Can OVO back-bill me further than 12 months due to errors?

I have had similar with another supplier trying to bill a long time after I left them with nothing in between.

In the end when they wouldn’t listen to me, and I started getting letters from debt collection agencies, I took it to the energy ombusdman.
The ombudsman agreed with me that the 12 month back billing rule applied, and directed that they stop trying to charge for billing that was first issued more than 12 months after supply.
In my particular case there were 2 months that they were entitled to charge for, but they just dropped it altogether. (or rather they went completely silent and I haven’t heard from them since).

I suggest that you may have to do the same here and make a complaint to the ombudsman, it isn’t difficult to do.

The suppliers are obviously aware of the back billing prohibition, so IMO you have to assume they are hoping that you aren’t aware and will just pay.
(Though why they then keep trying after you tell them that you do know they can’t justifiably charge I find harder to understand).

PS. If your are getting contacted by debt collectors, or start to be, then I posted some advice here about how to shut them up: How to deal with a debt collector when you dispute the alleged debt.

Thanks, I will do that today, 

Hey @bt2024,

I’m really sorry for the negative experience you’ve had,

I wonder if your account was affected by a meter readings dispute:

This topic may be helpful to you:

Keep us posted with how you get on.

Good evening .My pay as you go key meter went blank after a power cut about 6 years ago .I've contacted Scottish power  over 10 times and was told everytime that an engineer would call to fix it ..I had 2 days off work and both times the engineer didn't arrive. ( I received £30 voucher both times) as time has gone on I've had people call to read both meters (electric and gas) they've noted the electric meter is blank and assured me someone would be in touch to repair it .

A few months ago I received an estimated bill going back a year from  ovo saying as the meter wasn't working I would have to pay £1200 for the last unbilled year .

There was a 16hr power cut at the weekend and the meter has started working again when the power was restored .I paid the £1200 and have started topping up using the key again. 

I was told today after giving a meter reading today I owe £4000 as the last reading was very different from what it is now 

I was under the impression I could only be billed for 12 months if I hadn't received any bills due to the meter being faulty ( I live alone and currently use around £60 to £70 a month. )

Can they still demand £4000 for the last 6 years ? I'm confused 

Hi @Ellgar70 , the Ofgem back billing rules are shown here

There is normally a 12 month timeframe but there can be exceptions, so it’s best to check. 
Also do you have the last bill with an actual reading? If so check against the latest reading to see if it makes any sense. 

No ive never had a bill i movec in 10 years ago and inherited the key meter.( scottish power ) I topped it up every week until.it stopped working 6 years ago there wasn't ever a debt on the meter  ...Not sure the last reading is correct or if it's still been working with the blank screen ...The 12 month estimated  bill (£1300) i received in June this year is the first bill I've ever received...

I’m not sure then but I can’t see how they can back bill if you asked to get the meter replaced several times and it wasn’t. 
Citizens Advice might be useful - they have guidance about asking for any bill to be corrected. 
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/template-letters/letters/energy-letters/complain-to-a-supplier-about-back-billing/

They said unless I had a smart meter ( which I don't want ) I would start recieving estimated bills ,which I've now paid ( past 12 months ) I don't know how there could be such a big imbalance in readings anyway. 

I've emailed them, but they have replied saying they don't have any details of my email address ,even though it's how I've received and paid the bills .

Thanks for your reply 

I’m a bit puzzled about how the account was apparently moved from Scottish Power to OVO if no meter readings were available?
A PAYG account with debt outstanding can be moved to a different company, but closing/opening meter readings would still be required.

Do you mean SSE rather than Scottish Power?

The exceptions to the 12 month back-billing principle can get quite complicated, as already said.
(They are quite clear, but do leave room for suppliers to (mis)interpret them).

One thing that I would note though is that it generally applies with billing sent to credit customers, not PAYG customers who usually get 'statements' not ‘billing’..
However from my reading of the back billing condition (Condition 21BA of the Standard Conditions of Supply) then as the lack of accurate meter readings, and accurate meter charging, was beyond your control then the principle should still apply.
I do still have some slight doubt though about just how the payments put on the PAYG meter may be regarded.
(Are they "Charge Recovery Action"? if so then that may trigger an exception.
And if there was a debit on the account then they could be seen as such, if only recovery in part.
I’d suspect that a supplier would argue that they were).

Being Practical:

1. Your first step is to query the billing in light of the back-billing principle
2. Then if they won't change it make a formal complaint to OVO that they should apply the 12-month back-billing principle.
3. If they still won't budge then after 8 weeks, or their refusal and a 'Deadlock' letter, you can go to the Ombudsman who will make a ruling on whether the principle applies in your case or not.

The process can and will all take time, (been there, done that, won my own back-billing case against a supplier), but the supplier should put on hold any recovery actions while the complaint/dispute is ongoing.

Hi @Ellgar70,

I’m really sorry to hear this.

Our forum volunteer has already given some great advice here.

It may be worth reaching out to the Pay As You Go Support team on 0330 175 9669. They’re available Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm and Sat-Sun 9am to 5pm. They’d be able to look into this further for you. 

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