1.5 – years I realised I had not been paying for my gas (at the time I didn’t have any bills by direct debit, and just paid them when they came through, so it was an error I had overlooked.) I discovered this when my gas supplier contacted me. I phoned them immediately and arranged to set up the account in my name. (please note, during this time, they never sent a bill or corresponandce)

Between 2010 and 2013 everytime I opened the account, they closed it again. I would get a letter welcoming me as a new customer and the next quarter another letter saying that they were closing the account. In all this time, they never once sent me an actual bill. (I have all these letters)

Switch forward to January 2014, after 4 years of a lot of phone calls, emails and letters they have finally sent me a bill. Now I have my meter reading from when I moved in to the property and what the reading is now, this is where it gets complicated again. The bills they have sent me have a start date of Feb 2011- September 2013. During this time they have estimated readings, which are not too different from my actual usage, but this usage is from August 2008 – January 2014.

Does anyone know how I can use the back billing code to assist me with my case against the energy company, because I have been trying for years to get a bill from them. Do I simply mention in it my latest correspondence, now that they have actually sent me a bill or does anyone know if there is anything more specific that I need to do?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

In England and Wales there is a generally a 6 year limitation for businesses to chase unpaid debts.

However, in the energy industry if the supplier is at fault, they can only claim 12 months usage. What constitutes this can be a little murky, but the following link should help

http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43/412.html

In your next correspondence to the supplier, mention which particular sub clause you feel is relevant to your circumstances, and that you therefore only expect to be billed for 12 months usage.

If they refuse this, complain (in writing!), they then have 8 weeks to resolve the complaint to your satisfaction. If they don't do this and it goes to deadlock, you can then take it to the ombudsman, who will take the decision out of your hands.

Who is the supplier out of interest?

hellokitty08

Npower!

Its defo not an unpaid debt, as they had not billed me, even at my request until Saturday.

I had a look at the link you posted,

Failing to bill
This would include circumstances where a supplier has failed to set up an
account, or bill an account where they have clear instructions that a customer is
using a supply.
Scenarios where back billing clause may apply include:

–

Where a new customer has advised the supplier that they have moved to the

premise but the supplier still believes the premise to be empty.
–

Where a customer has advised the supplier that a new supply has been made
to a property and the supplier fails to update records to show this.

I am sure this would fit my example perfectly.