Just received an electricity bill for £550 from a previous flat

[GirlWithTheLionHeart]

I received a bill for £550 from a flat I lived in from oct 2012 - aug 2014.

I paid all my bills via direct debit on time, gave them a last meter reading before closing account on the 15th aug 2013.

I called the company today and they said someone called on the 16th August and gave a different reading which was lower to the one I gave.
Apparently he (LL) started disputing his bills in January this year, which is why I've now received this bill.

They said I need to get in touch with cab as its just our word against his with little evidence. I did that and have an appointment on Monday.

I've googled the energy company and they have similar reviews saying the same thing happened to others. They begin with U and W.

Any advice?

If he gave a LOWER reading then surely they'd owe you money not the other way round?! Did you take a photo of the meter?

Exactly! I was on the phone for 45 mins with the guy and said that, he couldn't give me an answer

No I didn't, I never knew I had to but now I know! One of the reviews said he had a photo and they still sent bailiffs

ofgem time...

Could either of you have transposed a digit ?

Really weird...I think I'd go for Ofgem too...

Are they saying that they accepted a reading in the 16th, ostensibly from you (although it now appears to be from the landlord) and your final bill was based on that lower reading, so the landlord has been billed for the difference Bertrand the readings plus whatever usage since you moved out, and the LL is claiming that you must have given the wrong reading so the difference must be paid by you?

I think so lougie

They said that my partner called back on the 16th to give an adjusted reading, I said it wasn't my partner because after we moved out we had no access to the flat.

Should I bother with CAB or just go straight to ofgem?

Surely if I gave them a closing reading and we closed the account, that's it? How could I owe nearly 600 quid

straight to Ofgem is my advice. Do you have a record of the reading you gave - were your previous bills estimates or accurate readings?

You can't go straight to Ofgem; you have to go through the company's own complaints procedure for a fixed amount of time (6 wks? can't remember).

The procedure will be given on their website.

OP, start this now in writing. As you've discovered, it's pointless dealing with the call centre droids.

Set out everything you've said above, with dates: that you gave the reading at the time, that they are now claiming a LOWER reading, that they are demanding money from them. State that you will be taking this to Ofgem if not resolved within the set time - indeed at the back of your mind, think of this letter as setting out your case for Ofgem.

Good luck.