Can energy companies back bill 4 years?

2013yearofthehouse

Aquamania wrote: »

12 month back billing voluntary code does not apply as it's not the suppliers fault.

Ah fair enough, thanks

the_original_one wrote: »

Thanks very much for all of your help with tariffs and back billing etc, I wil obviously pay what I owe and it that's needs to be the full 4 years then so be it (although I was hoping otherwise!) I will enquire as to the higher tariff to see what they say and even if I can get some shaved off it'll be something.

Sounds good, worth a try. Seems unfair to make you pay such a high tariff. Even at a lower tariff you're still paying for what you've used - seen several posts on here where the poster, upon not being able to find their supplier, has not paid anyone for years and then expected not to pay the bill when one finally turns up.

the_original_one

I had read a few to that effect as well (if only you could get away with that) but I made great effort when I first moved in to find a supplier as it had to be coming from somewhere! That's why this has all come as quite a shock, lesson learned - always check the serial number matches the supplier even if they don't check! My main hope was to get the bill down to match that of Scottish power so I will follow your advice and keep my fingers crossed! Thanks.

2013yearofthehouse

the_original_one wrote: »

I had read a few to that effect as well (if only you could get away with that) but I made great effort when I first moved in to find a supplier as it had to be coming from somewhere! That's why this has all come as quite a shock, lesson learned - always check the serial number matches the supplier even if they don't check! My main hope was to get the bill down to match that of Scottish power so I will follow your advice and keep my fingers crossed! Thanks.

Apologies, I missed the bit about the serial number. If SP have been billing you for the wrong meter, then are you saying they have been billing you for a meter that is measuring someone else's usage, not yours? So were you also giving meter readings to them from this wrong meter, or has there been some sort of crossover?

undercover_peon

Aquamania wrote: »

12 month back billing voluntary code does not apply as it's not the suppliers fault.

If this is the case then is it the customers fault? Putting it another way what could a lay person (not an expert) do to have avoided this?

Even if this has no bearing isn't it at least reasonable to assume, had they known, the customer would've secured a better deal?

I don't know the legalities fully around a deemed contract but I would propse British Gas charging the customer the rate they would have been charged by scottish power is the fairest solution.

How can the customer be held to rates they a didnt consent to and b werent advised of any changes to?

As an aside what kind of shoddy debt/risk management policy to british gas operate for this to go on unnoticed four four years?

Ps what proof to british gas have that the op is responsible? It seems to amount to some guy told us...

the_original_one

2013yearofthehouse wrote: »

Apologies, I missed the bit about the serial number. If SP have been billing you for the wrong meter, then are you saying they have been billing you for a meter that is measuring someone else's usage, not yours? So were you also giving meter readings to them from this wrong meter, or has there been some sort of crossover?

Yes, the meter readings I was giving them were all coming from my meters, these turned out to be the wrong serial numbers.

the_original_one

undercover_peon wrote: »

If this is the case then is it the customers fault? Putting it another way what could a lay person (not an expert) do to have avoided this?

Even if this has no bearing isn't it at least reasonable to assume, had they known, the customer would've secured a better deal?

I don't know the legalities fully around a deemed contract but I would propse British Gas charging the customer the rate they would have been charged by scottish power is the fairest solution.

How can the customer be held to rates they a didnt consent to and b werent advised of any changes to?

As an aside what kind of shoddy debt/risk management policy to british gas operate for this to go on unnoticed four four years?

Ps what proof to british gas have that the op is responsible? It seems to amount to some guy told us...

This was the line I was starting to go down, I will definitely contact re. The rates to see what difference that makes as there is no way that I would have chosen to be on such a high rate comparing to others.

I have already made a complaint to both SP and BG and was considering taking this to the ombudsmen to see what they say although having never done this before, would there be any point? As far proof, they actually contacted my housing association (which is who the builders passed them onto) who gave them my information and changed the account to my name and the date I moved in

It does seem that from start to finish there has been one mistake after another leading to the present day situation.

[Deleted User]

the_original_one wrote: »

This was the line I was starting to go down, I will definitely contact re. The rates to see what difference that makes as there is no way that I would have chosen to be on such a high rate comparing to others.

I have already made a complaint to both SP and BG and was considering taking this to the ombudsmen to see what they say although having never done this before, would there be any point? As far proof, they actually contacted my housing association (which is who the builders passed them onto) who gave them my information and changed the account to my name and the date I moved in

It does seem that from start to finish there has been one mistake after another leading to the present day situation.

British Gas rates ( in my area at least ) are one of the cheapest available, 11p per kwhr electric and only 3.8 p kwhr for gas. That quote of 23 p kwhr will refer to the old 2 tier system where the first batch of units would be also paying for the standing charges . a low user would never be dropping down to the normal tariff. The 2 tier system has gone now since last year, now we all pay a daily standing charge.Suppliers can back bill up to 6 years if its not their fault

chanz4

I cant see how sp could even attached the correct meter, backbilling wouldnt apply as the correct supplier wasnt notified.

the_original_one

Thanks very much for all your help everyone, I was hoping to hear otherwise (would have been nice to only have to pay a year of this) but hey ho - At least I have a little more insight into why the bill is higher than expected and can see what my options are from here.

dogshome

The cost per Kwh BG are chargeing for the Elec. is off the roof, BUT, as a business the developer would very likely have been on a 'Business' tariff where rates are variable and can be huge.
So the question arises - Have BG simply rolled the builders debt over to you without re-calculating it for 'Domestic' tariff rates ?

What are the Kwh prices for the Gas ?