Back billing occurs when, for a certain period of time, you have been paying too little for your energy supplies, and now the supplier has to claim the money. Back billing can happen for a number of reasons. The most common ones include human error, charging you based on estimated meter readings, your energy or gas meter not working properly. Whatever the reason, missed or undercalculated bills can keep adding up over months and lead to enormous back-bills. The practice of back billing is, however, regulated by law, and the company can’t back charge you for more than 12 months. Getting a back-bill can be very stressful, but the Guide to Back Billing that I wrote for Niccolo outlines how to prevent the situation from happening.
- Firstly, you should submit your meter readings regularly.
- Secondly, you should always check your bills to see if you’re being charged for your energy consumption, not an estimated one.
- Lastly, if one month you get a lower bill than usual, you should immediately contact the supplier and make sure the bill is correct.
If you get a back-bill, don’t panic. Call your energy provider and ask them yo explain the situation. If the bill is accurate and you do have to pay, the team can discuss the payment options with you, and advise you what to do if you cannot to pay it at a certain time.