No gas bill or electricity top-up for 18 months

highpriestess

Hi Everyone,

I love the forum boards, there's usually someone out there who has been in the same position, so I'm asking for your advice please. Here's the issue:

My partner and I moved into our flat (we own the leasehold) in Oct 2007. It was a terrace recently divided into two flats, and our flat was given a new gas meter, with the old one supplying the upstairs flat. We also have a pre-pay electricity meter (of which more later).

When we moved in, I tried to register the gas account with EDF, who supplied gas/electricity to our previous address. However, it turned out they had no record of the new gas meter - or rather it was not registered with the National Grid. I called the National Grid and told them about it, and called EDF back who said they'd send out a new account registration pack. Nothing ever came, not that time and not the second time I called and I haven't pursued it again.

We haven't had a gas bill since we moved in and I'm in two minds whether to call an energy company to try and register it. I know that utility companies can only charge for the past 12 months if they have failed to send out a bill, but would it apply in this case if no-one knows anything about it or claims it as their gas meter. I have no idea who is supplying the gas but it keeps on coming.

I also spoke to EDF about changing the pre-pay meter to an ordinary meter. As it still had credit on the key when we moved in, we could not say whether it had been topped up in the past three months they said we would have to get a qualified electrician to come out and issue it with a safety certificate as they wouldn't send someone round to touch something which may or may not be dangerous (which I thought was crazy as surely the person they send to change it would be a qualified electrician?) . Do other companies charge for changing a meter?

Furthermore, in the 18 months we have lived at the flat, we have not had to top up the electricity meter either, which is pretty odd. The max amount you can prepay is £250, and even though we are only two people and very good about turning things off at the wall :A , I can't believe that a full key would last this long! I'd still like to change it to a normal meter, but am worried that the previous owner fiddled with the meter and it is dodgy, and that we will get into some strife if we call anyone out.

So in summary has anyone else had these issues or have any suggestions about what to do about either? I like getting free utilities but i'm sure it's going to come and bite me on the behind eventually so I'd like to get it sorted (I know, I should have done it earlier, but have head in sand syndrome...).

Thanks in advance!

HP

Premier_2

You'll need to pay for any energy you have consumed, unless you can prove you have acted reasonably in trying to get a bill and pay for what you have used and that the supplier has been at fault.

With regards the electric meter, yes companies may charge to change this from a PPM to a credit meter, although more often it is just a returnable security deposit.
The reason the supplier probably wants an independent electrical check is that they will want to ensure that the entire installation within the property is safe. If the meter hasn't been topped up for 3 months, they presume you haven't used any electricity in that time and so the installation could have fallen into a state of disrepair.

highpriestess

Hi Premier, thanks for your reply.

I'm expecting to pay back dated bills, and have also looked at registering with British Gas to start with. When I do it online though it has an option to say you don't know who your current supplier is, which I choose because I don't.

Do you think the company I sign up with can charge me for gas used prior to signing up with them - after all, they weren't the supplier at the time were they? Or does it not matter?