Gas meter bill! (commercial)

darkvortex

Hi

Not sure if this is the right place for this thread but anyway.

We've got a commercial premises and recently I had a gas bill from Eon for £900.

We got the place in October last year, but due to family matters I didn't register us for the gas until April this year.
The place has been under renovation since February and was empty since before that, and last month some guys came along and took the meter as apparently the previous owner of the place had a really large bill.

Anyway they've taken the meter and slapped me with a £900 gas bill for gas they say I've used.
Only problem is that the place has effectively been a building site and no gas has been used at all.

On further probing their gas bill is an estimate from a reading done in Febraury to a reading done in April and they have effectively back calculated it.

Unfortunately they are refusing to believe we didn't use any gas, and also want £4.5k deposit before they even think about reinstalling the meter.

I'm wondering if there is anything I can do as it seems like I'm effectively being blackmailed into basically paying for gas we didn't use which is half based off estimated calculations. ( as apparently they took a reading a February and did a calculation for between February and April, then recalculated it for October)

Any advice would be appreciated or any advice line to call would be helpful.

thanks

A

markharding557

Do you have the meter readings from when you took the premises?
I am afraid without those you can prove nothing

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi darkvortex

I must admit my knowledge of business accounts is limited. Therefore, I have had a word with our business section regarding your post. They have told me the following which I hope you find useful.

Generally, where a gas meter has been removed due to a large outstanding balance, we will not replace it without certain guarantees.

You will need to talk to our Business Warrants and Reconnections team and advise them the debt the meter was removed for is not yours but a previous tenants.

They will ask for proof of the transfer of responsibility such as a tenancy agreement or contract.

A credit check will need to be carried out and a Direct Debit set up to cover future gas usage.

A reconnection fee and a security deposit will need to be paid before the meter can be replaced. These will depend on the size of the meter we need to re-install.

Going forward, provided all is ok on the account, all bills for ongoing gas usage are paid and there are no outstanding balances, the security deposit will be refunded after 12 months.

With regard to the amount we have already billed you for, markharding is correct. Did you take a meter reading when you took over responsibility for the property in October?

Did the engineers who removed the meter in April leave a removal reading? If you don't have this reading, we will have a record of the job which will include this.

Once we have both these readings, your account can be re-billed accurately. I'm afraid without these readings we will have no option but to rely on estimates.

I'm sorry I can only offer general advice about your issues. I strongly recommend you talk to the above team for a more comprehensive picture of what needs to be done.

Drop an email to the address in my Profile if you would like contact details for this team as will be happy to let you know.

Malc