Letting agents changed energy suppliers

factor29

Hi,

We moved into our house 29th December. Rented through a Letting Agent.

Energy supplier was N power, who we gave our meter readings to on the same day. At our previous address - supplier was EDF. We arranged with EDF to transfer the supply of new house to them. They said this would take 4-6 weeks, and should have being done by end of Jan.

I chased EDF up this week who said they had taken over the elec supply, and gas was coming over on 15th Feb and was taking longer than usual.

But this morning, i got a final bill from N power for the Gas, and it said i would be receiving my final elec bill in the next few days. The final bill goes upto 21st Jan.

I also had a text from Landlord who has asked if i have changed supplier to southern elec as he has received a bill from them for dates 21st Jan - 2nd Feb

So spoke to EDF about the final bill from N power to confirm the dates they were taking over (due to having a final bill with Npower)

They said looking on their system the gas and elec had being delayed and both would be with them on the 15th Feb. When she looked into it further, and i mentioned the southern elec bill - she said the supply had being transferred from N Power to Southern during the period we have lived here.

So spoke to Npower, who said Southern had asked for the supply, so they had given it to them. Said i would need to speak to southern if id not requested it, but the gas and elec was no longer with them.

Spoke to southern, and when they looked into it it turns out the letting agents have requested the transfer be moved to them, and that the supply is put into the landlords name. They said this should usually be in tenancy agreement from their experience. (it isnt)

I requested the bills were put in my name, and a copy sent out to me (landlords already had one) - they put me through to movers dept and they asked me for readings. Told her i dont have any, because i wasnt aware supply was moving, all i have are "estimated" final bills from N power dated 21st jan.

She was insistent that we were liable for paying the gas to them since we moved in on 29th, even though N power have also billed us for the same usage.

Spoke to Landlord, he has no idea about it - hasnt given LA permission to transfer supply.

Tried speaking to LA but no-one available today so should hear back on Monday.

My problem is that we now have a pay on receipt bill from N power for both gas and elec, and are going to have another pay on receipt bill from southern, both giving us 7 days to pay the full amount - which being winter is quite a lot. Its going to be an extra 2-3 weeks because of the mess up with Letting Agents transferring our supply without letting anyone know.

Also, theres going to be bills from 2 suppliers, where i dont know readings between changing supplier.

Is there anything we can do? When we signed tenancy agreement, we told them we were moving supplier ourselves and they said that was fine!!!

Also - our first gas bill dated 29dec - 21jan is £107!!! we were paying that per quarter this time last year at previous address - both 3 bed houses! Is this high or average, and we just used lower than average at previous address?

Thanks for help

Premier_2

What does the tenancy agreement say about utility bills?

If the bill is not in your name, it's not yours. You are not liable for it.

Fire_Fox

Sounds like you need to contact all three suppliers, the letting agents and the landlord in writing by recorded delivery. You had a deemed contract with the supplier who was in place on the date you took over the property; any transfer to Southern Electric is an erroneous transfer so tell them to cancel it. Not sure how you managed to get a final bill without having taken a reading, usually you are asked for one?

factor29

Premier wrote: »

What does the tenancy agreement say about utility bills?

If the bill is not in your name, it's not yours. You are not liable for it.

Just says that 1) i am liable for paying all utilities, and 2) that i should get permission before changing supplier - which i did before signing.

I dont want to refuse to pay the bill, as that surely means the LL has to, which i dont want - its no more his fault than mine

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Sounds like you need to contact all three suppliers, the letting agents and the landlord in writing by recorded delivery. You had a deemed contract with the supplier who was in place on the date you took over the property; any transfer to Southern Electric is an erroneous transfer so tell them to cancel it. Not sure how you managed to get a final bill without having taken a reading, usually you are asked for one?

What would happen if i got them to cancel the transfer? Is there anyway i can get EDF to take over before 15th Feb? That will be better for me, as it means i can pay DD instead of on receipt of bill

They havent took a reading (least not for the gas - still waiting final elec bill), theyve estimated usage which sounds strange. why would Npower willingly lose out on potential cash from me? if its estimated they could be losing £'s or gaining £'s for gas/elec that theyve either supplied or not supplied me.

LL has said hes going to speak to LA because hes not given them permission to do this.
Im assuming LA have gained some cash from moving our supply, through comission or likewise?

Premier_2

factor29 wrote: »

Just says that 1) i am liable for paying all utilities, and 2) that i should get permission before changing supplier - which i did before signing.

I dont want to refuse to pay the bill, as that surely means the LL has to, which i dont want - its no more his fault than mine...

Remember it's his letting agent! He chose them, he employs them, not you.

It's a shame your LL, or his agent, didn't ask your permission before changing supplier (let alone taking the account off you)

As I said, not your name on bill, not your liability.

If you would like to pay your way, see first if the new bill would have cost your more or less than the previous supplier. If less, your LL, or his agent, have saved you money. :beer:
If more, tell him you are only prepared to pay him the cost you would have incurred if his agent had not acted in the way they did.


Edit: Personally, I'd be inclined to just tell your LL that he (or his agent if he still wants to employ them) should sort out the mess they have now created.
The TA says you should pay the utilities and you set up accounts to do that. The fact the TA asks you to seek the LL's permission before changing suppliers implies you did the right thing by setting up the accounts in your name. He/his agent has now come along and taken the accounts back. It shouldn't mean you have to be inconvenienced at all. Let him or his agent sort it out.

Meanwhile, don't pay any bills that don't have your name on.

Cardew

factor29 wrote: »

Im assuming LA have gained some cash from moving our supply, through comission or likewise?

There have been several reports of this happening - letting agents getting commission for switching their tenants to another supplier.

factor29

Premier wrote: »

Remember it's his letting agent! He chose them, he employs them, not you.

It's a shame your LL, or his agent, didn't ask your permission before changing supplier (let alone taking the account off you)

As I said, not your name on bill, not your liability.

If you would like to pay your way, see first if the new bill would have cost your more or less than the previous supplier. If less, your LL, or his agent, have saved you money. :beer:
If more, tell him you are only prepared to pay him the cost you would have incurred if his agent had not acted in the way they did.


Edit: Personally, I'd be inclined to just tell your LL that he (or his agent if he still wants to employ them) should sort out the mess they have now created.
The TA says you should pay the utilities and you set up accounts to do that. The fact the TA asks you to seek the LL's permission before changing suppliers implies you did the right thing by setting up the accounts in your name. He/his agent has now come along and taken the accounts back. It shouldn't mean you have to be inconvenienced at all. Let him or his agent sort it out.

Meanwhile, don't pay any bills that don't have your name on.

They did take my name and address when i phoned southern, and they put me through to the home movers team (who were more than useless). I did ask for copies of the bills to be sent to me, but there going to be wrong anyway, because there charging me the whole usage which Npower are already charging.

Looking at the erroneous transfer thing - does this apply to me? If so do i understand rightly that i refuse to pay the southern bill and should only pay npower once everything is sorted.

Well LL said he would speak to LA on Monday and get back to me once he knows whats happening, so should wait and see what happens there really. Ive got every intention of checking if i am going to end up paying more than i would have done!

Thanks again

Plushchris

Cardew wrote: »

There have been several reports of this happening - letting agents getting commission for switching their tenants to another supplier.

Yes I've read about this happening before with letting agents, its almost always Southern Electric too (or sometimes Utility Warehouse)

factor29

Plushchris wrote: »

Yes I've read about this happening before with letting agents, its almost always Southern Electric too (or sometimes Utility Warehouse)

Thats good to know for when i speak to LA! Thanks

Gary1963

This happened to me in my previous flat and the one I am in now. The agreement says I am responsible for the bills but does not say who I should be with. In an open market such at we have in this country I think it is wrong to try and force upon people one specific company. It does beg the question whats in it for the agents who are very eager for you to be with Southern!

property.advert

I had a similar story, not with an agent but with the previous tenants changing the supplying company (electricity only) and then changing it back. There were no bills, totally incorrect estimates etc. I just told them I was not paying for anything before the readings I took when moving in and that anything else was not my responsibility. I told them I would bill them if they wanted to harass me. They are now either writing it off or trying to find the previous tenants. I don't care.