Electricity Bill

[ARSENAL]

Despite setting up a direct debit with them, my electrcitiy company have informed me they have not charged me for electricity for 3 years. I now face a hefty bill. What are my rights? Do I have to pay?

[MrsCheeks]

yes you do as you have used the electricity and should have checked your bank statements to make sure the payments went through. As it stands legally you have to pay the money, the only suggestion I can make is that you ask them nicely for a revised payment plan to pay them off which will take sometime.

[bridgemagoo]

I knew someone in a similar situation who simply telephoned and said he couldn't afford to pay such a bill. The company halved it and allowed him to pay the rest at some very nominal amount per week. Although the companies have a legal right to the money they would generally rather get some than none and have the ability to negotiate, after all it sounds like they were culpable in the situation for not charging....talk to them first, you may find them suprisingly helpful.

[Hgrove]

I have seen a number of questions of this sort in the help columns of papers such as the Guardian, Observer, The Times etc. I can't remember what the advice was but I suggest you contact them. Yes, you do owe the money, but if the supplier was negligent in that you set up the d/d but they were too inefficient to draw the payments, and you tried to alert them but kept hitting a brick wall, then they should agree a compromise or payment plan that does not ruin you.