Huge innacurate bill passed to debt collectors

Petriix

I think back billing could well apply. If they've never sent an accurate bill then I think they can't claim to have billed you within 12 months. 

BarelySentientAI

Petriix said:

I think back billing could well apply. If they've never sent an accurate bill then I think they can't claim to have billed you within 12 months. 

If that were true then all the customers who never give readings could claim the same. 

However, it isn't true.

imeach

Meter readers (field agents) will come across many semi concealed meters that are/have been flooded.
Sometimes they can't read them either, but sometimes it's possible, and because most will have done them before they may get a reading when the customer can't. 
Using a torch sometimes helps or tapping the 'screen' so the condensation falls down.
If it's muddy water then that's often not possible. 

Petriix

BarelySentientAI said:

Petriix said:

I think back billing could well apply. If they've never sent an accurate bill then I think they can't claim to have billed you within 12 months. 

If that were true then all the customers who never give readings could claim the same. 

However, it isn't true.

I don't know why people give out such uninformed opinions as fact. 

Ofgem clearly state: (see https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/what-do-if-you-get-back-bill) 

You cannot be charged for energy used more than 12 months ago if:

you have not had an accurate bill for it before, even though you asked for one

BarelySentientAI

Petriix said:

BarelySentientAI said:

Petriix said:

I think back billing could well apply. If they've never sent an accurate bill then I think they can't claim to have billed you within 12 months. 

If that were true then all the customers who never give readings could claim the same. 

However, it isn't true.

I don't know why people give out such uninformed opinions as fact. 

Ofgem clearly state: (see https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/what-do-if-you-get-back-bill) 

You cannot be charged for energy used more than 12 months ago if:

you have not had an accurate bill for it before, even though you asked for one

I don't know why people rely on a fact sheet rather than the actual rules, Ombudsman decisions, and previous cases as evidence.  In this case, we have a bill based on an actual reading issued 9 months after the account opening on the supplier's side of the equation, and "I think my opening reading was wrong but I didn't say anything until nine months later" on the customer's side.  Knowing (personally and directly) how the EO assesses cases, that's a dead end to argue that it wasn't billed within the 12 months.

This isn't back billing.  It's an opening reading dispute.  Argue the wrong thing and get a terrible decision.  Just like the other thread on here where someone went to the Ombudsman and got their complaint dismissed because they presented the wrong evidence (in that case because they didn't know how to get the right evidence) and they've been told that the case cannot be re-opened.  Despite the customer being completely correct as far as we can tell.

But hey, OP, believe whichever anonymous internet poster you feel like and dismiss any others as "uninformed".  Complain against back billing and let us know how it goes.  Unpredictable things do happen, and you might get lucky.