Npower changed the name on the account without authorisation!

foxracer

Hello all,

I currently live in a shared house. We all pay a set amount each month, including all the bills. In fact all the utilities are in the landlord's name.

Sometimes he can get a bit sloppy at paying the bills on time, but he usually pays them in the end! The problem is that the gas/elec provider (nPower) have just switched the account holder name to mine and sent me a bill for £2000 outstanding! I don't even know how they got my details as I only live here during the week, and live elsewhere at the weekends (So everything is registered to me at my other address)

Can they just switch the account holder's name like that?

Thanks

DVardysShadow

Sounds like your landlord has done it. I suggest you contact nPower and switch it back if you feel cheeky or reject responsibility if you don't feel cheeky. Do this in writing and keep a copy for your future defence.

foxracer

The landlord says he hasn't done it, and has promised to sort it out but hes now on holiday!

nPower refused to switch it back saying its a dispute between myself and the landlord

Premier_2

What does your tenancy agreement say about paying the utility bills?

macman

foxracer wrote: »

The landlord says he hasn't done it, and has promised to sort it out but hes now on holiday!

nPower refused to switch it back saying its a dispute between myself and the landlord

How could they switch an account into your name if they don't even know who you are?

kjsmith7

Well obviously somebody has given them your details...

If your tenancy had been rent to the landlord and everything else settled by you, I'd have agreed with the landlord changing the name (if it was indeed him) - if you all did a bunk, he'd be left with the bill to pay. Better that than forcing tenants to use a prepayment meter!

However if your tenancy is truly all bills in, get your tenancy agreement out and write to nPower explaining that it is the landlords responsibility to pay the statements, include a photocopy of the relevant pages, highlighting/drawing attention to the relevant clauses. Remember to include the page where you all signed.

If you don't have/can't find your tenancy agreement, you can request a copy from the landlord. File things better next time

The only other possibility is that the account was in the name of 'The Occupier or Occupiers' and they have traced using the electoral role, which would mean the debt had been outstanding for a while.

spiro

foxracer wrote: »

The landlord says he hasn't done it, and has promised to sort it out but hes now on holiday!

nPower refused to switch it back saying its a dispute between myself and the landlord

Does the Landlord also live in the house? If not I am VERY suprised he has agreed to pay all the bills with you paying him or including it in your rent as he has no control how much you use. I suspect he may have got a large bill and contracted nPower to say he does not live there and has given one of your names. Oviously if he does not live there he has not used the fuel and therefore the energy company will go after who has used it.

DVardysShadow

kjsmith7 wrote: »

Well obviously somebody has given them your details...

If your tenancy had been rent to the landlord and everything else settled by you, I'd have agreed with the landlord changing the name (if it was indeed him) - if you all did a bunk, he'd be left with the bill to pay. Better that than forcing tenants to use a prepayment meter!

However if your tenancy is truly all bills in, get your tenancy agreement out and write to nPower explaining that it is the landlords responsibility to pay the statements, include a photocopy of the relevant pages, highlighting/drawing attention to the relevant clauses. Remember to include the page where you all signed.

If you don't have/can't find your tenancy agreement, you can request a copy from the landlord. File things better next time

The only other possibility is that the account was in the name of 'The Occupier or Occupiers' and they have traced using the electoral role, which would mean the debt had been outstanding for a while.

nPower are not a party to the tenancy agreement, it is irrelevant to them. It is only useful as a stick to beat the LL with and make him take responsibility. If OP uses this to put the responsibility on LL, it is just legitimising the idea that a 3rd party can go to nPower and tell them whose name to put on the bill

foxracer wrote: »

The landlord says he hasn't done it, and has promised to sort it out but hes now on holiday!

nPower refused to switch it back saying its a dispute between myself and the landlord

It is actually a dispute between nPower and you. If you don't accept responsibility for the bill, then write to them, keeping a copy, and tell them that you do not accept responsibility and have never instructed them that you will take over the supply and that they should revert to whatever arrangement was in place previously.

kjsmith7

DVardysShadow wrote: »

nPower are not a party to the tenancy agreement, it is irrelevant to them. It is only useful as a stick to beat the LL with and make him take responsibility. If OP uses this to put the responsibility on LL, it is just legitimising the idea that a 3rd party can go to nPower and tell them whose name to put on the bill

However, surely the tenancy agreement would show who was responsible for the bills, and whose name it should be in?

jd87

Lol blates your landlord.

rsykes2000

jd87 wrote: »

Lol blates your landlord.

Have you been drinking ?