Help.. no account, no "M number"

Teckie

I'm hoping someone can help me out...

We recently moved to a new rental flat. The flat is supplied with both gas and electricity. However, I have no idea who my gas supplier is. I checked with the estate agent who told me its British gas, but when I called BG (twice), on both occasions they said that they don't recognise the address and its not the supplier. Electricity is with edf and I've verified this. I called transco who was unable to give me my "M number" and who also said that the property is not on their systems. I'm not sure how else I can do in relation to this, the agent keeps saying its british gas but i can't get an account running with them. In the meantime, I'm with a supplier I don't know about who's potentially charging me at a rate I don't know.

What should I do now? I wanted to get both fuels from npower/british gas as they appear to be the cheapest based on the comparison sites.

Thanks!

Cardew

I suggest you note the meter reading, and make the assumption you are on BG's Standard Tariff.

You can easily calculate the cost of your gas and put that amount into an interest earning account and start earning interest on the money.

When(if) BG realise and raise a bill, you have very strong grounds to argue that you would have switched to a cheaper tariff and you will get a sizable discount off your bill.

If they don't raise a bill for over 12 months(probable) they can only back bill you 12 months and the rest is written off.

Either way you are in a win/win situation.

If you are desperate to get a bill, write(don't ring) to BG with whatever details you have and keep a copy of the letter.

Teckie

Thanks Cardew, the supplier of gas will not suddenly cut off supply in the middle of winter will they? I tried calling transco again and they suggested that I start a new supply account with a new number etc. but my concern is that I'd have 2 accounts.

Cardwq, re your suggestion, how do I calculate the gas usage? I've got the meter reading but what does each unit cost?

SplanK

have you spoken to the land lord regarding this if its rented?

Joyful

Is this a new flat? If so it may have and Independant Gas supply so would not be on Transco's database. If it is new ask the builder as he will have a note of the MPRN.

Teckie

No the flat's been around for more than 10 years. The flat is managed so I speak with the property agent - its supposed to be with british gas but they deny supplying to the property...

Premier_2

As Joyful says, if National Grid (formally Transco) don't recognise your supply address, you could be served via an IGT.

Here's a list of all the IGTs
http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=7jG7rijj&p_lva=&p_li=&p_faqid=5613&p_created=1210085652&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01ODUsNTg1JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**

Although the suggestion in that link of asking a neighbour who the gas transporter is could save you time contacting all the companies trying to find out which one it is.

Note that the gas transporter is not your gas supplier, but once you've identified your gas transporter, they should be able to tell you who the supplier is.

brysiewysie

Did you give Nat Grid Gas your meter serial number (it's on the front of your meter). You can trace some supplies from that detail rather than your M number.

lemontart

brysiewysie wrote: »

Did you give Nat Grid Gas your meter serial number (it's on the front of your meter). You can trace some supplies from that detail rather than your M number.

National grid CANNOT search by serial number so sorry that advise is misleading you could offer the serial number to the supplier as they may have a record of that or be able to search for it but again National grid cannot, I actually work on the m number line at National Grid.and regularly have to advise people of this. If there is no record on the data base which is held by National Grid then the advice is to contact the gas supplier of choice advise them that National Grid hold no records and request that the new supplier arranges for a new mprn number to be generated and register an account with them.

The info held on the data base is supplied by the gas suppliers when they register an account and in some cases this is not done. It could be that the previous owners/tenants did not register with a supplier or several other reasons.

Finally it is the responsibility of the gas supplier to arrange for meter point reference numbers to be generated and register the fact that they are supplying a particular property with the relevant data base be it at national gird or another gas transporter relevant to the property

lemontart

Premier wrote: »

As Joyful says, if National Grid (formally Transco) don't recognise your supply address, you could be served via an IGT.

Here's a list of all the IGTs
http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=7jG7rijj&p_lva=&p_li=&p_faqid=5613&p_created=1210085652&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01ODUsNTg1JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**

Although the suggestion in that link of asking a neighbour who the gas transporter is could save you time contacting all the companies trying to find out which one it is.

Note that the gas transporter is not your gas supplier, but once you've identified your gas transporter, they should be able to tell you who the supplier is.

National gird is the first port of call and the will be able to advise you if the data base that covers your property is held by and igt, which one it is along with the appropiate contact number to find out your supplier. It is best to check with them first as in some instances (more than you would think) neighbouring properties could be under different IGT'S

brysiewysie

lemontart wrote: »

National grid CANNOT search by serial number so sorry that advise is misleading you could offer the serial number to the supplier as they may have a record of that or be able to search for it but again National grid cannot, I actually work on the m number line at National Grid.and regularly have to advise people of this. If there is no record on the data base which is held by National Grid then the advice is to contact the gas supplier of choice advise them that National Grid hold no records and request that the new supplier arranges for a new mprn number to be generated and register an account with them.

Absolute Tosh. I have access to Xoserve (The Nat Grid system) at work and I can certainly search by meter serial number. There's no guarantee it will work but it was worth mentioning.

Maybe your system is inferior to mine?