No Electricity Bill?

silver.squirrell

Hello,

I think I read somewhere (unless it was wishful thinking), if you don't have someone read your electricity meter, or are not asked by your supplier to supply a meter reading within a 12 month period, you are not liable to pay for the electricity.

Can anyone say for 100% CERTAINTY if this is TRUE? or if this is just an old wives tail.

By the way, I was with one supplier, I switched to another firm who tried to put me on a more expensive tariff than they quoted me. So they carried out an Erroneous Transfer and switched me back to my old supplier. This supplier who will remain nameless, have got my Direct Debit details, BUT have not taken any payments, come to read my meter, or asked me for a current meter reading in the last 11.75 months. So I would be VERY interested in knowing if they can request payment after 12 months.

If anyone knows where I stand, please let me know.

Paul

gt94sss2

silver.squirrell wrote: »

I think I read somewhere (unless it was wishful thinking), if you don't have someone read your electricity meter, or are not asked by your supplier to supply a meter reading within a 12 month period, you are not liable to pay for the electricity.

Can anyone say for 100% CERTAINTY if this is TRUE? or if this is just an old wives tail.

Its not quite true. There is a back billing code which means suppliers shoudn't charge you more than 1 year in arrears but only if you have made some effort to obtain a bill as well.

The fact they didn't request a meter reading or send someone round to get one wouldn't be enough itself I believe.

Regards
Sunil

silver.squirrell

Thank you Sunil for your reply!

Paul

System

silver.squirrell wrote: »

By the way, I was with one supplier, I switched to another firm who tried to put me on a more expensive tariff than they quoted me. So they carried out an Erroneous Transfer and switched me back to my old supplier. This supplier who will remain nameless, have got my Direct Debit details, BUT have not taken any payments, come to read my meter, or asked me for a current meter reading in the last 11.75 months. So I would be VERY interested in knowing if they can request payment after 12 months.

If anyone knows where I stand, please let me know.

Paul

If the Erroneous Transfer process was exercised then the rules are that you have to be put back into the position that you were in before the switch. It follows that you will owe the gaining supplier nothing; however, there is no free lunch. You will pay your old (existing) supplier for all the energy that you have consumed at the agreed tariff rate. There is such a thing as an Erroneous Transfer Charter - the key point is encapsulated here (taken from the Ovo website):

Bills and erroneous transfers

Wondering ‘who do I pay for my energy while an Erroneous Transfer is taking place’?

Your old supplier, as normal. We’ll take care of the financial side of things between us – you should never end up out of pocket.

silver.squirrell

Thank you for your input. The Erroneous transfer took over 6 months to go through. and when it did I was told IN PERSON by Scottish Power that I would be put on the tariff I had before I tried to switch to Extra Energy. This was a surprise as the tariff i was on had expired while the Erroneous Transfer was going through

I asked Scottish Power to confirm this was correct and to confirm the unit cost, They told me it was (12.885p peak rate 5.519p cheap rate inclusive of VAT) Unless I am wrong this make it the cheapest energy tariff on the market. and I still appear to be on this rate 13+ months later.

In this time Scottish Power have only asked for and taken 1x payment of £58 (by direct debit). This is why I was hoping I don't have to pay for any electricity I used over 1 year ago. As they have a completed direct debit mandate from me, they have sent 2 people to read my meter (9 months ago and again 3 months ago). Yet I still don't get a bill from them! or had further payments taken from my account.

[Deleted User]

There are a few ways to get away without paying for energy and you have just suggested a stupid reason to try and fiddle the supplier.1.. "If you dont have someone come to read your meter " the fiddlers way would be..don`t answer door, tell him its not convenient, say you r on your own and need your husband in the house, i m just about to go out, owner not in ( thats the real fiddlers favourite ) etc etc etc
2 "not asked by your supplier for a reading " ..lose the letters if they write, if they phone say owner is not in, dont give them online or email access..
so thats it then easy peasy free electric and gas
what you have heard is a complete load of guff.
This is how people will run their meter readings.fill in some online comp site with low usage, get a monthly direct debit of 50% of what they actually use.Then complain like hell when a 2k catchup bill is demanded.
Another excellent reason why smart meters must be fitted for everyone ( wishful thinking ) especially for people like Paul who like to dream up ways of not paying for what they owe.