Back-billing rules

sami4137

I moved into a property on 15th March 2021, the energy company at the time sent me a quarterly bill which covered February to April. I spoke to them on the 13th April to close the account and advise the date I moved in. I told them I would pay the energy used from the date I moved in if they send me a revised bill- which over 12 months later, I never received. Instead of sending a revised bill, they kept sending the original bill out and eventually passed me on to 2 different debt collection companies, 3 times. I advised them I was waiting on a revised bill to pay what I owe from the date I moved in. Now, the company is saying they cannot clear the debt even though they never sent me the bill I asked for and I’ve had to involve the ombudsman. 

Am I right in thinking the back-billing rules should fall in my favour as they have never sent me the bill I asked for and was willing to pay? 

comeandgo

No, you can’t use back billing rules in your situation.

brewerdave

The fact that the utility supplier won't clear the old bill suggests that they don't believe you! Did they ask for proof of your earliest date of occupation and if so ,did you supply evidence ?

Cardew

As said above back-billing rules have no relevance to your issue.

Presumably the Feb 2021 date was when the old occupant left and paid the bill to that date??.

Was the start reading for your Feb to April bill estimated or actual?

Was the 15 March 2021 date, when you moved in to the property, the date you became responsible for the property?

If not, who should have paid the bill between Feb and March 15 2021?

brewerdave

If the property is rented presumably the landlord is responsible for the earlier portion of the bill. If you purchased ,when was the date of completion ?

Gerry1

It would have been better to have taken meter readings on the day you took possession (which is not necessarily the date you moved in), taken meter readings again on the date your new supplier took over, calculated what you owed and paid it in full.

Assuming you still have the meter readings, it's not too late to make that payment if you have not already done so.

You can then say 'Prove It' if they ask for any more money either directly or via debt collectors.

sami4137

brewerdave said:

The fact that the utility supplier won't clear the old bill suggests that they don't believe you! Did they ask for proof of your earliest date of occupation and if so ,did you supply evidence ?

I provided a council tax bill to prove the date I legally took over the property which is the same day I got the keys and moved in 

sami4137

brewerdave said:

If the property is rented presumably the landlord is responsible for the earlier portion of the bill. If you purchased ,when was the date of completion ?

I bought the property and the date of completion is the same day I got the keys and moved in which was the 15th March 

sami4137

comeandgo said:

No, you can’t use back billing rules in your situation.

Can you explain why? I purchased the property so the completion date is the same date I got the keys and moved in which is the 15th March. Why can I not use the back-billing rules when they have never sent me the corrected bill that I asked for and told them I would be willing to pay? 

sami4137

Gerry1 said:

It would have been better to have taken meter readings on the day you took possession (which is not necessarily the date you moved in), taken meter readings again on the date your new supplier took over, calculated what you owed and paid it in full.

Assuming you still have the meter readings, it's not too late to make that payment if you have not already done so.

You can then say 'Prove It' if they ask for any more money either directly or via debt collectors.

But I don’t know how much I owe because they never actually sent me the revised bill otherwise I would have paid it 

Gerry1

sami4137 said:

Gerry1 said:

It would have been better to have taken meter readings on the day you took possession (which is not necessarily the date you moved in), taken meter readings again on the date your new supplier took over, calculated what you owed and paid it in full.

Assuming you still have the meter readings, it's not too late to make that payment if you have not already done so.

You can then say 'Prove It' if they ask for any more money either directly or via debt collectors.

But I don’t know how much I owe because they never actually sent me the revised bill otherwise I would have paid it 

It's easy to work out, but if you send us the meter readings, dates and tariff details someone here will number crunch it for you.