Estimated bills and back-billing in Hungary: how far back can my supplier charge me?
If your meter was not read for a long time, a large catch-up bill can follow. Many countries limit how far back a supplier may charge and set rules for meter readings.
📜 The rules in Hungary
Back-billing and estimated bills
Complain about a wrong or disputed bill first to your supplier (it must reply within 15 days). Household billing, settlement and metering disputes, including faulty meters, then go to the county or Budapest government office (kormányhivatal), not to MEKH.
- When you sign an electricity or gas contract you choose how you are billed: usually either by reporting your own meter readings periodically or by instalment bills (részszámla). (www-wb.mekh.hu)
🪜 Step by step
- Read your meter nowTake a dated photo and send the reading to your supplier. It stops estimates from growing.
- Check the period on the billWhich months are charged, and was the reading real or estimated?
- Compare with the rulesSee below how far back a supplier may bill in Hungary and how often your meter must be read.
- Dispute in writingIf the bill goes back further than allowed, write to the supplier, then to the dispute body below.
📇 Who to contact
❓ Questions
Do I have to pay a huge catch-up bill at once?
Ask for a payment plan. Many suppliers must offer one; the rules for Hungary are on this page.
Why did I get an estimated bill?
No reading was available. Send a real reading and ask for a corrected bill.
What if the meter was faulty?
Ask the grid operator to test it. Keep the test report for your complaint.
📎 Sources
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