Hope someone out there could help me with this. I have been living in a flatshare for 1 year now. We received a bill for over £3000 because the incorrect readings were given since 2007. My flatmate has lived here since 2007. Do I have to pay half of this outstanding amount now because my name has been added to the bill even though I was not living there in 2007 and 2008? Edf are unhelpful with this and say whoever is on the bill needs to pay.

You should have taken meter readings when you moved in. Without such readings, all you can do now is use the supplier's agent's readings to estimate what the reading should have been when you were added to the bill and then pay your share of the bills since then.

The legal side of things depends on what the agreement was with the supplier. Often, with joint responsibility, the supplier can ask any of the people on the bill to pay in full or part, as they see fit. You should not be asked to pay for anything before you moved in though.

It sounds like this is going to get complicated so I feel that you should put your case in writing so that you can keep a record or things. You can also contact the following for advice.

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

taurean2009:

There are a lot of issues going on here. Firstly the reason why the readings are incorrect and who took the incorrect readings and when. Secondly how often and when did a meter reader call. Thirdly, when and how was your name added to the bill.

You say EDF are being unhelful but is that in writing or just a customer service adviser's throwaway remark? While a telephone rep does speak for his/her company that doesn't mean what is said is right.

You need to get all the documentation together, previous bills in particular. It may be worthwhile making a £10 Subject Access Request to get all the previous bills, contract copies, correspondence, call logs and transcripts or recordings. You will find out what information they have. Anything they don't provide they can't rely on.

I echo maxsteam's comment that I doubt you are responsible for consumption metered before your name was added to the account.

Print out the EDF code of practice on complaints and Google for the Code of Practice for Accurate Billing (and FAQ). Go through them with a fine toothcomb looking for EDF procedural errors.

HTH

As the other posters have pointed out, you should not be expected to pay for supply before you entered the property. i can only go on another supplier's rules, but when it came down to it all you should have to do is supply a copy of your tenancy/lease agreement, which will have the date you moved in.

Unfortunately, if you don't have a start read from when you entered the property, they may have to use an estimated start read to bill you from. Any usage from the date you moved in, im afraid, is up to the supplier really. It's not their responsibility to ensure that the bill is split fairly between your flatmates, only that you are billed for the correct amounts you are liable for.

When you entered the property the exsisting account in just your flat mates name should have been closed and a new one in joint names created - this would provide a clear point of responsibility. However if you're name as been "added" to the account (as in your name appears on the bill in conjuction with your flat mate) you are then equally as responsible for any debit (or credit) on the account. This should have been made clear to you at the time, although this very much depends on your request at the time.

Your bills should have clearly indicated that the readings were estimated, this includes the ones sent just to your flatmate and the ones sent to both of you. Did you recieve these bills and did you respond to the request that may (or maynot) have appeared on the bill to provide up to date readings.

Furthermore where is the meter? is it easily accessable?

It is posisble (but by no means guarenteed), that assuming you cna prove you were not in the property during much of this time that edf may back date the account creation and re-bill the accounts accordingly. I.e. you get a bill in the name of your flatmate up to the point you moved in and a bill in joint names from that point forward.