My electric company have just sent me my first bill in

vic_tr9

3 years. It's big! Should they waive it? I moved into my current property 3 years ago and duly informed all utilities of this. My electric company has just sent me my first bill. The last time I rang them was a year after moving in. I heard somewhere that if 2 years went by then it was up to them to write the bill off. I admit that they have waived the first year but I still now have 2 year's 'leccy to pay. I also accept some responsibility - obviously I have been brushing it under the carpet for the past few years!

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nivagh

Well, you can certainly ask.
The most likely outcome is that you establish a mutually acceptable schedule of payments, on the basis that it's not reasonable for the company to expect you to have that amount of money available immediately.

While you're at it, try www.uswitch.com - if you haven't changed company in three years, you are probably paying too much!

Joe Kool

Gritish Bas didn't send me a gas bill for best part of a year until I pointed it out. When they did send a bill a reminder came through within days. At my previous house I was on a pre-payment meter and I think I'm going to take that route again. No argument and no surprises with pay as you go.

Jamie .

nope...you'll have to pay it, after all, you used the electricity.

What I would do in your position is see if they'll meet you half way, then set up some form of payment scheme, for example, an extra 30 quid on your direct debit a month.

jes1brian

you can waive back at them. but it will not do any good .you will still have to pay it.

cobbler_98

Its not your fault that the electric company have neglected to send you a bill!! Thats the companys fault clearly!! sounds to me as if non payment of your bill for 3yrs has gone un noticed by the company for all this time. I personally don't think you should have to pay.

claimbankchargesback

Unfortunately, you do need to pay it, as you have used the electricity.

I had the same years back with a gas bill, which was being sent to my landlord rather than me, and he wasn't paying it.

I got hit for a big bill for a couple of years, and looked into it all so see if it was fair. Unfortunately, although unfair theres nothing to say that you don't have to pay for it.

All you can do is to ring them up and ask if you can pay in monthly installments. They can usually spread the cost over 12 months, which makes it a bit more bearable.

Yusuf H

You already said it yourself - "it's up to them to write it off"... meaning they would only be extending a privilege to you if they decided to write it off. But it is not a right that you have. Besides, the user of any service knows that they ought to pay for using the said service.

My candid opinion is therefore that, they would hardly waive the bill. Accordingly, you should approach them politely, asking for a 100% waiver; but you must have at the back of your mind, other plans such as asking for only a certain percentage to be waived while the balance is spread out over a given period in the future. You may also need to remind them of the need to send your bill on a regular basis, even if by e-mail notification