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Can Landlord Dictate who Provides your Energy?

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Comments

  • dodger1
    dodger1 Posts: 4,579 Forumite
    The best part of a day? Usually takes me 2 minutes.

    I'm simply saying your "2 minutes" is as stupid or dishonest as "the best part of a day". Clearly the actual time involved is somewhere in between, granted you're closer.
    It's someone else's fault.
  • Wee_Willy_Harris
    Wee_Willy_Harris Posts: 7,512 Forumite
    MUCH closer. I've never had a problem with it. Quote the reference number and they tell you. It takes about 2 minutes.
  • dodger1
    dodger1 Posts: 4,579 Forumite
    MUCH closer. I've never had a problem with it. Quote the reference number and they tell you. It takes about 2 minutes.

    I agree much closer but the whole process also includes talking to the new tenant when they contact you about the supplier, then telling them who you think the supplier is (because the previous tenant forgot to inform you of the change) then they phone you to say that's not correct and now you phone whoever it is you phone after you've looked up those meter numbers then looked up the phone number and then waited more than two minutes after all the different numbered options are given.

    Finally you actually speak to a human being who gives the wrong information. Now start again, I wish the world was 2 minutes simple, it's not. But I still agree you're closer, it just annoys me when it gets personal here, there really is no need.
    It's someone else's fault.
  • Wee_Willy_Harris
    Wee_Willy_Harris Posts: 7,512 Forumite
    If it sounds personal, then I'm sorry, But I find equal frustration in bad landlords trying to screw tenants and bad tenants trying to screw landlords.

    As for the rest of your post, a competent LL would establish the energy suppliers BEFORE a new tenant moved in. They could make it part of their tenancy checkout proceedure. Simple.
  • dodger1
    dodger1 Posts: 4,579 Forumite
    If it sounds personal, then I'm sorry, But I find equal frustration in bad landlords trying to screw tenants and bad tenants trying to screw landlords.

    As for the rest of your post, a competent LL would establish the energy suppliers BEFORE a new tenant moved in. They could make it part of their tenancy checkout proceedure. Simple.

    I agree entirely, it's all about landlords and tenants working together for the benefit of both. I've found this really works over the past few years. It consistently bugs me how some landlords and tenants get worked up over minor issues.
    It's someone else's fault.
  • DrScotsman
    DrScotsman Posts: 996 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    dodger1 wrote: »
    As a tenant I'd have no problem with that term because it's so simple for me to do. All I have to do is show the most recent bills, not exactly a problem.

    You not being bothered doesn't have much relevance, in my next two posts I substantiated pretty well that it is unfair in law.
  • dodger1
    dodger1 Posts: 4,579 Forumite
    DrScotsman wrote: »
    You not being bothered doesn't have much relevance, in my next two posts I substantiated pretty well that it is unfair in law.[/QUOTE

    For me it is relevant because I agree to abide by it.
    It's someone else's fault.
  • DrScotsman
    DrScotsman Posts: 996 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 6 June 2010 at 9:49PM
    dodger1 wrote: »
    DrScotsman wrote: »
    You not being bothered doesn't have much relevance, in my next two posts I substantiated pretty well that it is unfair in law.

    For me it is relevant because I agree to abide by it.

    If it were as simple as "you agreed to the terms" then how come the bank charges case went through *three* courts?

    Answer: It's not.

    You may be happy with the term, but not every tenant will be. And when the landlord goes "What bill? I didn't see a bill! You must be mistaken :O. £50 Ka-ching" then the law is in place so that the Landlord does not achieve unjust profits.
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 26,290 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It takes me an hour's driving to get to the flat and back. Then I have to scrabble around to find the meter numbers. These have probably changed because the tenant has installed a key meter, but in any case it's not the sort of thing most landlords would ordinarily keep a record of. Then a few minutes to find out how to find the energy supplier, then some phone calls. Typically 15 mins on hold, and I think it's 4 calls needed. So, 2 minutes is nonsense, but 3 hours or so is about right. That's what I mean by 'best part of a day' but if you want to nit-pick that's your prerogative, but my point is that it's a PITA for the LL, which it undoubtedly is.

    I've never even considered charging a tenant for this, but if any landlord were to try do so he would need to keep a precise log of the time taken. If it really only took 2 minutes, there wouldn't be an issue, would there?

    BTW, the OFT guidance on this is not law, and I don't think this particular point has been decided by a court yet.
    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • sequence
    sequence Posts: 1,877 Forumite
    I thought LL's weren't allowed to make deductions for their own time ?
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