No meter readings, back billing, Eon,

CSI_Yorkshire

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

It was pointed out in the first two posts that the clauses you quote are unlikely to apply in the way you think.

hullensien

CSI_Yorkshire said:

hullensien said:

[Deleted User] said:

hullensien said:

[Deleted User] said:

it was just a glorified shed with nothing in but 3 unconnected meters 

Unconnected in what sense? The meters may still be connected to the Grid even if the supply lines to the property have been disconnected from the meters. Meters normally attract a standing charge whether energy is used or not. When a supply is totally disconnected, the meters are usually removed from site. 

All you can do is what to see what evidence the supplier produces in support of its claim.

Sorry - they weren’t connected to any appliances or sockets as far as i am aware

But the meters might still be connected to the Grid so, as far as a supplier is concerned, the property would still be on supply.

It appears that they are - but why no bills/mail/visits etc in almost 2 years? 

How do you know there weren't any bills?

According to the first post, you only got the more recent bills because someone opened them and then put them through the door.

Maybe for two years someone was just throwing them out?

Possibly - but the address on the bill is incorrect  - the address in the envelope window doesn’t exist although the address inside the envelope is correct- IF there were previous bills then they didn’t come here. We emailed EoN - they told us IN WRITING that they didn’t have the address that they sent the bills to “on the system” - yet we have hard copies that says otherwise - that’s an error on their behalf surely - pretty much like the guy knocking on our neighbours door then claiming he came here

[Deleted User]

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

I knew this would come up. The supplier cannot be blamed if the occupier failed to notify it of a change of occupancy. It follows that you cannot expect BackBilling to apply. Normally, when a property changes hands, the outgoing occupant informs the supplier that they are leaving and/or the incoming occupant calls to set up an account with meter readings before taking out a new contract or switching. It would appear that the supplier wasn’t notified. It would therefore pursue the occupant that it had on file for payment. You cannot expect a supplier to have physic powers.

I appreciate that you are looking for a silver bullet that will get your partner out of this mess. I suspect that when the account is reviewed that the amount being requested will be considerably less than what is being discussed at the moment. If the meters have not been used then your partner should only be in the hook for standing charges.

Gerry1

Dolor said:

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

If the meters have not been used then your partner should only be in the hook for standing charges.

Can it be argued that no deemed contract exists because no energy has been used?

hullensien

[Deleted User] said:

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

I knew this would come up. The supplier cannot be blamed if the occupier failed to notify it of a change of occupancy. It follows that you cannot expect BackBilling to apply. Normally, when a property changes hands, the outgoing occupant informs the supplier that they are leaving and/or the incoming occupant calls to set up an account with meter readings before taking out a new contract or switching. It would appear that the supplier wasn’t notified. It would therefore pursue the occupant that it had on file for payment. You cannot expect a supplier to have physic powers.

I appreciate that you are looking for a silver bullet that will get your partner out of this mess. I suspect that when the account is reviewed that the amount being requested will be considerably less than what is being discussed at the moment. If the meters have not been used then your partner should only be in the hook for standing charges.

She originally got bills from EoN as they were the suppliers to the property but it looks like they only ever billed only for the main meter - she informed them of a switch to scottish power - they even sent her a credit for overpayment on the account - she never mentioned the other meters as she wasnt aware they were a separate entity - but it looks like they didn’t have them tied to this address or have a linked account - she wasnt hiding - she was with EoN for the main supply

CSI_Yorkshire

Gerry1 said:

Dolor said:

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

If the meters have not been used then your partner should only be in the hook for standing charges.

Can it be argued that no deemed contract exists because no energy has been used?

For gas, yes (possibly).  The same clause doesn't seem to appear in the electricity documents.

[Deleted User]

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Gerry1 said:

Dolor said:

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

If the meters have not been used then your partner should only be in the hook for standing charges.

Can it be argued that no deemed contract exists because no energy has been used?

For gas, yes (possibly).  The same clause doesn't seem to appear in the electricity documents.

Thanks - that’s my understanding but I couldn’t find a helpful reference.

hullensien

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Gerry1 said:

Dolor said:

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

If the meters have not been used then your partner should only be in the hook for standing charges.

Can it be argued that no deemed contract exists because no energy has been used?

For gas, yes (possibly).  The same clause doesn't seem to appear in the electricity documents.

She isn’t disputing she has used electric - but it looks like they meters haven’t been read in years - as you said before - everyone is guessing - she justs wants to pay a fair amount and not carry the can for the previous occupants  - she could just say the readings were whatever - but she’s not like that - and as the “known” readings 3 years ago are higher than they are today there’s obviously a problem.
EoN are here tomorrow - I’ll update then
Thanks everyone

CSI_Yorkshire

hullensien said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Gerry1 said:

Dolor said:

hullensien said:

According to the Ofgem website she can’t be charged for more than electricity used more than 12 months ago if she wasn’t  informed about it by statement of account - she hasn’t had one
Website also states “Suppliers must make these terms clear in their contract terms and conditions” - she hasn’t had any.
And why didn’t EoN keep sending correspondence addressed to any of the previous owners - again she hasn’t had any

If the meters have not been used then your partner should only be in the hook for standing charges.

Can it be argued that no deemed contract exists because no energy has been used?

For gas, yes (possibly).  The same clause doesn't seem to appear in the electricity documents.

She isn’t disputing she has used electric - but it looks like they meters haven’t been read in years - as you said before - everyone is guessing - she justs wants to pay a fair amount and not carry the can for the previous occupants  - she could just say the readings were whatever - but she’s not like that - and as the “known” readings 3 years ago are higher than they are today there’s obviously a problem.
EoN are here tomorrow - I’ll update then
Thanks everyone

I thought the meters in question weren't connected to anything - so she couldn't have used any electric through them?

Mobtr

contact the energy supplier, raise a complain if one has not already been raised & send the case handler photographs of the meter, date stamped if possible to show the reads now. Should help