Energy Back Billing

Minidj

Hi

Hoping for some help with back billing.

Basically, I am with EDF, about a year ago I had smart meters fitted and was told I no longer have to give meter readings (so I haven't).

I pay by monthly direct debit and I am nearing the end of my dual fuel contract term so I am searching for new deals.

About 2 months ago I received an email saying I had been over paying and automatically they credited my bank account with quite a sizeable refund. This seemed unusual but who is going to argue when a chunk of cash turns up in your account.

I have now come to realise that the gas smart meter may not have been giving the correct readings/faulty or EDF have not updated their readings as the reading has been the same for the last year. So it looks like I have not used any Gas which is not the case.

Now I know they can only back bill me for the last 12 months but my question is.
Because I payed them initially and in their mistake they have refunded me, where do I stand?
Are they still able to back bill me?
Are they still able to bill the whole of the 12 months?
Is there any where I can get extra advice before they realise then I am prepared with facts on what they can and cannot do.

Sorry for the essay and I really appreciate any help at all.

Minidj

Minidj

Thanks to everyone who took time to read this.
I was really hoping somebody on here that might have some info that would help me.

I will just have to see what happens when I try and move supplier.
Will update with any info when I have it in case anyone else has a similar issue in future.

mac.d

The backbilling rules are just there to stop energy companies from billing you for further back than 12 months. Yes it's their error that they've not been getting readings from the gas meter, but that and them refunding you doesn't really make any difference, the bottom line is, you are still liable to pay for what you've used in the past 12 months.

Give them an up to date reading for your gas and then pay them for what you have used. If you can't afford to pay it back all at once, they should be willing to work with you with some kind of repayment plan. You can of course try complaining that its their error and they may give you some kind of refund, there's no harm in trying after all!

Oh and be aware that suppliers can object to a switch if you are in debt. See this reply from the E.ON rep on another thread.

Cardew

If I understand you correctly, you don't want the 12 months back-billing rule to apply in your situation?

Minidj

Thanks for the replies.

I was just after more information if anyone had been in a similar situation and the process they went through. Mainly because I am due to switch supplier and it could cause complications. I am fearful that if the meters were installed more than 12 months ago (I cannot remember the exact date) that they will push for me to pay back more than 12 months. So how do they/I prove my actual usage within the 12 month period so they don't try to fleece me.

I am well aware and prepared to pay what I owe and am under no illusions about what the supplier will want/expect/try.

I am maybe hoping for a reason to and will be pushing for a discount considering it was their mistake as I am sure there will be procedures in place to verify a refund before one is given. They won't just give back money unless they are certain they need to. If someone has had a similar experience what did they push for the supplier to do? Or did they accept whatever the supplier asked/said?

If I just try to switch suppliers and EDF take the automatic reading from the meter and they get the same reading they have been doing for the last 12 months. Then say the new supplier asks me for a reading and gets the true reading, what would happen for the difference in the two readings?
I would guess that the two suppliers would exchange this info yes?

Thanks again.

mac.d

When you switch supplier you will be asked to give an opening reading to your new supplier, it gets validated by an independent middleman and they will also look at your past usage, and historic usage information for the property to come up with a reading that both old & new suppliers will agree on.

See Octopus - The secret life of an opening meter reading