British Gas - Back Billing

joeyg1988

Hi All

I’m looking for some advice or opinions on a situation I’m having with British Gas. Here’s the background:

I have a smart meter and received my last bill from British Gas in July 2024. After that, I didn’t receive any bills until 31st December 2025. When I finally got that bill, I disputed it under the back billing rules, as it’s not my fault they didn’t raise a bill for all that time. Throughout this period, I continued paying my direct debit as normal.

However, British Gas is refusing to credit the amounts billed that are over 12 months old. Their reasoning is that because I kept making payments via direct debit during that time, and the amount they’ve billed is less than what I paid in that period, they don’t need to apply the back billing rule.

I’m confused—is this correct? Should I be challenging this further? From my understanding, the back billing rules state that energy companies can’t charge for energy used over 12 months ago if the delay in billing is their fault, but I’m not sure if my continued payments impact this.

Their current proposed resolution is that they clear my current outstanding balance of £135 which is less than what the 'back billing' would be. 

Has anyone else experienced something similar, or does anyone have insight into whether British Gas’s stance is legitimate? Any advice on how to proceed would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

joeyg1988

Also I just want to point out that on my British Gas App, they received meter readings from my smart meter twice a month during the period so I had no reason to assume there was any issue. 

EssexHebridean

joeyg1988 said:

Hi All

I’m looking for some advice or opinions on a situation I’m having with British Gas. Here’s the background:

I have a smart meter and received my last bill from British Gas in July 2024. After that, I didn’t receive any bills until 31st December 2025. When I finally got that bill, I disputed it under the back billing rules, as it’s not my fault they didn’t raise a bill for all that time. Throughout this period, I continued paying my direct debit as normal.

However, British Gas is refusing to credit the amounts billed that are over 12 months old. Their reasoning is that because I kept making payments via direct debit during that time, and the amount they’ve billed is less than what I paid in that period, they don’t need to apply the back billing rule.

I’m confused—is this correct? Should I be challenging this further? From my understanding, the back billing rules state that energy companies can’t charge for energy used over 12 months ago if the delay in billing is their fault, but I’m not sure if my continued payments impact this.

Their current proposed resolution is that they clear my current outstanding balance of £135 which is less than what the 'back billing' would be. 

Has anyone else experienced something similar, or does anyone have insight into whether British Gas’s stance is legitimate? Any advice on how to proceed would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

IIRC, anything you have already paid to the supplier via the monthly DD falls outside of the back billing rules - ie, they can claim the credit you have paid in against any bill raised. The back billing rules are in place to prevent bill-shock, particularly to vulnerable customers - but that doesn't sound like your situation. 

I assume that you were continuing to take/check readings during the time period you originally weren't billed for, so you were able to work out at least an approximation of what you should have been charged? 

QrizB

joeyg1988 said:

I’m confused—is this correct? 

Yes.

joeyg1988 said:

Should I be challenging this further? 

No.

joeyg1988 said:

From my understanding, the back billing rules state that energy companies can’t charge for energy used over 12 months ago if the delay in billing is their fault, 

Your understanding is wrong.
Based on your post, it seems to me that you have been billed correctly. There is no reason for the back-billing rules to be invoked.

debitcardmayhem

To be honest shouldn’t you have been chasing them for a bill during that period. As EH says though you fall outside of back billing rules imho.

joeyg1988

Thanks for the advice!