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AIBU?

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Original poster

Worried I will end up in prison!

298 replies

isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:17

I bought a house 3 years ago and did not receive an electric bill so after 5 months I got in touch with the company the previous owners said they had, turned out no electric company had ever had anyone with an account at my address. It is a private new build and has never been registered as receiving an electric supply. I then found out the council did not know the house existed and no council tax had been paid in the previous 10 years that the original owners had it!
I have managed to register with the council now and the person who rates the properties came out to value it for council tax. HOWEVER I can not get any electricity company to register us for an account.
The electric is coming from somewhere but no bill has been paid for 13 years!!! I even phoned the national grid and was told "oh dear, the previous owners have really dropped you in it" What the hell do I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:48

@StoneofDestiny

Make sure everything is in writing/text. Don't use the phone - insufficient record of discussions. If nobody is supplying you at least you can't be cut off.
Smile True
OP posts:
Dancingonmoonlight · 29/12/2021 21:48

Keep a copy of the correspondence and log of the phonecalls made. Then as a PP suggested, put an amount away monthly just in case. If they don't write to you, then you have a nice little savings account. And enjoy your free electricity!!!

slashlover · 29/12/2021 21:48

Put some money into a savings account but they cannot bill you for more than a years worth of electricity.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-bill/you-havent-received-a-gas-or-electricity-bill-in-a-while/

Example
You haven't received an electricity bill in 2 years.

You call your supplier and ask them to send you a bill. You give them an up-to-date meter reading.

Your supplier sends you a bill, charging you for 2 years' energy use.

You write them a letter stating that you're aware of the back billing rules and that you should only have to pay for the last year's energy use.

Your supplier sends you a new bill, charging you for only 1 year's use.

Aprilx · 29/12/2021 21:49

I am pretty sure you won’t go to prison for not paying the electricity bill even if you had been receiving them. 🙂. I’d put some money away but probably not worry too much about it considering the efforts you have already made.

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:49

@slashlover

Put some money into a savings account but they cannot bill you for more than a years worth of electricity.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-bill/you-havent-received-a-gas-or-electricity-bill-in-a-while/

Example
You haven't received an electricity bill in 2 years.

You call your supplier and ask them to send you a bill. You give them an up-to-date meter reading.

Your supplier sends you a bill, charging you for 2 years' energy use.

You write them a letter stating that you're aware of the back billing rules and that you should only have to pay for the last year's energy use.

Your supplier sends you a new bill, charging you for only 1 year's use.

Thank you.
OP posts:
tillytoodles1 · 29/12/2021 21:49

Ive been here almost eight years and have never had a bill despite contacting the electricity suppliers several times. They just acknowledge that I've contacted them before and it will be sorted

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 29/12/2021 21:50

Is everything in writing? If yes, you have done all you can. If no, go back to every organisation that you have contacted and get a written response - phoning offers no protection.

Then estimate how much electricity you use each month, and how much it costs (all the big suppliers have calculators on their websites) and set it aside.

Yutes · 29/12/2021 21:50

Eon are notoriously bad at dealing with any mix ups.
Can the energy ombudsman not help?

Unsure33 · 29/12/2021 21:51

The company can only go back so far if they ever find out . I think 2 years.

LessTime · 29/12/2021 21:52

Not sure where previous posters have got the idea that it two years you can be back billed 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s actually only one year. The info is on OFGEM.GOV.UK webpage. OFGEM covers the whole of the UK.

It sounds like you’ve done more than enough. At this point I’d stop trying. Keep a record of your attempts to sort it out and keep some money to one side to pay any bill if one gets to you in the future. Don’t ever pay more than 12 months worth. Keep meter reading to.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:52

@tillytoodles1

Ive been here almost eight years and have never had a bill despite contacting the electricity suppliers several times. They just acknowledge that I've contacted them before and it will be sorted
Its mad isn't it. Yet if you owe them £50 they are threatening bailiffs but 13 years and no payment seems to be ok
OP posts:
rc22 · 29/12/2021 21:52

@ToInverness

I agree with PP, keep records of everything you've done to try to get an electricity company to register you and send you a bill. Thats so you can show you've made reasonable efforts. I'd write letters or emails and keep copies as it's easier to prove than a phone call. Can you request replies in writing? Maybe you could take advice from a solicitor too?
Yes, perhaps the solicitor who did the conveyancing for you when you bought the house.
LessTime · 29/12/2021 21:53

Screen shot attached

Worried I will end up in prison!
Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:53

@LessTime

Not sure where previous posters have got the idea that it two years you can be back billed 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s actually only one year. The info is on OFGEM.GOV.UK webpage. OFGEM covers the whole of the UK.

It sounds like you’ve done more than enough. At this point I’d stop trying. Keep a record of your attempts to sort it out and keep some money to one side to pay any bill if one gets to you in the future. Don’t ever pay more than 12 months worth. Keep meter reading to.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Cheers x
OP posts:
TooWicked · 29/12/2021 21:53

You’re living the dream!

Put enough money away to pay for 12 months electricity, stop chasing it up, and just crack on.

Yellow85 · 29/12/2021 21:54

We had a nightmare with our new build property too. Took almost 2 years to resolve. Have you tried the Meter Point Administration service?

Also for peace of mind, if the supplier hasn’t been charging you, they can only go back as far as 12 months, so the most you’ll have to settle is a years worth. I agreed a payment plan for the previous 12 months and set up standing order moving forward. As soon as I got out of arrears I switched suppliers straight away (most won’t let you switch with an outstanding balance).

www.findmysupplier.energy/

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:54

@TooWicked

You’re living the dream!

Put enough money away to pay for 12 months electricity, stop chasing it up, and just crack on.

I think I will, at least we will be lovely and warm Grin
OP posts:
liveforsummer · 29/12/2021 21:54

Sounds like this house has turned out quite the bargain OP 😆

Chocolatecoatedkettlebell · 29/12/2021 21:54

Have you looked up your MPAN number? If that exists then the power network will know your supplier, if it doesn’t exist you may have fallen “off the grid” or off a database. I does happen.

Grenlei · 29/12/2021 21:55

As has been said, put the money aside. If and when you get contacted, you should be able to cover it.

We recently viewed a property where there was a similar situation but with the gas supply, to a much older property. The owners had not received a bill for 15+ years and were therefore now treating the gas as free, it was mentioned to us effectively as a selling point!

welshladywhois40 · 29/12/2021 21:55

Who built the house? We bought a new build and prior to moving in the bills were in the name of the construction company - ie Taylor whimpey. Could you contact them?

Dixiechickonhols · 29/12/2021 21:55

We had a similar situation with water in a new build flat . They eventually billed us. I recall they have to give you time to pay if they’ve failed to bill you.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 29/12/2021 21:56

If you can prove the date you moved in, and the efforts you have made to contact whoever the heck is supply you, don't worry about going to prison. Just put some money by for a massive bill once they work out who you owe.

Agree with everyone else, keep records of everything. Even if just written down... 'Phoned X company on (date) at (time) and spoke to (name)'. This is what they told me...

Always get their name.

They will keep recordings of all calls.

Siuan · 29/12/2021 21:56

There's a self build opposite us. They somehow never got connected to the water meter. As far as I know no-one has had a water bill for 25 years.

Justri · 29/12/2021 21:56

My next door neighbour is in exactly same position as you. She moved in three years ago, council property, not a new built either. Phoned numerous places about setting up an account,no one wants to know! She is worrying and does want to be paying her bill,but companies are not interested.an answer she gets is that it's nothing to do with them! Electricity is coming from somewhere though,but no bill, very strange. So now she just keeps all the emails as a proof that she tried to set up an account.we keep joking that she lives in a house that doesn't exist ..