Efficiency?

jarrob

I just got a 3K+ bill from Scottish Gas for electricity I allegedly used between 1999 and 2002 (when I changed supplier)! During this period I paid the bills they sent and I supplied correct meter readings to them (the meter was regularily read by a meter reader).

How am I supposed to verify that what I am actually due after 6 years have passed! To make things worse they are demanding payment within 14 day even though it's taken them 6 years to generate a bill!

Isn't there some kind of time limit for this kind of thing? It seems incredible they can backdate billing for this long with no way that a customer can check the amount due!

Xbigman

You need to very carefully check that the bill is for the correct readings. It could be a mistake and if it is you need to find the mistake.

If its not a mistake it means you have underpaid by £500 per year. That means you, unfortunately, do owe them the money. Write to them and offer to repay something each month, say £50. You just need to negotiate an acceptable arrangement. Don't let them push you onto a prepayment meter as that is an expensive way to pay. That £50 will be on top of the near £50 per month more you now need to pay to keep up with actual usage.

There is a rule that might be applicable. They are supposed to read your meter at least every two years. As you have supplied readings that they have accepted this probably won't get you off, but it should be a good argument to use in getting them to give you time to pay.
Regards




X

scattycat_3

Hi jarrob, and welcome,

Hope that this is a clerical error on their behalf, especially as you say their meter reader had an input. Have you phoned them to query the bill and the reasons for it, they must realise the figure is excessive, a phone call may sort it out immediately. Dont forget that the bills are issued by computers, not humans.

It may be seen as clutter, but keeping past utility bills for at least 3 years is a must, in my view. Particularly important as evidence when you change supplier. Hopefully your present supplier will have a record of your meter reading at the time of changeover, and that can be compared with the Scottish Gas demand final reading.

See Frans stickies at the top of board for helpful contacts.
Good Luck, Scat

added edit
PS £3k is around 330 extra units a week, every week for 3 yrs, on top of what you have already paid for, most people only use around that figure in a month. So that tends to point to a clerical error

Xbigman

Sorry its not clear in my last post but I think this looks a mistake too. My total bill in three years is only £700ish.
Regards



X

[Deleted User]

jarrob wrote:

Isn't there some kind of time limit for this kind of thing?

Yes, it's six years! That's why they're in a hurry for you to pay.