back billing legislation

sj810

Hi, Can someone please help me. I lease a property that has 2 electric meters and the landlord did not tell me about one of the meters until December 2022 and my tenancy started September 2021. As soon as I found out I contacted Eon and they have sent me a back dated bill from September 2021 for over £11000. I have complained to everyone and everyone says the back billing rule doesn't apply. Can anyone help as I can't see a way out other than paying. 

DE_612183

Is this a commercial tariff?

Not sure if the rules are different.

marcia_

 Unsure about back billing but £11000 for a years worth of electricity! Is this a residential home or a commercial property? 

MeteredOut

According to Ofgem and back billing


"The rules apply to domestic energy consumers and microbusinesses."

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/what-do-if-you-get-back-bill

That might lead some to ask "What is a microbusiness?". 

"Microbusinesses

If your business has fewer than 10 employees, or their full-time equivalent, and has an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than £2 million it is classed as a microbusiness.

Your business is also a microbusiness if it does not have the above but uses no more than 100,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year or 293,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of gas per year."

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-businesses/get-energy-your-business

@sj810 Assuming this is a business, does it qualify as a microbusiness, and therefore you can look to claim back billing rules?

And, how do you know that the opening reading use for bill for the newly found meter is correct?

sj810

Hi All, thanks for the responses. This is for 18months supply they are charging me for, it is a commercial property that I lease. usually my bills are around £300-£350 which would equate to £4200pa. I have tried the energy ombudsman and they won't accept that back billing applied stating that because I contacted them in dec 2022 and they sent me a bill in April 2023 they are saying that it was in the 12 month period but surely that's not what the OFGEM rule is.
As I said I don't know what else to do now.Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated 

sj810

apologies yes I am a micro business

MeteredOut

sj810 said:

Hi All, thanks for the responses. This is for 18months supply they are charging me for, it is a commercial property that I lease. usually my bills are around £300-£350 which would equate to £4200pa. I have tried the energy ombudsman and they won't accept that back billing applied stating that because I contacted them in dec 2022 and they sent me a bill in April 2023 they are saying that it was in the 12 month period but surely that's not what the OFGEM rule is.
As I said I don't know what else to do now.Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated 

What "12 month period" are they saying? Can you share more about your submission to the Ombudsman and their ruling?

QrizB

Can you lay out, in detail and with dates & meter readings, exactly what they are billing you £11000 for?

DE_612183

I think the crux here is that what the supplier and ofgem are saying is that Back Billings only applies if you have not been sent a bill, they are saying you have been sent a bill but it was incorrect - which although sounds similar is different.

MWT

I assume the problem is that the OP failed to notify the supplier that they were responsible for the meter until Dec 2022 and once notified the supplier billed 4 months later, so within 12 months of the earliest date at which the supplier could have billed them.

The back-billing rules are not there to encourage people to fail to notify the supplier when they take responsibility for a meter.

MeteredOut

MWT said:

I assume the problem is that the OP failed to notify the supplier that they were responsible for the meter until Dec 2022 and once notified the supplier billed 4 months later, so within 12 months of the earliest date at which the supplier could have billed them.

The back-billing rules are not there to encourage people to fail to notify the supplier when they take responsibility for a meter.

Is there not also an onus on the supplier to send a bill to The Occupier at the supply address?