Help my old landlord has stuck me with a £1444 Elec Bill

kippen_noedel

alitronic wrote: »

The thing is that i never signed anything with n power and by there records the contract started in march and the contract was with the landlord. He has just passed the bill to me

You need to go and get proper advice rather than listen to the opinions expressed here.
This is potentially serious so don't delay, pop into a local CAB office and take as much paperwork as possible, including your lease,& the details for the place you moved to, bills, readings etc, etc.

MrsTinks

Unless your agreement stated that electricity was included in your rent then they can AND will bill you based on an estimated usage. Now I'm not sure that I think £1440 is a reasonable amount but that should be based on an average bill for a month for that property I think. Is it economy 7 heating? Electric cooker and oven etc? Did you not wonder about never getting an electric bill whilst you lived there??

rogermunns

I don't think you are liable, unless the original contract with the landlord mentioned electricity would be charged as incurred.
Also, normal usage, even at today's prices, could not possibly exceed £30 a month or so for a modest flat.

KimYeovil

rogermunns wrote: »

Also, normal usage, even at today's prices, could not possibly exceed £30 a month or so for a modest flat.

Electricity is more expensive than gas. How on earth can you heat a flat (probably with two or three rather than just one living space) for a year for £360?

Fire_Fox

rogermunns wrote: »

I don't think you are liable, unless the original contract with the landlord mentioned electricity would be charged as incurred.
Also, normal usage, even at today's prices, could not possibly exceed £30 a month or so for a modest flat.

Sorry no, we are two in a modern two bedroom all electric flat. My direct debit is £34 a month and we are still in a small amount of debt from last winter. I am very frugal - turn the shower off whilst soaping and shampooing, no heating used at all for two winters, only heated one room for a couple of hours a day during the snow in February, laundry at low temps, no tumble dryer.

Fire_Fox

alitronic wrote: »

The thing is that i never signed anything with n power and by there records the contract started in march and the contract was with the landlord. He has just passed the bill to me

Google 'deemed contract': NPower's records are only incorrect because you tried to get away with not paying for your usage.

Lube

Sadly ignorance is no defence, if I used energy I sure as hell want to know how its being paid for. Energy prices are damned expensive and I would hate to be stung and face dire consequences if I hadn't done my best to pay or put some money aside

People should wake up and take responsibility for what they used or cut your cloth accordingly

DVardysShadow

KimYeovil wrote: »

If you get in bed with a snake...

Just once in a while I have to agree with Kim Yeovil. But not to the extent of sharing a bed.

alitronic wrote: »

It's not that i don't want to pay anything, it just that there wasn't any date's of usage on the bill and that it was just in my name and not my flatmate. I called N power and they said the account started in march 09 and i left in may, so how can i have used £1444 worth of electricity. Plus the flat was empty from april.
The landlord got a bill and has simply passed it on to me which i'm getting it sent back to him untill they can prove i used any electricity, which they can't.

bluster bluster bluster. You move in. You take your readings for your own protection. If the meter is not working, you contact the supplier for your own protection. You move out. You take your readings for your own protection. You tell the supplier, so he takes your readings rather than his own. Again for your own protection

alitronic wrote: »

The thing is that i never signed anything with n power and by there records the contract started in march and the contract was with the landlord. He has just passed the bill to me

If you never signed nuffin, then what was you doing using the electric? Sorry, this is more bluster on your part. You have not looked after yourself when you had the chance and now you are paying the penalty. I hope you have learned the lesson for next time.

alitronic

I would just like to add that i don't have £1444, i don't have £14. If i had the money then i would pay, of course i would i'v paid every bill if ever had. It's just right now i don't have a penny and Christmas is going to be really hard, i really could do without this bill at the moment. So sorry if it seem i'm trying to get out of it but i have no any other opinion

Wench

Do you have a copy of your old letting contract to hand ?
Dos it say who is responsible for all the bills