Invoiced 9 months later

[ToBeOrNotToBee]

I'm a social housing tenant.
In Jan and Feb this year I was taking medication for my autoimmune conditions that caused confusion, tiredness yadaya.

I ended up locking myself out a few times and called my landlord to get me access twice. A relative has a key but those times were when they weren't available.

On both occasions I was told there was a charge (not informed of how much said charge was, I did ask and the call handler said she didnt know) and that it would be deducted from my rent account.
I completely forgot about it.

I've now received two invoices, for 2 separate amounts, totaling over £200 for payment within 7 days.

Where do I stand here. Happy to pay of course.

I'm not happy with the delay in billing me, the Misinformation regarding how I would be charged, and that fact that there's two completely different amounts for exactly the same thing.

Inoices aren't itemised by the way. Just what seems to be a random number.

Can't you just phone them and say please deduct from my rent account as per agreed.

You are entitled to ask for a breakdown of the alleged debt. (Call it 'the alleged debt' - don't admit to the amount of the debt as it stands, or they can pursue you for up to sex years, I believe.) Simply say you want an itemised breakdown, and a copy of their policies around timely invoicing and how information should be imparted to tenants. Then you can decide if you think they have followed their own policies and played fair.

I think you can simultaneously say that if you come to agree with the process and the amount, you would like to be given a fair payment schedule as it is unfair to expect you to manage to find a large amount within 7 days.

They'll also have a complaints procedure online, ending up with some kind of Ombudsman, if you think they are out of order.

Best of luck. I have biologic injections for auto-immune conditions and they leave me floored for a few days every couple of weeks.

Phone them, they will / should offer a payment plan.

Just ring and speak to them? Each landlord will have their own way of recharging and only they can answer

Emergency locksmiths are expensive and you have probably done ok for £200 for two attendances.

No locks were changed. They literally turn up with a long bit of metal that goes in through the letter box to turn the door handle. Super secure.

Just called them.

They are charging me for 1x visit to change keys and another occasion when I reported I was locked in my house (lock mechanism jammed and I couldn't open my door to leave my home, reported it back in November, they came Feb and changed the mechanism). Apparently that was me requesting a new lock.

I've challenged that one and agreed to pay 2nd one.