Client hasn't had an electric bill in 20 years...,
Discussion
A client who has run a serviced office for twenty years let slip today that he hasn't had an electric bill since buying the building in the early nineties.
He thinks the worse case is they wise up and make him pay one or two years worth.
Does anyone have any experience if this, is he right?
I wondered if someone else was being billed instead. It's a terraced town house so maybe a neighbour ?
He thinks the worse case is they wise up and make him pay one or two years worth.
Does anyone have any experience if this, is he right?
I wondered if someone else was being billed instead. It's a terraced town house so maybe a neighbour ?
Maxf said:
I think he can get stung for 6 years worth, which is as far as the statute of limitations goes (or used to) for errors.
is this right? as i have a friend who hasn't had a gas bill in over 8 years.
they've been to citzens advice and even written letters to the utilities company, but no bills have ever arrived!
It depends on the circumstances - IIRC they can normally backdate for 2 years regardless of the reason (i.e. if its the electricity company's fault), but if it can be proved that it is in any way the consumers fault (i.e. provided false/incorrect info or failed to provide any info) then I believe the length of time they can reclaim is unlimited. At the end of the day if the product was used it can be billed for - billing being incorrect doesnt mean you dont have to pay.
I had this with free gas. Took quite a few phone calls to get them to admit my flat existed, and had been supplied with gas for years. After trying it on with the full bill they finally billed from the reading I gave when I moved in. I got the distinct impression they had I stopped chasing this after the first phone call I'd never have got a bill and they wouldn't have had a leg to stand on - they have a duty to invoice promptly, not years after the fact.
my mother hasn't had an electricity bill for her bungalow since it was built in 1991.
She asked me what to do about it (i'm a consultant electrical engineer), and i said to keep schtum.
I don't even know how you'd sort it now.
Central networks wouldn't want to know and as she's never had a supplier, then who would you contact to get it, as there's no MPAN number for the property.
I asked my contact at EON and he said the same about keeping quiet.
She asked me what to do about it (i'm a consultant electrical engineer), and i said to keep schtum.
I don't even know how you'd sort it now.
Central networks wouldn't want to know and as she's never had a supplier, then who would you contact to get it, as there's no MPAN number for the property.
I asked my contact at EON and he said the same about keeping quiet.
davethebunny said:
my mother hasn't had an electricity bill for her bungalow since it was built in 1991.
She asked me what to do about it (i'm a consultant electrical engineer), and i said to keep schtum.
I don't even know how you'd sort it now.
Central networks wouldn't want to know and as she's never had a supplier, then who would you contact to get it, as there's no MPAN number for the property.
I asked my contact at EON and he said the same about keeping quiet.
Can't she sell her "surplus" back to the grid She asked me what to do about it (i'm a consultant electrical engineer), and i said to keep schtum.
I don't even know how you'd sort it now.
Central networks wouldn't want to know and as she's never had a supplier, then who would you contact to get it, as there's no MPAN number for the property.
I asked my contact at EON and he said the same about keeping quiet.
OllieWinchester said:
She should start a massive cannabis farm...
There is a girl at work who has lived in a flat for years, the landlord sort of disappeared one day and she hasn't paid any rent or utilities for 3yrs +! Alright for some eh?
Yeah until he comes out of prison and wants his moneyThere is a girl at work who has lived in a flat for years, the landlord sort of disappeared one day and she hasn't paid any rent or utilities for 3yrs +! Alright for some eh?
I had this back in 2006 when I bought me current house. It took nearly two years for British Gas to admit they were supplying me. The situation when I looked into it was that they can only go back one year, as long as you can demonstrate that you made sufficient effort to obtain a bill. It may have changed since then. I kept all the emails (in excess of 20) I'd sent/received to them, and a log of calls.
In the end, I just received a huge bill one day right out of the blue. I contacted them, told them they could only go back one year, and they reluctantly sent me an amended bill for 12 month's worth.
In the end, I just received a huge bill one day right out of the blue. I contacted them, told them they could only go back one year, and they reluctantly sent me an amended bill for 12 month's worth.
A friend of mine who is on a low income didn't receive a bill for about 6 years. She kept phoning them and providing them with meter readings yet no bill ever appeared. Finally she was sent a bill for in the region of 5k. Well She clearly couldn't afford to pay that and the company has allowed her to pay £10 per month towards the debt plus she is now paying the current bills.
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