No electricity bill in a year

CaptainKidd

As the heading says, I've not had and electricity bill in over a year and wonder where to go from here.

It all started when I moved into the house and saw that the meters where being charged the wrong way round (off peak and domestic) so i phoned up and questioned this before paying and I was told a hold would be put on the account. After a few weeks of hearing nothing I just payed the bill knowing it would all sort it's self out in the end and not too bothered about it.
Now a year later and after four phone calls asking for a bill and what's happening I keep getting told the same thin which is to wait a few weeks and I will get a bill but nothing ever comes.

Having worked the bill out it will be over £1000.

My question is how much do I keep phoning and asking and what else can I do other than phoning. I really want this sorted as althought it sounds good not paying an electricity bill I know it will all catch up with me in the end and it's only getting bigger, but never did I think it would go this long.

Thanks

MegaMiniMouse

CaptainKidd wrote: »

As the heading says, I've not had and electricity bill in over a year and wonder where to go from here.

It all started when I moved into the house and saw that the meters where being charged the wrong way round (off peak and domestic) so i phoned up and questioned this before paying and I was told a hold would be put on the account. After a few weeks of hearing nothing I just payed the bill knowing it would all sort it's self out in the end and not too bothered about it.
Now a year later and after four phone calls asking for a bill and what's happening I keep getting told the same thin which is to wait a few weeks and I will get a bill but nothing ever comes.

Having worked the bill out it will be over £1000.

My question is how much do I keep phoning and asking and what else can I do other than phoning. I really want this sorted as althought it sounds good not paying an electricity bill I know it will all catch up with me in the end and it's only getting bigger, but never did I think it would go this long.

Thanks

If you have an account number, I guess it would be possible to make payments even though you have received no bills. Alternatively, put the money away in a high-interest savings account.

Some years ago, I moved into a modernised terrace of ancient almshouses and the meters were all over the place. I stayed there for four years and I eventually gave up trying to get an electricity bill. Only a couple of weeks before I moved out, I received a call from some kind of auditing team at the energy supplier who admitted that they had no clue about which meter applied to which address.

Without any resistance, they agreed to write off the entire cost of my four years' electricity consumption in return for me identifying which meter was linked to my address.

CaptainKidd

Thanks mega, I did have the money put away but have started to dip into it with the intention of putting it back.

I phone up give them the account number and they say " ok iam just going to generate a bill for you, oh wait a min it won't let me, I'll put you on hold for a minute" then they come back with "ok you will get a bill in the next two weeks"

There's no real explanation as to why iam not getting a bill.

Do you think I have done enough on my part or am I still obliged in some way to keep pursuing this.

MegaMiniMouse

CaptainKidd wrote: »

Thanks mega, I did have the money put away but have started to dip into it with the intention of putting it back.

I phone up give them the account number and they say " ok iam just going to generate a bill for you, oh wait a min it won't let me, I'll put you on hold for a minute" then they come back with "ok you will get a bill in the next two weeks"

There's no real explanation as to why iam not getting a bill.

Do you think I have done enough on my part or am I still obliged in some way to keep pursuing this.

I think there is some kind of limit on how far back the energy providers can go in their pursuit of historic debts, but maybe it would be worth you sending them a yearly reminder of the situation, along with a meter reading etc etc. Do you even know what tariff you are on?

The problem might be when you move house - the conveyancing process requires declarations from the seller about utilities, which you might be unable to give if you have received no bills during your occupancy.

If you are a tenant, then it is hard to say what will happen to your successor!

CaptainKidd

Thanks again, I've given them the metre readings each time I phone so they have it all upto date, last call was around 3 weeks ago.

Not sure exactly what tariff, I have two metres one for off peak and one for domestic, it's my own home which I bought and have no plans to ever move so no concerns with that.

I thought there would be something in their system that would flag up that no bill had been payed but obviously not.

I will maybe wait another week and see before phoning again and speaking to someone higher up.

jbainbridge

If it's been going on this long you should take it to the ombudsman.

victor2

Don't "dip" into the money until the matter is resolved one way or the other, and put back what you have taken out asap - put it in an ISA or similar where it is not quite so accessible. It does sound like the back billing issue may be relevant, however do be aware this is a voluntary code for the suppliers, not law.
Information on Back Billing can be found here. I'd keep giving them readings and raise an official complaint through their recommended channels. If nothing comes from that, you can then take it to a higher level. Details on how to complain are generally on the supplier's website.

Cardew

You haven't said which company supplies your electricity, and I am assuming you have been phoning the correct company??


I would write(recorded delivery) to the company and then sit back and do nothing.


As indicated above, it would appear the 12 month back-billing provision should apply - so place the ball in their court.