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Faulty meter for over a year + back billing by npower
Hi guys!
I received a 'bill reminder' for over £1500 from npower for electricity used between 11 March and 2 Sept 2013 last weekend.
I did not receive the actual bill, supposedly issued on 1st Sept 2014 but it was reflected in my online account.
When I first moved in in March last year I noticed the meter had stalled, and the letting agency assured me that the energy supplier had been informed.
After months of not hearing anything, I contacted npower and they offered to have engineers come down to replace the meter. On two occasions the engineer failed to make the appointment and on another 3 occasions the engineer said there was nothing they could do about it (various reasons like position of the meter interfered with my neighbour's meters, wiring etc etc) and they'd have to set up another appointment each time. It was frustrating because their appointments require you to be home all day and I had to take days off just to wait at home. The next available appointments would be months later + having to work overseas from time to time, I finally had a competent engineer replace it in July this year.
Now I certainly do not use £300 worth of electricity in a month which is what npower tried to bill me just for March 2013 alone. I am a single-person household and a university student. I do not have the means to pay that stupid exhorbitant amount. Also, I had not been living at my flat over the last 1.5 years before June 2014 - I had been living with my boyfriend - but never mind that, the point is, npower has no proof I had spent that much in electricity.
Also this is back-billing which is illegal as I understand, noting the dates of the latest bill (1 Sept 2014) for billing period between March and 2 Sept 2013 and wonder if they are trying to make the 'catchment period' as I understand they are not allowed to bill for periods more than 12 months before.
I have sent a complaint letter to npower about this but I have a job offer in the US and may not have time to settle this dispute before I go.
Would someone please share your experience with this and please let me know what I can do to assert my rights?
I received a 'bill reminder' for over £1500 from npower for electricity used between 11 March and 2 Sept 2013 last weekend.
I did not receive the actual bill, supposedly issued on 1st Sept 2014 but it was reflected in my online account.
When I first moved in in March last year I noticed the meter had stalled, and the letting agency assured me that the energy supplier had been informed.
After months of not hearing anything, I contacted npower and they offered to have engineers come down to replace the meter. On two occasions the engineer failed to make the appointment and on another 3 occasions the engineer said there was nothing they could do about it (various reasons like position of the meter interfered with my neighbour's meters, wiring etc etc) and they'd have to set up another appointment each time. It was frustrating because their appointments require you to be home all day and I had to take days off just to wait at home. The next available appointments would be months later + having to work overseas from time to time, I finally had a competent engineer replace it in July this year.
Now I certainly do not use £300 worth of electricity in a month which is what npower tried to bill me just for March 2013 alone. I am a single-person household and a university student. I do not have the means to pay that stupid exhorbitant amount. Also, I had not been living at my flat over the last 1.5 years before June 2014 - I had been living with my boyfriend - but never mind that, the point is, npower has no proof I had spent that much in electricity.
Also this is back-billing which is illegal as I understand, noting the dates of the latest bill (1 Sept 2014) for billing period between March and 2 Sept 2013 and wonder if they are trying to make the 'catchment period' as I understand they are not allowed to bill for periods more than 12 months before.
I have sent a complaint letter to npower about this but I have a job offer in the US and may not have time to settle this dispute before I go.
Would someone please share your experience with this and please let me know what I can do to assert my rights?
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