Unfortunately as long as they sent you notices or bills stating that there had been a number of consecutive estimates, they would probably be able to send you a bill for this. Ask them for energy advice, as there is a number of things you can do to lower your current usage. They have a freephone energy advice line and do cheap insulation. Ask them about tariffs and see if their online tariff is better for you. They won't mention it to you on the phone, unless you mention it to them. If you cut your current bill, it will make it easier to pay back the debt.

Sorry, it's now Consumer Direct for energy issues, I believe.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

They should only go back 12 months. You can dispute their estimate of the usage if you wish. If they keep being awkward, involve Consumer Focus in the negotiatiations.

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/

HELP! EON are trying to bill us for £2600 for electricity going back to 2003!

Their bills have been estimated despite their having had enless readings from their own meter readers (and I have the readings from EON themselves!). Initially they said that our meter serial number on their records was wrong so their readings weren't ever applied to the account. I've just had a letter that says that when we were transferred from Vertex the meter reading was correct. However the meter readers had the wrong number so all readings were marked as failed readings. They have now sorted the serial number and want to bill us for years of electricity!

We have always paid by Direct Debit on time (in fact have often been in "credit") and whilst we should have checked our bills more closely, we presumed (wrongly) that they would be fairly accurate, having had the meter read so many times.

They initially quoted us £3000, then said they'd only bill us for 1 year (which is still £1300!) then said that since they'd sent estimated bills they are going for the whole lot again! I did agree in principle (and "without prejudice" - I made that very clear!) to 2 years of monthly payments on £50 when it was £1300 but now they want far more and we simply can't afford it. They have offerred to spread the cost over 42 months but that is still over £60pcm ON TOP of what will now be a much much larger basic bill.

Anyone any ideas on what we can do?