No name on unpaid bills for 3 years.

AndyShaw85

I moved into my own flat just over 3 years ago.
At the time I believed the rent included all bills.
I'd get bills in the post (without my name on) but I just ignored.
I've since found out that all my bills are paid for by landlord apart from the electric.
As the electric has been unpaid for over 3 years, it's now over £3500.
Will I need to pay back the full amount? I heard something about back-billing and maybe I only need to pay back the last 12 months.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

molerat

AndyShaw85 wrote: »

I moved into my own flat just over 3 years ago.
At the time I believed the rent included all bills.
I'd get bills in the post (without my name on) but I just ignored.
I've since found out that all my bills are paid for by landlord apart from the electric.
As the electric has been unpaid for over 3 years, it's now over £3500.
Will I need to pay back the full amount? I heard something about back-billing and maybe I only need to pay back the last 12 months.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The back billing rules apply where the supplier has failed to bill you not where you have ignored any bills sent to you.

wavelets

AndyShaw85 wrote: »

I moved into my own flat just over 3 years ago.
At the time I believed the rent included all bills.
I'd get bills in the post (without my name on) but I just ignored.
I've since found out that all my bills are paid for by landlord apart from the electric.
As the electric has been unpaid for over 3 years, it's now over £3500.
Will I need to pay back the full amount? I heard something about back-billing and maybe I only need to pay back the last 12 months.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

What made you believe the utilty bills were included in your rent? :huh:
Is that is what is stated in your tenancy agreement???

If not, you will be responsible for paying them. Unfortunately, whilst the cost will only be at the various rates that applied over the last 3 years (so it was a lot cheaper 3 years ago than say last mointh), infortunately they will be at the suppliers deemed tariff (which is usually their most expensive. :eek:

If you now accept you are liable for the utilities you used, contact the supplier(s) who may be prepared to spread out the repayments interest free. But they will probably only agree to do that over 12 months, so you'll effectively be paying almost 4 times more than you otherwise would for the next 12 months :eek:

AndyShaw85

Was spoken about with landlord. I've since checked the tenancy agreement. Which states they are paying council tax, water and gas but not electric.

okay that sucks. will call them up this week to pay off the debt. maybe I can get them to reduce a bit if I pay off all in one go?

ballisticbrian

okay that sucks. will call them up this week to pay off the debt.

Hope you haven't been drying the washing up by putting the under counter fan heaters on!!! :O

[Deleted User]

AndyShaw85 wrote: »

Was spoken about with landlord. I've since checked the tenancy agreement. Which states they are paying council tax, water and gas but not electric.

okay that sucks. will call them up this week to pay off the debt. maybe I can get them to reduce a bit if I pay off all in one go?

Yes, definitely try that.No supplier should be suddenly presenting a catch up bill of that large amount.
They should have been in urgent contact well before 3k to pay the debit off.
Suppliers usually start applying pressure from around the £400 mark and will force fit a prepayment meter if amounts around £800 are not paid.
You should have been bombarded with demands for at least 2 years demanding payment
an alternative is to request a prepayment meter where the debt can be loaded onto the meter and repaid at the maximum allowed rate which is £16 per week

System

I have to ask why the OP didn’t re-direct the bills to his landlord if he felt that his electricity usage was covered in the rent? I agree that the supplier hasn’t done a very good job of looking for the name of the property occupier. The supplier may agree to a repayment plan; however, the downside is that they could block all attempts to switch supplier until the debt has been repaid.

Cardew

Houbara wrote: »

Yes, definitely try that.No supplier should be suddenly presenting a catch up bill of that large amount.
They should have been in urgent contact well before 3k to pay the debit off.

You should have been bombarded with demands for at least 2 years demanding payment

From OP's opening post!

I'd get bills in the post (without my name on) but I just ignored.

The energy company didn't(presumably) have his name and the OP didn't set up an account.

macman

Is this a self contained flat or an HMO? If the former, the tenant is responsible for CT. Regardless of what your LL says. Does he live in the same property, adjacent flat, or what?