Thermal Heating Company Is Charging Over A Year's Worth Of Backpay At A Single Time. Is This Legal?

Hi everyone,

My apartment's thermal heating company is charging all residents several invoices that date back to over a year ago. It's totaling to $300+ for every resident here for bills that should have been invoiced long ago. I called the company several times and no explanation is being given as to why these bills are all coming up now.

So, in essence, instead of them charging us about $44 a month over a year ago, they messed up the billing and are now asking for a major lump sum ($350) all at once with no explanation as to what went wrong. I'm assuming they won't explain what went wrong for legal liability reasons.

Do we have to pay for services rendered over a year ago? Why doesn't this company have to explain why they're just charging us now? Is what they are doing legal? What can I do to avoid paying this absurd bill?

Any help would be great, thanks!