British Gas for electric.

turkolina

Hello all.. wonder if anyone has any ideas on my situation.

Bought a new house 2 years ago which needed renovating. We bought on 1st Nov and on 15th December had a key meter switched to a normal readable meter. British Gas wrote to me and sent me originally a key card and then confirmation to say that meter was being changed (addressed to my name at my address).

We obtained a renovation certificate from the council to confirm that nobody was living in the house to avoid council tax. The only time we went to the house from the November until the end of January when renovations started was in the evening to rip off wall paper.. the only electric which was used was lights which I cant imagine use that much electric.

I never received a bill from BG.. In March of last year i swapped supplier to another company. They phoned me for my final bill and I recall it being froom 00000 initially to about 183 units in the 4 months i had the house. British Gas then wrote to the previous owner with a refund cheque for the gas meter and confirmation that my bill was £454 but again addressed to the previous owner..

I have since phoned BG on about 20 occasions.. They cannot seem to get my name on the letter and insist on addressing the previous owner. I am so sick of it.. I have asked for call backs, spoken to their complaints department but nothing works. I finally last Decembet 18th spoke to a girl who said that it was obviously an error and she would get a letter in the post to confirm that she would not charge us at all.. Did that letter arrive DID IT HELL>. Did further letters threatening court action to the previous owner come.. You bet ya.. I phoned again trying to get someone in the complaints department but again nobody phoned me back and now i refuse to deal with them.. I have given them my name on numerous occasions.. I have proof of the letters they wrote to me initially with my correct name.

In the summer of this year a letter arrived from BG solicitors luckily I saw the heading of their letter through the window and sent it back return to sender addressee unknown..

Now two days ago I receive a letter addressed to the HOUSE OWNER/OCCUPIER with the same bill again.. I have logged all conversations with BG and all dates letters were received plus all letters I received in my correct name.

I am not prepared to waste any more time or money on this company who quite frankly are pathetic.

Does anyone know if they can bill a home owner if they dont even appear to know who that person is.. I can prove that the house was empty for a year also??

Sorry its been long but peoples ideas would be great..

thanks

Turkolina.. :mad:

SwanJon

First of all the service you have recieved isn't good enough. Something like opening your account can be done in a matter of minutes.(Admittdely it takes a bit longer to go back and do it once you change supplier, but is still doable).
Do you have gas readings from when you took ownership and when you changed supplier? Drop them an email/letter with these readings and dates - they should be able to issue you with your accurate bill.
Do you have a forwarding address for the previous occupier? If you pass it on they'll stop sending their mail to you.

As to billing someone with the wrong name - if they track the previous tenant down they will chasse them for what they used. They may then work out that you were responsible and ask you to pay your share.