Backdated gas bill

Jacklou

Hello, help required please!
When we moved into our house 3 years ago we had a pay as go meter which we had removed shortly after and set up a direct debit which we have paid every month since. I called BG on Friday just to talk about the amount I pay when they advised me that there system still had us on a payg meter and the direct debit we have been paying has just been building up and our account was now over £1600 in Credit!!!!
They advised me that they would sort this out and call me back on Monday! I'm now led to believe that they can only backdate for 1 year so am I right in thinking they will calculate a years worth and deduct this from the £1600 and have to refund the rest?? Confused!! Thanks in advance

MK55

As far as I know, they will bill you, look at total payments vs usage, if you're in credit you don't get backbilling.

If you are in debit they will then look to apply, they don't do it to give a refund they only do it to reduce debit balances.

scaredofdebt

http://www.npower.com/idc/groups/wcms_content/@wcms/@busi/documents/digitalassets/consumer_focus_back_bill.pdf

My understanding is that they would only bill for the last 12 months and refund any surplus credit but it isn't the easiest policy to understand.

Most energy suppliers ignore this policy anyway, even if they've signed up to it.

Worth complaining though and see what the Ombudsman says if it goes that far.

dogshome

"12 months only back-billing" is not a rule, but a "Agreement" The suppliers opted for this rather than have hard & fast rules imposed on them by the regulator

The reason for the Agreement was to save household budgets from 'Bill Shock' when a huge bill arrived because previous bills had not been issued

The suppliers take the view that those customers paying by D/Debit do not suffer 'Bill Shock', or very little, because their D/Debits would have built up a large credit, in this case £1,600, because the bills that would have been set against the D/Debits, have not been issued.
However - Any money demanded on that late bill that is over and above the Credit Balance, is fair game for a 12 month back-billing claim, as the customer has been denied the possibility of D/Debit value adjustment by the lack of Bills.

Perversely, the customer who has opted for an 'On receipt of Bill' payment method is fully protected from all Gas/Elec Utility debt over a year old

honeybean

Puzzling you have never queried not receiving a bill in 3years and have no knowledge of how much you have in your direct debit pot.