No Gas Bills!

[flipnflap]

if a property owner gets gas installed and then a year or so later still has never received any gas bills, are they liable to pay the backlog if suddenly it's realised? Or are they entitled to say: well you didn't send me any bills, so why should i have to pay? Any thoughts on this appreciated

[Sipowicz]

If you used it, you pay for it!

[factor-fiction]

Well you may find they cut you off once they realise and you say you won't pay. But there are rules about this- I think the period beyondwhich they can't go back is more like 2 years from memory but hopefully someone knows where to look

[bednobs]

they can say whatever they like. However, it won't wash with the gas company, and they may take court action

[woofgang]

Answered on your other thread. Basically you used the gas you owe the money.

[boxtops]

there is a duplicate post running on this, I have answered on the other one.

[Zacs-Master]

Ring Transco on 0870-608-1524 and they will be able to give you your current supplier.

[buildersmate]

Whilst the 'guessers' (exc. F30, who produced a 2 year figure) have been guessing, others have been checking the facts, which is sutrely what the customer wants.

The statutory limit is 6 years, beyond which unbilled gas over 6 years ago cannot be charged.

The Energy Regulator produced a Code of Practice on this (which is what F30 is referring to) that says one year, but the customer has certain responsibilities - like to tell the supplier if there is a problem. I think it highly likely the supplier would claim you had deliberatly failed to notify them.
Full document here:
http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills/412-the-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills-back-billing-for-domestic-customers.html

[woofgang]

Op asked for any thoughts.....

[buildersmate]

.................... and 'guesses' are thoughts?

[boxtops]

Yes, I think so - it's not only the statutory stuff slip's asking about, it's the moral obligation as well. IMO.

[boxtops]

^ flip's

[bednobs]

all the answers are right - the op asked about "1 year or so", not "how long can they go back"
you really are miserable sometimes BM!

[Iluvspikey]

you will have to pay. When i lived in my other house, I had a water meter fitted, and the reading 'pads' were put on the side of the house so readings could be taken whether I was in or out. They had two pads side by side, as for some reason they'd put in a meter for upstairs and one for downstairs. for 18 months we were getting ridiculously low bills, I mean amounts like £27 for 6 months. Then one day there was a knock at the door and the man from the water company laughed and said - you have two meters! yes, i said, i know, the pads are together on the side of the house. well he said, we've only been reading one. Now we've got two readings you'll get a proper bill. We then had a bill for £345 - pay within 7 days. Luckily we were in a situation to be able to afford this and did so, but I didn't half give them a flea in their ear it was their meters they put them in, they should know where they are and how to read them - just out of curiosity I went to the citizens advice and they said, if we hadn't been able to afford it straight off like we did, they thought that given the situation as it was the company's fault we would have been given extra time to pay with no penalties, but it had to be paid. Hope this helps - I was told this applied to all utility companies at the time (roughly 8 years ago)

[BRIGHT SPARK]

We did a new install six years ago and the system was commissioned and registered but never recorded as energised.The client contacted the supplier and they sent out a representative to sort things out as no bills had been received for three years.The meter was zero at install so usage was easily determined,however after a few weeks the client received a letter stating that the install reading was about 9000 giving them a saving of £1350.

[Canary42]

The "you didn't send me any bills" argument is irrelevant because the first bill you get will cover the full period, and that's why you "have to pay"

They may allow you to spread the payment.