Advice on delayed and now high energy bill

budding76

Hi Guys

I moved into my house in November 2013 which I rent. At the time the housing association I rent from told me that they would arrange my gas and electric and took the meter readings at the time. Weeks and months passed and I didn't hear anything and no welcome letter or bill, I didn't know who my energy provider was.

I had received a calling card through the door from an agent that looked to be from Southern Electric asking me to text through my gas meter readings, this has happened twice, the last time on 5 November. I sent these readings however still no bill.

I called the housing association today and was told that they had no idea why I had not received a bill, 14 months on. They gave me a number for Southern Electric. I called today and was told that the bill was still under the landlords name and that they had not been told that anyone had moved into the property.

All details have now been changed over however I am being sent a bill for £600 which has obviously been building up over the last 14 months.

Who should foot this bill? Should it just be me? Surely it was the landlord's responsibility to inform the utility company as I didn't know who this was? Should they have some responsibility for this bill?

Any advice would be fantastic.

Thanks

Em

Greenfires

To be honest, and this is only my personal opinion you understand, if the electricity you're being billed for is the same amount as you've used since you moved in 14 months ago, then I'd suggest you should foot the bill. You can't have expected to be getting it for free all this time just because you didn't receive a bill?

It might be a bit painful getting a big bill all at once, but the flip side is that all the time you haven't been paying for it, you've had extra money in your pocket which presumably you've spent on other stuff.

matelodave

I agree with Greenfires. You should have the money sitting in the bank waiting for the bill and to be honest £600 for 14 months of energy is cheap.
Start arguing and they might work out what it really should be and your bill could get even bigger