Backbilling question

Streaky_Bacon

Cardew wrote: »

Is this a business account?

Also, if it is a business account, does your business fall under Ofgem's definition of a "micro business"?

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/key-term-explained/micro-business-consumer

Jhg1958

No Normal house hold. Obvious Npower think I am running a cannabis farm in loft. Just joking. I was new to the house and it had night storage heaters with economy 7 meter.

Streaky_Bacon

Jhg1958 wrote: »

No Normal house hold. Obvious Npower think I am running a cannabis farm in loft. Just joking. I was new to the house and it had night storage heaters with economy 7 meter.

OK. So nice and easy then. Have you made your complaint in writing? If not, make sure that you do so.

It may simply be an automated mistake, but if they do genuinely expect you to pay, and didn't bill you earlier, then they are out of luck.

If you haven't done so already, make sure you download the bills and anything else from the website, or take screenshots.

Also, dig out any old bills, especially final bills that you may have.

The only way that they may have a chance is if you have been "obstructive" or "manifestly unreasonable", but that would need you to have done something fairly significant.

Suppliers can still backbill customers past 12 months where the customer’s behaviour is obstructive, such as blocking physical access to a meter, or manifestly unreasonable, such as tampering with a meter or stealing energy. Consumers will not be at fault for failing to provide meter readings.

Cardew

Jhg1958 wrote: »

When I logged on I found a new bill for 2016 and 2017 electricity issued in March 2019. The bill was for over £6500! Surely Npower must know the rules.

Whilst NPower are many people's least favourite company, they obviously do know the rules and it would be unusual for them to even try if your case was covered by the backbilling code.


Did you pay anything in 2016 2017?


Did you switch to another supplier, or move from the property?

Jhg1958

I have the old bills and they have sent me all the old readings in 2016 and 2017. My last payment was in February 2017 when I switched supplier.

I can hardly be classed as obstructive. In my 18 months with them they changed the meter twice without any hassle. That is why I am very suprised to get estimate readings.

Complaint made by email. Now the telephone people cannot deal with the issue until the complaint is resolved.

I just have to wait with this enormous bill threatening me.
:-(

Streaky_Bacon

Jhg1958 wrote: »

I just have to wait with this enormous bill threatening me.
:-(

I can understand that it will be stressful but, to be honest, the back billing rules are very clear and, without obvious obstructive behaviour, they just will not succeed.

Is the meter inside the property?

Did you get an automated confirmation email from them?

Hopefully they pull the plug on this quickly.

Maxwell007

So I had a rude call from ExtraEnergy today asking me for £180.00p or they will pass on to debt collector etc for a unpaid bill sent in 2014 haha,
I left EE in September 2015 and chased them for a final bill for over 4months I even send a letter to Ben Jones hahaaha,
I paid all bills and had a refund in the end but they don't have any records of this all I have is emails but no statement, truly shocking company.

dode74

So EDF agreed to cancel the bill today. Job done. Thanks everyone who helped.