EDF just sent us a bill...8 months after moving out of rented flat?

TallDaisy

I just received a bill from EDF (even though I can't access this online) for £1,221.69 from 1st June 2018 to 1st June 2020 (of a property we rented and moved out of June 2020). During this time, we were on a faulty meter (not known to us) and received no bills from EDF, although we rung and informed them when we first moved in and set up an account. On the 10th September 2019, an emergency team from EDF came and determined that the meter was dangerous and illegal and shut our power off for just under a day whilst they installed a new meter. We were told that we were not liable for the period before as it was not our fault (more the responsibility of the landlord) and would not received a back dated bill. We then received a bill that was 'zeroed' off and that we would not need to worry about the period before this, we then had a new account set up that started from the installation (September 2019). We then received our first bill in November and then onwards paid as per usual until move out. When we moved out we received a final bill at our new address, and then had some remaining debit (I think around £8) before we closed off our account. Since then I received a random bill in November 2020 (despite telling them I had moved out) that we were £9.11 in credit, then today on 20th February 2021 I have received this bill that they are now telling me to pay. I'm not sure where we stand in this and have reported this to the company.

EDF have put the payments on hold whilst they review the case and situation regarding the faulty meter, I have suggested the back billing code but I think they are adamant for me to pay this. The first lady said this (which I screenshot), 'We have received all payments but there was an incorrect read so we have cancelled all the bills and the payment has been adjusted with the bill'.

I just want some advice on this on whose responsible and if I can get the bill removed since we were told we wouldn't be liable. Also how they can bill for something this they have estimated and not accurate - I'm just confused overall.

MWT

You should be safe as they don't get to reset all the old bills and issue a new one without falling foul of the back-billing regulations.

They had ample opportunity to bill you correctly at the time and failed to do so.

I hope you have kept the 'zeroed off' bill as that will be useful evidence if you end up taking this to the Ombudsman.

As long as everything from the installation of the new meter onwards was handled properly I don't see how they can have you pay anything more, and even if it wasn't they are limited in how far they can go back from your leaving date in June last year. 

niktheguru

despite all these things happening did you ever actually send a meter reading? 
did they install a smart meter or a normal meter?

Surely you would have been careful after the major problem with your meter.
im guessing all your bills were based on estimates it sounds.

the back billing rule only counts for a year. So they can charge you for the true energy you used from jan to June.

did you provide them with a closing meter reading when you moved out? If so then you are able to defend what energy you used. If not, you might get stuck.

TallDaisy

We sent them a meter reading when we first moved and they asked me to confirm and could not remember and even then its a faulty/illegal meter so it would not have been accurate.

It was a 'normal' meter and we definitely did meter readings after the new one was installed so as far as we are aware anything from Sept 2019 is accurate billing and paid fine. I think the issue is before that as we hadn't got a bill through from EDF despite chasing until after the new one got installed. This bill then just took off the money that we owed so far until then (which we hadn't been told about). 

Stupidly I did not keep the letter, think I threw it away after we paid our last bill with them as I assumed everything had been settled. 

TallDaisy

And yes when we moved we left an accurate meter reading which I assume is correct as I have a photo of the April reading on my phone which was close number wise. 

MWT

TallDaisy said:

Stupidly I did not keep the letter, think I threw it away after we paid our last bill with them as I assumed everything had been settled.

That is unfortunate, but probably will not matter as they have left it way to late to be chasing for anything pre-Sept '19.

TallDaisy

Yes I did think this too and said to EDF,  I'm just unsure as the woman I was talking said that the back billing code doesn't apply in this case? Not sure why though...Anyway I will wait for her to review.

MWT

In June 2019 they would have had a point claiming that the back-billing rules might not apply due to the faulty meter. but they cannot rely on that as an excuse over 18 months later.

If they persist in their demands and they relate to the period before the new meter was fitted send in a written complaint and indicate that you will take this to the Ombudsman if they do not agree that the back-billing rules prevent them from billing for the period as it is well over 12 months ago and they had ample opportunity to bill you for the usage when the meter was replaced, but failed to do so, and in fact indicated at the time that they did not intend to bill for it either.

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TallDaisy

MWT said:

In June 2019 they would have had a point claiming that the back-billing rules might not apply due to the faulty meter. but they cannot rely on that as an excuse over 18 months later.

If they persist in their demands and they relate to the period before the new meter was fitted send in a written complaint and indicate that you will take this to the Ombudsman if they do not agree that the back-billing rules prevent them from billing for the period as it is well over 12 months ago and they had ample opportunity to bill you for the usage when the meter was replaced, but failed to do so, and in fact indicated at the time that they did not intend to bill for it either.

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Thank you, I do agree with you. As you said if we had been billed any of this during the time we were thete I would have understood and we would have obviously paid. I have already mentioned that I will file an official complaint and involve the ombudsman if not sorted which I think is why they are now investigating it now.

niktheguru

I would still make sure you have a complaint in writing (either email or post) so you have a paper trail. Don't just rely on phone conversations if something isn't settled within a couple of days.