Hi Jesso

The ruling I am aware of is called the 'code of practice'. Energy suppliers sign up to this agreement and are regulated by the Energy Ombudsman. From my understanding it means that if they haven't been sending you bills then they can only backdate payments up to 12 months. I'm not too sure what the ruling is if, like me, you have been having your meter read regularly and giving your own readings to the supplier only for them to ignore them and estimate. From the information I have been able to get off other people if the supplier makes the mistake and you have made the effort to give them the correct readings then this should fall under the code of practice. E-on are saying that it doesn't, although they have knocked £350 off they outstanding bill. In my opinion this is an admission of guilt on their behalf... what company deducts 25% off what you owe unless they realise that they will get considerably less if it goes to the Energy Ombudsman.

I hope this is of help. Don't let your supplier pressure you into paying the full amount.
Not sure if Scott Byrom looks at the existing posts on this site as I've not had a reply to several of my last emails. I'll repost and hopefully he will respond. Any info I get I shall pass on to you.

Good Luck
Leigh

Scott Byrom kindly told us "Also, the supplier, by law, should only be able to back charge you for one years consumption"

Which lovely sensible law is this - can you give a reference please?

I've had a bill for £4000 for the last quarter instead of usual £120 -£160

Npower say they've had no meter reading since 2004 - but the meter has been read at least once a year since then by their meter reader and I've also sent in readings.Npower have said a] the readings were ignored because they were so much bigger than the estimate.b] they probably missed the short duration window for billing and such readings were then not used to adjust subsequent bills.

Hi Scott

Thought I would let you know what is happening with my dispute with E-on.

After speaking to Consumer Focus I contacted the Energy Ombusman, unfortunately they will not get involved until 8 weeks has passed from initial dispute. I phoned E-on and told them that this is the route I would be taking. The Complaints Team Manager eventually got back in touch (1 week after I called them) and said that they would reduce my bill down to £1000 payable over 48 months on the basis of 'failures made' by E-on.

E-on still state that they can backdate as far as they want because in their opinion my case does not come under the 'code of practice' (think that's correct term). If E-on came out at MY request and read my meter in June 2007 but did not use that reading when billing me, does the code of practice cover them or me? They continued to estimate and did not use the reading on my future statements. The first time they used it was on the statement I requested and received 3 weeks ago.

E-on are telling me that the Energy Ombusman will agree with them.

I'd like to know your opinion. Don't worry, I won't hold you to it.

Many thanks
Leigh

Hi Scott

Thanks for the advice. I have a statement that E-on have just sent which has all the 'estimates' going back to 2004. On this statement it shows the 'reading' that I gave them in June 2007. Do you think this is enough proof that I informed them of our correct reading and that they didn't act upon it?

E-on are saying that they can go back further than 1 year because the statements they sent said estimate on them. No too sure where I stand on that. My argument is that I did give them a reading in 2007, they ignored it, carried on estimating, sent me a statement saying I was £200 in credit and then lowered my monthly direct debit payments which has resulted in an even larger deficit.

Thanks
Leigh

LeightTheTiler,

You should have a case if you have proof you have provided readings.

Also, the supplier, by law, should only be able to back charge you for one years consumption.

Energywatch has now closed its doors and passed over to Consumer Focus. Tel: 0207 799 7900.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the money owed has already been calculated at the price of when the electricity was consumed. My problem with E-on is that I gave them an accurate reading in June 07 but they failed to act and never sent a bill to show our debt.

Does anyone know if OFGEM will be able to help?

Thanks
Leigh

I can't help with the legal specifics but you should have a case to ensure that the additional usage is split over the past few years and charged at the prevailing rates at the time. This will save you a significant amount of money over just paying their current rates for energy you bought years ago when it was much cheaper.

We had our meter changed in Nov 2004 to a digital model, E-on say they had the new details but the meter readering company were never notified. After 4 years of regular (at least twice a year) meter readings by a company employed by E-on we have just been hit by a £1500 bill! Every time they came to read the meter they would tell us that they don't have the correct details but would read it and make the necessary changes and let E-on know.

Apparently E-on have been estimating our usage even though they had our correct readings. 1 month after I phoned E-on in June 2007 giving them the reading myself they sent me a statement indicating that we were £200 in credit when in fact we were at the time £1000 in debit! They then reduced our monthly direct debit down to £13 per month!

E-on are standing fast by the bill although they have said that they will reduce the amount by £100 and that we can pay it off over 48 months. They say that they are not at fault because the statements they sent have ESTIMATED on them. I want to fight this because I told them the correct meter reading in June 07 and they didn't act on it.

I phoned what was Energywatch and was transfered to another regulator. All they did was redirect me to E-on. Do I have a leg to stand on? Or will I have to pay the whole 4 years arrears?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks
Leigh