They say I owe £900!!!

Blueprincess

I recently called E-on to switch to monthly direct debit payments for my gas and electricity

They asked for meter readings and told me that my gas reading sounded really high. It turned out thta my gas meter hadn't been assigned to a meter reader and so hasn't been read for 4 years!!! I never really looked at my bills - my electricity meter was being read and so I assumed the gas one was too! Turns out that we now owe £900.

Am I just plain stupid not to have read my bills or do I have a case to complain?

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

Well of course you should have read/checked your bills and seen that they were based on estimated meter readings(I assume you have had gas bills?)

That said, they are supposed to have the meter read every 2 years so they bear some of the blame.

You have a good case to get the £900 reduced a little(20%) and pay back the debt over a year or 2(interest free)

You also need a break down of how they have calculated £900. Don't forget that gas 3/4 years ago was much cheaper than today. They have a tendency to say with the current meter reading you owe for xxxxx kWh and charge you at 2008 prices.

Get your negotiating hat on and talk to them(ask for an account manager) If they won't play ball threaten them with Energywatch.(and put your complaint in writing)

chocolatechipcookies

Cardew wrote: »

Get your negotiating hat on and talk to them(ask for an account manager) If they won't play ball threaten them with Energywatch.(and put your complaint in writing)

How is it E On's fault the OP doesn't read his/her bills or take meter readings? I racked up a £500 bill from Npower because I couldn't be bothered to read the bills or take meter readings, it was my responsibility, as it is the OP's

space_rider

I would definetly ring the complaints line if they still have one, the number should be on the back of the bill, and explain to them. If they didn`t have a gas company assigned then it`s really not all your fault that you have such a big debt. I certainly would expect some kind of reduction and time to pay it. I always check my readings almost on a weekly basis just to make sure nothing is amiss but that`s just me.

Also, did you get any bills for your gas? If not then surely they can`t back bill you for 4 years.

Cardew

chocolatechipcookies wrote: »

How is it E On's fault the OP doesn't read his/her bills or take meter readings? I racked up a £500 bill from Npower because I couldn't be bothered to read the bills or take meter readings, it was my responsibility, as it is the OP's

As I said above the OP is at fault for not having "read/checked" her bills.

However it is mandatory that meters should be read every 2 years by the Utility company; a regulation to prevent exactly this situation occuring; so they have some responsibility.

Don't forget that some customers(not the OP) simply do not understand anything about bills, meter readings, estimated readings etc. It is understandable, as the electricity meter was read regularly, that the OP assumed the gas meter was as well.

It is also pertinent to point out that some old people grew up in an era when there was no such thing as 'estimated reading'. The meter was read every quarter without fail. These people(again not the OP) simply pay whatever bills they are presented with - correct or incorrect.

schoolhouse

I have just had the same issue with British Gas.When I moved in 18months ago I started a direct bebit for gas and electric with them.Last week I find out they had only activated my electric account!

Firstly and most importantly,you are only liable to pay a year in arrears.Legislation came in last April which only allows utility companies to backdate a bill by a year.If they have neve sent you a bill then they can only charge you for a year and not 4.I will only be paying 12months and not 18 for my gas bill.Hope this helps and good luck.It took me call after call and being on hold for yonks to sort this out.Finally saw sense and insisted somebody call me back.

Cardew

ranitaR wrote: »

I have just had the same issue with British Gas.When I moved in 18months ago I started a direct bebit for gas and electric with them.Last week I find out they had only activated my electric account!

Firstly and most importantly,you are only liable to pay a year in arrears.Legislation came in last April which only allows utility companies to backdate a bill by a year.If they have neve sent you a bill then they can only charge you for a year and not 4.I will only be paying 12months and not 18 for my gas bill.Hope this helps and good luck.It took me call after call and being on hold for yonks to sort this out.Finally saw sense and insisted somebody call me back.

That is correct.

However when the OP gave E-ON her reading, they said "that sounded high" So how would they know if they hadn't sent bills?

OP also said she "knows she should have read the bills."

She has also "been paying the bills," but wanted to switch to DD.

£900 for 4 years gas doesn't sound like having had no bills at all.

So it seems fair to deduce that she has been receiving bills based on estimated readings????

JoJoArmani

out of interest - could someone just pretend they had not recieved a bill - even if they had?

Cardew

JoJoArmani wrote: »

out of interest - could someone just pretend they had not recieved a bill - even if they had?

Yes of course you can!!!!!

However if you mean, 'can I escape paying my gas/electricity bill by pretending I haven't received a bill?' er no!

Within 12 months you would be in the clutches of the dreaded Debt Collection Agencies and/or in court!

stewie_griffin

Blueprincess wrote: »

I recently called E-on to switch to monthly direct debit payments for my gas and electricity

They asked for meter readings and told me that my gas reading sounded really high. It turned out thta my gas meter hadn't been assigned to a meter reader and so hasn't been read for 4 years!!! I never really looked at my bills - my electricity meter was being read and so I assumed the gas one was too! Turns out that we now owe £900.

Am I just plain stupid not to have read my bills or do I have a case to complain?

If you meter hasn't been attempted to be read in the past 15 months then Billing Code applies and they are only allowed to charge you for 12 months usage.

Cardew

stewie_griffin wrote: »

If you meter hasn't been attempted to be read in the past 15 months then Billing Code applies and they are only allowed to charge you for 12 months usage.

That is a surprise.

From your previous posts, I am aware that you know what you are are talking about on Utility Bills(don't you work for a Utility company?)

I understood that the companies only have to read your meter every 2 years - which is at odds with your 15 month rule

and that is what is stipulated here - see paragraph 2

http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/documents/CodeofPracticeforAccurateBills.pdf

I have never seen or heard of the 15 months rule?

What is clear is that if you haven't had any bill at all(rather than a bill based on an estimated reading) they can only go back 12 months.

Can you please supply details of the relevant regulation to support your statement above.