British Gas holding my credit history to ransom

alloy36

Hi all,

I’ve posted this in other forums but thought you guys might be able to help.

The story is as follows:

I was decorating a rented property which had gas and electricity token meters by British Gas for my brother.

As I was decorating and only using some lighting and occasionally the kettle. I had to go through a few tokens during 3 weeks. Even when I would work one weekend and come back the next, the token had been used. I made sure everything was switched off even the electrical controller for the boiler but still the credit from the token was still used up.

I then got the token meters removed and standard meters installed. A credit check was done and I had passed as my credit record was fantastic. After a few weeks my brother moved in and transferred the account into his name, I received a bill for £300.

When I queried it I was told some nonsense like the meter was not set correctly or something. I don’t believe any of it. The only time any energy was used was on weekends and even then not much at all.

I knew 110% I did not owe this so did not pay.

I have now tried to get a mortgage and have found that I have extremely bad credit history as this address has been put on my credit history as an associated address with a default at this address.

What can I do?

Its seems that British Gas has unfairly held me to ransom.

Fire_Fox

Have you asked for a written explanation from BG about the charges? Was the house on a standing charge tariff throughout and this is what is owing?

marmitedog

You say it was rented? Were you the tenant?

There are 2 ways to run up a debt with a prepayment meter.

1) It underreads. ie it gives you too much credit. You buy £10 and it gives you £20 you then owe £10 for example.

2) You are paying for the last tenants debt because their account wasn't actually set up (very common in rented properties) and when yours was set up BG have used the last details they had on file.

Speak to them and ask what
a) meter readings they used to start and close the account.
b) coresponding dates.
c) total payments from tokens credited to the account.

To be honest, they will have sent tons of letters and debt collection letters before they lodged the debt with Experian. This correspondence will have gone to the property (your brother?) or the new address you gave them when you moved out.

Premier_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Have you asked for a written explanation from BG about the charges? Was the house on a standing charge tariff throughout and this is what is owing?

alloy36 wrote: »

...When I queried it I was told some nonsense like the meter was not set correctly or something....

Please tell us verbatim what they said. If you don't know, or didn't understand, ask them again for the explanation.
If you ask in writing, they should respond in writing and then you can state the explanation here.

Cardew

Is the bill from the token meters?

Or for the period of some weeks after the credit meters were fitted and your brother took over the account?

Or both?

You state "I knew 110% I did not owe this so did not pay." .

Without knowing full details, what do you expect BG(or any company) to do if someone refuses to pay a bill on the grounds that they don't believe it to be correct?

You may well be correct that the bill was an error, but you simply cannot refuse to pay and walk away, without expecting that there would be repercussions!