EDF demanding money!!

bangers

It is true that the previous supplier demands proof of contract for them to tranfers electricity over otherwise we'd have to pay for a previous tenants huge bill? We also cannot have the electricity transferred over due as the the previous tenant has an overdue bill. This hasn't happenened before in any previous rented property we have been in.

advice?

LeeSouthEast

Just send them a copy of your tenancy agreement. That's all they want. It proves to them you don't owe them anything.

McKneff

As leesoutheast says, send the a copy of your tenancy agreement, it shows the date you moved in. You cannot under any circumstances be held responsible for the previous tenants debts.

Vestra

Some people run up high bills and pretend to be a new customer registering with a fake name. So if the previous tenants account has a large debt say over £500 then you will need to prove you are actually a new customer. It is also to prove that you are not responsible for any of the bill like you might have actually moved in 5 months ago but are only registering your account now.

jenny2009

And I hope you have meter readings from when you moved in

Jen

bangers

yes we have meter readings. the guy on the phone was so unhelpful and called me by the previous tenants name twice. I could only assume that he thought I was that person. What really got me angry is that we have been wanted to pay our bill for a while and thought UW sorted it out having spoke to them several times but with no arrival of a bill we got abit suspect. By opening old letters, we finally found out the energy supplier and we phoned out of good will. then to be accused of not paying a bill which wasn't ours really ticked both of us off. Once we paid for what we have used I definately switching!

Vestra

bangers wrote: »

yes we have meter readings. the guy on the phone was so unhelpful and called me by the previous tenants name twice. I could only assume that he thought I was that person. What really got me angry is that we have been wanted to pay our bill for a while and thought UW sorted it out having spoke to them several times but with no arrival of a bill we got abit suspect. By opening old letters, we finally found out the energy supplier and we phoned out of good will. then to be accused of not paying a bill which wasn't ours really ticked both of us off. Once we paid for what we have used I definately switching!

Have you sent your proof yet?

DVardysShadow

Vestra wrote: »

Have you sent your proof yet?

Why ever? It is not the OP's problem, it is between EdF and the former tenant. OP should write to EdF with opening reading and date of taking up the tenancy. EdF should render a bill on that basis.

Usage prior to that point is EdF's problem. If they want to pursue bangers for the old tenant's debt, then they should go down the road of proving that bangers is the old tenant. bangers has nothing to prove, EdF have it all to prove.

Vestra

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Why ever? It is not the OP's problem, it is between EdF and the former tenant. OP should write to EdF with opening reading and date of taking up the tenancy. EdF should render a bill on that basis.

Usage prior to that point is EdF's problem. If they want to pursue bangers for the old tenant's debt, then they should go down the road of proving that bangers is the old tenant. bangers has nothing to prove, EdF have it all to prove.

You try moving into a house with a large debt on the account and see if the utility company will just take your word for it that your the new tenants

It is very common that this happens.

DVardysShadow

Vestra wrote: »

You try moving into a house with a large debt on the account and see if the utility company will just take your word for it that your the new tenants

It is very common that this happens.

It might be very common, it might be a nightmare. But at the end of the day, you don't owe them a justification or a proof that you are not someone else.

If you give them a start reading and a start date and do it straight away, what are they going to do? You are in a deemed contract - and so are they.

Vestra

DVardysShadow wrote: »

It might be very common, it might be a nightmare. But at the end of the day, you don't owe them a justification or a proof that you are not someone else.

If you give them a start reading and a start date and do it straight away, what are they going to do? You are in a deemed contract - and so are they.

They just won't set up the account and eventually disconnect or fit a prepay meter.