Just when I was getting my head around it all

Legacy_user

Hi guys

I've just had a letter to say I owe £400 for electricity in my previous flat. British Gas were my supplier for both electricity and gas. I know I contacted both departments when I moved in there. They then sent me a direct debit form which I thought was for everything. Not at any point during the 18 months I lived there did I receive a bill or letter to say that I owed them money. And what happened to getting cut off? don't they do that any more?

It all seems a bit fishy to me as when I moved in there was outstanding money from the previous tenant and problems with the gas meter readings. The landlords were very cagy and unhelpful about it all.

I'm going to challenge it, wonder how far I will get.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

RAS

I assume you read the meters when you took over the flat and when you left and provided this information to BG?

That will indicate what you owed for the duration of your stay.

System

I think so? It's 8 months since I moved now!

randomer

Oh that's a shame when you were being all virtuous and sensible something like that lands on you.:(

Is there some way you can insist on seeing meter readings?

System

Thanks Both

Yes, I'll include that in my letter. Thing is, I was always a bit dubious about whether the companies didn't have a mix up with what meter connected where. There were endless problems with the gas meter when I moved!

Determined_2b_Debt_Free

A similar thing happened to me with British Gas which is why I wouldn't ever go back to being a customer with them. Can't remember the exact details but it could have been something to do with them sending me a cheque and then telling me that actually they were wrong and I needed to pay them back - how anyone works out a fuel bill is beyond me - I had no idea whether they were right or wrong.

I argued the debt with them for a while and decided to settle on a lesser amount which I paid monthly (I think I paid £5 most months and it was on one of their pay card thingy's).

I hope you get it sorted. It might not throw you out as much as you think.