EON Hike Due to Miss-Billing

jar85

Dear All;

Our one-bed flat energy bill just doubled based on their estimate.

When I queried why, they told me that they had been miss-billing us for three years. Simply, they read the wrong meter. How they managed this for 3 years, I don't know!

The EON rep explained I would only have to pay back one year's arrears, which has pushed up our DD.

I am submitting meter readings regularly to get the bill to better reflect the energy use (low); however, others are telling me that we shouldn't have to pay the arrears, as it was their mistake.

Does anyone on here know if E.ON are able to bill us for their mistake?

Kind regards,

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Yes, in a word.

Mixed meters happen fairly often in flats, often when the developer is too lazy to register the meters correctly. It also doesn't get spotted if consumers aren't checking their bills regularly. The meter reader simply comes along, takes the reading and sends it back. If the meter has always been registered to the incorrect address, there isn't much they can do.

Just because e.on have made a mistake, doesn't mean you don't have to pay for what you've used. They've correctly applied the back billing code (which is nice of them, most other industries offer the consumer no such protection and can go after you for 6 years worth of debt).

I can only assume you weren't submitting meter readings before or this would have been spotted. Either way you've paid less than you should for 2 years, so the result is a good one for you.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi jar85

I'm sorry we were billing the wrong meter for such a long time. Sounds like what's known as a crossed meter. This is where the meter details at different properties have been mixed up.

As Bluebirdman says, this can happen, particularly on new builds and flats where we're given the wrong details when properties transfer from the builder/developer to the owner/tenant.

Sometimes, there can be many properties involved and this takes quite a time to sort out. Although 3 years is a lot longer than usual.

The Billing Code applies where we're at fault for not sending an accurate bill. In these cases, we won't charge for energy used more than 12 months before the billing was put right.

From what you say, it looks like we've applied this. We will, though, charge for the remaining balance.

To help with this, we'll be happy to include the balance in your payment arrangement and spread it up to the next annual review.

I fully understand this has thrown out your Direct Debit and you're doing the right thing in giving us regular meter readings. This will help bring things back into line.

To help keep on top of things, have a look at the 'Direct Debit Manager' on our website. This gives you the ability to change your monthly payments to better reflect changing circumstances.

With meter readings, you can change payments by up to 20 per cent up or down. By up to 5 per cent up or down without readings.

Before the change is confirmed, we'll let you know by how much we anticipate the account will be in credit/debit if the change is put through but usage doesn't alter accordingly.

There's also some good stuff on our website to help you save money by saving energy. In particular, have a look at the Saving Energy Toolkit and the Energy Use Quiz. I know you're a low user but every bit helps.

Hope this is of interest jar85. Let me know if you need any more information as happy to help.

Malc