In a slight pickle

patch3228

When we went to the Mortgage Advisor on the 16th Jan, we were asked for a utility bill but informed them we do not have any of these bills as we are on pre-payment.

We just gave a telephone and internet bill and they were satisfied (in addition to our payslips etc)

We have got a mortgage agreement in principle, so protecting the credit rating in my situation is vital.

poppysarah

Why are you on prepayment? They're nearly always more expensive.

patch3228

The LL has a house converted into 5 studio flats. Each of which have their own pre-payment metres, which I presume the LL used to make sure bills were taken care of (which ironically is not the case)

We asked to change them, but the LL insisted we keep it and see. I agree it is more expensive but we use about £5 a week so we felt that was acceptable and left it at that.

MX5huggy

Patch, what are going to do?

Have you contacted eon? when does the balance date from?

Have they had a recient reading it may be that they are just over estimating your usage?

patch3228

I rang E.ON last night and they asked 2 things:

1) Address
2) Name

I gave the address but witheld my name.

They would not even give me any dates this bill was relating to and refused to discuss this unless:

a) I was the account holder
b) I gave my details as the new tenant and then they can investigate

Logically I probably should have done b) but I just want to remain anoynomous to avoid anything hitting me.

This evening the LL will ring as he is the account holder and if it turns out the usage was during my dates then fair enough I will pay (by that I mean I will pay the LL and he will pay off this sum - still trying to remain anoynomous)

Hopefully when the LL rings he will find out exactly what this usage is (could be anything: back dating, previous tenant not clearing the quarterly bill and left just as this bill was sent out) ...

But it makes no sense in my mind why every week when I topped up the pre-payment metre - why it did not just gobble up the credit and deduct from this debt??

MX5huggy

Because, its from an old account, they have got the wrong flat, wrong meter, it was from an old token type meter. Loads of possibilities. Report back what the LL finds out.

patch3228

Thanks posters for sharing similar stories, that has been really helpful.

Unfortunately, my situation is not as strong as I have been naive when I first moved in.

Will keep you posted, seeing him after work.

patch3228

Update for Closure:

LL rang E.ON and found out this was an internal problem with E.ON (right hand not knowing what the left is doing).

The bill did relate to our rental period and we were paying for our electric and receiving it, but the payments were being diverted incorrectly 'somewhere else' (god knows where :rolleyes:).

So now E.ON are sorting this out internally and recovering that £56.44 from themselves, whilst calling off the hound dogs in the meantime.

Thank you all for your input, it was very helpful and re-assuring. :T


On a separate note, got home and topped up the gas pre-payment metre...to find exact display 'Battery FAIL' :mad:

Obviously, anoynomous me will not be able to call British Gas to get someone to fix this ... so my LL is on it tomorrow (I threw in a pitiful text saying we will not use any gas/ hot water etc. until we hear back from you )

So should be fixed tomorrow and my faith in LL's are restored after reading quite a few threads bashing the BTL generation :cool:

...rite time to get off the icons :beer:

MX5huggy

Well done glad you sorted it.

socrates

I just set up a direct debit with Eon they tried to take the first payment £6000 !!!!