Help with Back Billing Code - no gas bill for 12 months

shortcrust

I've been with my gas provider for just over 12 months and haven't had a bill from them yet. I requested one on the anniversary date via their online message system. I've provided regular readings (with photo evidence when requested), have paid my direct debits and have responded to all messages. No changes have been made to my direct debit amount based on my usage.

I don't know if it makes a difference but my meter was broken for 7 weeks at the start of the year. It was replaced through my provider. They seemed to forget about this at one point; I had a message from them explaining that "gas readings do not generally go backwards"!

My question is do I have to only pay for the 12 month period up to when they get round to billing me or is that unreasonable given I only contacted at the 12 month point? In other words, do they get a reasonable period of time to produce a bill when asked for one.

System

shortcrust wrote: »

I've been with my gas provider for just over 12 months and haven't had a bill from them yet. I requested one on the anniversary date via their online message system. I've provided regular readings (with photo evidence when requested), have paid my direct debits and have responded to all messages. No changes have been made to my direct debit amount based on my usage.

I don't know if it makes a difference but my meter was broken for 7 weeks at the start of the year. It was replaced through my provider. They seemed to forget about this at one point; I had a message from them explaining that "gas readings do not generally go backwards"!

My question is do I have to only pay for the 12 month period up to when they get round to billing me or is that unreasonable given I only contacted at the 12 month point? In other words, do they get a reasonable period of time to produce a bill when asked for one.

Decide for yourself:

Each case is looked at on its own merits; however, the 12 month limit for back-bills may apply in these examples when your supplier has:

Failed to bill you at all and you have requested bills from them

Billed you using estimated meter readings instead of valid readings provided by you or a meter reader

Billed you incorrectly by mixing up meter readings, and failed to act upon information available to put this right

Failed to do anything about a query or fault you have raised regarding your account or meter and subsequently allowed a large debt to build up on your account

Failed to reassess a payment arrangement (e.g. Direct Debit) within 15 months, or failed to reassess based on a reasonable estimate.

It may not apply if you:

Have been using the gas or electricity supply but have made no attempt to contact the supplier to arrange payment. This includes moving into a property and making no attempt to let a supplier know you are the new tenant or homeowner

Have wilfully avoided payment

Have not co-operated with attempts to obtain meter readings or resolve queries requested by the supplier. This includes failing to allow access to the property or failing to respond to requests for meter details or meter readings.

If 12 months has now passed - and the supplier agrees that The Back Billing Code applies - then you would still be billed for the previous 12 months. Personally, I doubt that you have a case as you appear to have made no effort to get a bill out of the supplier for the past 12 months.

shortcrust

Hengus wrote: »

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If 12 months has now passed - and the supplier agrees that The Back Billing Code applies - then you would still be billed for the previous 12 months. Personally, I doubt that you have a case as you appear to have made no effort to get a bill out of the supplier for the past 12 months.

Yeah that's what I guessed. I'll cross my fingers that they're incredibly inefficient.

[Deleted User]

I have not had my meter read since 2008. It was a new supply provided by the electric company and since this date I have had estimated bills.


I cannot read the meter myself as they used a contractor to supply the box and no one has a key. I have been advised not to break in as this would be criminal damage.


The box is outside and the electric company can have access anytime they wish. We have had an emergency callout when a box on a pylon over the field blew up. I asked them to read the meter then . Nothing.


I have had numerous cards in my letter box saying . we called' each time I have returned the call usually to voicemail and heard no more.


I have rung many times, they say they need to speak to engineer about access and will get back to me, never do.


We recorded the lady on site as disabled still no visit.


I pay the estimate and more each month and when on the news it says electric goes up 15% I up my payment.


Last month we had a visit to say we would have no electric for the day as they were doing works to a power box thing , I asked for the meter to be read still nothing.


I have totally given up on any one ever reading this meter. I pay a monthly sum and hope to goodness its enough.

D_M_E

You can get a meter box key for under a quid from the likes of B&Q or a lot of hardware stores.

Also, if you have a socket set, a small socket will also open the meter box - I think it's the 8mm or 3/8af socket that does the job.

If you have been paying estimates for all this time then you could well be due a BIG refund.

There is also the fact that you need to establish that you have been paying - or are being billed - for the correct meter as they often get mixed up in new builds.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the reply but it isn't a key that can be bought over the counter, this has been the problem an why they need to ' speak to engineers' every time I ring.


Its not a new build housing estate , there is only us .

dogshome

BBH123
You report that this meter box is on your property and only serves your house.
If this is the case, even though it was fitted by the Elec Co. along with the meter, this box is your responsibility and you must maintain it.
Posts crop up on this site where suppliers have insisted the householder repair or replace a box, or the suppliers will do it at the customers expense.

That said, provided the meter is left weatherproof, you can cut out the existing lock and replace it with another, which hopefully will be one with the simple triangular key that's commonly used on these boxes

dogshome

Shortcrust
I think providing the supplier with regular meter readings, most certainly covers 'Making efforts to get the supplier to produce a bill'

So Back-Billing is on, but it ain't straightforward
It was brought in to protect customers from BILL SHOCK when a huge bill was issued.
BUT
Direct Debit customers who have been making monthly payments will have built up a big credit because no bills were issued and this credit on the account is set against the bill debt - So no BILL SHOCK - Unless that is, there is still a big debt left after the D/Debits have been taken into account.

Only a guess, but is the supplier Scot Power ? - They have form in this area

They also have form in confusing Metric & Imperial Gas meters
Check your new gas meter, it will me marked m3 as a Metric meter
When you do eventually get a bill, divide the meter units used into the number of KWh charged - The answer should appx 11.2 - If it's appx 35.5 they have got in wrong again

[Deleted User]

dogshome wrote: »

BBH123
You report that this meter box is on your property and only serves your house.
If this is the case, even though it was fitted by the Elec Co. along with the meter, this box is your responsibility and you must maintain it.
Posts crop up on this site where suppliers have insisted the householder repair or replace a box, or the suppliers will do it at the customers expense.

That said, provided the meter is left weatherproof, you can cut out the existing lock and replace it with another, which hopefully will be one with the simple triangular key that's commonly used on these boxes

I have previously rung and suggested I force the box / lock but was told not to tamper with it as it would be deemed to be criminal damage . It doesn't need repairing of replacing as there is nothing wrong with it It just won't open.

dogshome

BBH123
Did you get this Criminal Damage comment in a phone call to your suppliers Customer Service Line? - If so, the responders often get it wrong, particularly in your case which is almost as rare as hen's teeth.

Swapping an unusual lock for one that Meter Readers can access, is not Criminal Damage
However if this still worries you, WRITE a letter headed Complaint to your supplier, pointing out that the box lock prevents both them and yourself from taking meter readings, and that they have threatened you with Legal Action if you change it - With this letter in play, they have 56 days to resolve the problem - If they don't you go straight to the Ombudsman, which costs them money

[Deleted User]

Thankyou for your reply .

Yes it was said to me by a customer service operator , they didn't say the words we'll take legal action just that it was criminal damage.

To be honest I can't believe this isn't resolved after all these years, perhaps things would be taken more seriously if I was in arrears but I make sure the account is in credit to at least show I'm doing something to pay .

I just worry that if eventually we or they get a proper reading it'll not be in my favour and I owe a large sum .