Gas meter mix-up

foxeymoxey

Apologies in advance for the long winded post, hopefully it makes sense!

I moved into rented accomodation in June 2008. It is a former house that has been converted into 2 apartments. I called Transco who advised me that British Gas was my gas supplier.

I called British Gas and they advised me that they already had an active account with the people living downstairs. They assured me that they would look into it and get back to me.

I did call another 2 or 3 times and each time they said they would come back to me but I never heard or received anything.

About 2 months ago I opened a letter addressed 'to the occupier'. It was a gas bill from E.On for almost £2000 which must mean that they havent received any payment for about 5 years!

Myself and the owners of the downstairs apartment contacted E.On. It turns out that at some point before any of us moved in, British Gas and E.On got the 2 gas meters mixed up.

The owners downstairs have been paying bills to British Gas - but they have been supplied by E.On. British Gas have been reading the wrong meter.

I have been supplied gas by British Gas and never had a bill up until now.

E.On have now opened up a new account for the owners downstairs for their meter. They advised me that the bill I received for £2000 is now null & void.

I have now received a bill from British Gas for £1200. This is based purely on estimates as they have never read my meter. The estimated readings on the bill are miles out and as it was so long ago, I can't find the actual meter reading from when I moved in just over a year ago.

Can anyone advise me on whether a) I need to pay or b) how much am I liable for as I have no way of knowing how long ago the original mix up happened?

Thanks in advance

lemontart

did you keep a note of the readings since you have moved in?

SwanJon

Take regular readings now. It'll help you build up a picture of your consumption and help you estimate what the reading could have been when you moved in - it might even help you 'find' that reading.

foxeymoxey

I'll have to have a trawl through lots of paperwork this evening.

Presumably if I do find the original reading then they will calculate my bill based on the standard tariff which will be the most expensive one?

And it will probably be based on current rates which are much higher than they were a year ago.

As I have tried contacting them a number of times is there any way I can get them to base it on one of the more cost effective tariffs / previous rates?

Vestra

foxeymoxey wrote: »

I'll have to have a trawl through lots of paperwork this evening.

Presumably if I do find the original reading then they will calculate my bill based on the standard tariff which will be the most expensive one?

Yes no doubt it will be on the standard tariff, but if you complain you could get them to put you on an equivelant tariff you were on with the other company and give you the direct debit discount.

And it will probably be based on current rates which are much higher than they were a year ago.

No, your bill should be calculated at the correct rates, but as prices went up when you moved in and are now lower it would probably benefit you for it to be calculated at today's prices.

As I have tried contacting them a number of times is there any way I can get them to base it on one of the more cost effective tariffs / previous rates?

See above.