Eon Next - Back billing issue?

Welshpoolfan

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone is able to advise or clarify the rules on back billing and whether it would apply in my case.

On 9th January 2026 I received a statement/bill for the amount of £68.37 from Eon Next for "Gas (estimated) 27 January 2023 - 14 February 2023.

On 7th January 2023 I had a pre-payment gas meter removed (this was under instruction from Ombudsman as they had refused to make the change and this was deemed unreasonable) and a normal meter installed. Upon revisiting statements from that time, I appear to have submitted my first meter reading for this meter on 16th February 2023 (a little over a month after installation). I was subsequently billed an estimated amount from 16th Feb 2023 - 25th Feb 2023 based on the meter reading I had submitted on the 16th. I wasn't billed anything for the period before 16th February 2023 until the statement received in 2026. In the 3 years since I have submitted meter readings nearly every month (and no later than every 2 months when I have forgotten a month) and paid through DD, keeping my account in credit.

I raised a complaint to Eon Next regarding this as I thought that it would fall under the Back Billing protections. They have subsequently come back to me and said that "back billing rules do not apply to your account because it remains in credit after the gas charges from 2023 were added".

On Ofgem's website I cannot see where it says that accounts in credit don't get covered by the back billing rules but I am a little unsure on whether it is worth pursuing it further if the rules are clear on this.

Thanks for any advice.

QrizB

They have subsequently come back to me and said that "back billing rules do not apply to your account because it remains in credit after the gas charges from 2023 were added"

EON Next are correct. The back-billing rules prevent them from asking for new money for this, but they're allowed to deduct it from a credit balance on your account.

Welshpoolfan

So the rules punish people for having credit on their account?

That doesn't seem to fit anywhere in the rules as written - are you able to show me where?

Swipe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81861739#Comment_81861739

Another reason to keep your credit balance in your own bank account and pay via monthly variable direct debit instead.

WiserMiser

Unfortunately that's how it works. It's intended to avoid users having to make an unexpected payment rather than to penalise suppliers for failing to bill in a timely manner. Blame Ofgem.

It's another good reason to pay by Variable Direct Debit.

Welshpoolfan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81861769#Comment_81861769

I mean - I can withdraw the credit at any time and it is my money until a payment is made. So the payment is still an unexpected payment.

I do pay by variable direct debit, but I have some credit based on previous experience of being hit with an unexpected bill (that wasn't a back bill) that I then had to pay and so I put some additional credit in to help cover such unpleasantness should it happen again.

WiserMiser

To clarify, it's intended to prevent an unexpected hit to your bank account. I agree the back billing rules are a daft half measure because there's such a loophole. Ofgem should say that back billing after 12 months is prohibited, full stop.

In the meantime, it would be better to move your credit to an easy access savings account so that you get a bit of interest, not your supplier.

Swipe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81861777#Comment_81861777

Just keep that additional money in a savings account dedicated to energy payments instead and use it to pay any expected bills

Welshpoolfan

That is very frustrating, especially as having the credit was due to a previous hit to the bank account that and to prevent it for legitimate bills. It also doesn't seem to appear anywhere on Ofgems website.

QrizB

So the rules punish people for having credit on their account?

No.

The rules are intended to protect people from having to find money to pay old bills, where their supplier has set their DD so low that there isn't enough credit on their account to pay them.

If your bill can be met by your account credit, everything is working as intended and there's nothing for you to be protected from.

I mean - I can withdraw the credit at any time and it is my money until a payment is made.

Suppliers are allowed to reverse such refunds under the back-billing rules.

Welshpoolfan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81861832#Comment_81861832

That makes no sense. I have still had to find money to pay old bills. The credit on the account is my money, and it is now gone on an old bill, so I now need to put new money in my account to cover more recent bills that the credit would have covered. So I have still had to find money due to the old bill.

Also, given it is 3 years ago, are they not required to base the bill on actual usage?

I still cannot find anywhere in Ofgems rules where this exception is detailed.