Where can I get legal advice about extremely high energy bill

Belzie

Hello

I need some legal advice regarding an energy bill of over £1000.

The heating is provided by a community heat and power company. I am 100% certain that the bill is wrong as the flat has been empty for most of the last 2 years.

I am quite desperate (when I'm not laughing widly) at getting a bill of over £1000 when I was expecting someting in the region of £5 or £10 maximum.

Any help on what the next step is will be greatly appreciated.

Belzi

msmicawber

I don't know who you should approach for legal assistance, but have you checked what readings they are using and whether they bear any relation to those that you have taken? Also, you need to check whether they've included any arrears in there. What standing charges do they make for the gas and electricity? Although the property has been empty, could anything have been left on such as heating or hot water? Once you've checked all those things, the problem may be sorted out.

What is a community heat and power company?

moonrakerz

Do you have your own meter/s or do you pay a fixed percentage of the total bill for the block of flats ?

Cardew

I assume you have a flat where your heat(and possibly hot water) is provided from a central source?

Assuming this is so, you need to look at the terms of your lease(or rental agreement).

This has caused problems in some blocks of flats in London, but I believe you have little chance of challenging the charge if it stipulates you are liable.

If you don't pay, your bill will have to be paid pro-rata by the others in the block of flats.

How do you apportion the charge if someone has been away from the flat for 6 months? 1 month, a week?

Who checks if the flat is occupied or not?

DGJsaver

BLOCKS OF FLATES WHERE EVRYONE PAYS !!

How does that work if one occupant decides to keep his heating on 24/7 at 30 degrees:eek:

Zazen999

Have they forgotten to split the bill between you all?

Have you spoken to the company yet?

Is this the first bill?

Do you have separate meters, or one for all of you?

Perhaps a bit more detail might help

Belzie

Thanks for your answers

Community heat and power company has several boilers over an estate and the heating and hot water are provided to each house or flat. There are meters in each flat to measure the amount used. Most people use smart cards but I have been paying a standing order and the meter is read every so often.

In fact we don't use the heat at all because ours is the first flat next to a boiler and we have 2 six inch pipes running through an airing cupboard which are running at 120 C. The only heat is for hot water and we dont really need that cos in the bathroom the cold comes out at room temperature.

This bill is so far away from what I expected that something must be wrong. The energy company (Barkentine Heat and Power) insist it is correct.

http://www.edfenergy.com/html/showPage.do?name=edfenergy.energy.barkantine.til

I want to find some independent expert who can check the system to see it operating correctly and the get then myself permanently disconnected.

I still dont know who to ask to help me.

B

DGJsaver

Belzie wrote: »

Thanks for your answers

Community heat and power company has several boilers over an estate and the heating and hot water are provided to each house or flat. There are meters in each flat to measure the amount used. Most people use smart cards but I have been paying a standing order and the meter is read every so often.

In fact we don't use the heat at all because ours is the first flat next to a boiler and we have 2 six inch pipes running through an airing cupboard which are running at 120 C. The only heat is for hot water and we dont really need that cos in the bathroom the cold comes out at room temperature.

This bill is so far away from what I expected that something must be wrong. The energy company (Barkentine Heat and Power) insist it is correct.

http://www.edfenergy.com/html/showPage.do?name=edfenergy.energy.barkantine.til

I want to find some independent expert who can check the system to see it operating correctly and the get then myself permanently disconnected.

I still dont know who to ask to help me.

B

I`d probably start by finding out the readings used and contact http://www.energywatch.org.uk/ and get some advice there

ScoobyCanDo

Meter readings ......................................?

Your past BILLS should show,(just like a normal consumers) a meter reading that they have used to form your past bills???

Your NEW bill should show a current (or estimated) reading to form this new bill ..................???

Check one against the other and work out how much you have used, compared to what the bill says?

IF .................. and it's a big one .............. IF all your past bills have been ESTIMATED ones and you have never bothered to query them ................. and their latest bill is based on an ACTUAL meter reading ................. then it's a simple case of your outstanding use, catching up with you???

Sorry for all the question marks ................ but with out all the details to hand, any one that post's a reply to your question will be guessing !

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IF you feel you need Legal Help ........................ pay your local Citizens Advise a visit, taking with you as much paperwork as you have and they will point you in the right direction.

Best of luck,

Scooby:cool: