Billing problem with big bill

corine39

Hi Everyone

Hoping someone could help with the following.

I bought a wreck of a property on 30 October 2009 that was empty for at least 6 months prior to that, and that I have now refurbed. I asked the builder doing the refurb to take a meter reading (he was the only one with the keys to the property at that time) which he said he did.

Well to cut a very long story very short, he went awol, and I got in new builders to finish the job. After much stress, heartache, and over spend, the job is now finished and looking lovely (at least somethings turned out all right).

I have just received a final demand (never received the actual bill as the post box was sealed up until a few weeks ago) for £150 from Scottish Power covering the period of 30/10/2009 to 26/04/2010. I confirm the meter reading taken at 26/04/2010 to be correct but as for the initial - who knows. I phoned them up, and explained this - they say they got the initial reading from the previous owner. They have basically said get the initial meter reading from the builder (it's not going to be possible), and call with an up to date meter reading also so they can confirm there has been minimal usage, and they will see what they can do.

I have contacted all the workmen involved in the refurb (other than the main builder himself) who tell me that they all use cordless tools as they are much easier to use, and save for some lights being on, and a cement mixer, the kettle, the electricity in the property has been little used.

Has anyone been in a simialr situation? Can anyone advise on what my next step should be?

Many thanks in advance

A depressed Corine

KimYeovil

Pay the bill. What other option is there? It is up to you to read the meters when you take over the property.

Check, of course, that any standing charge is only from the 30 Oct but other than that it is, unfortunately, your fault if the previous owner tried a fly one and gave a false reading.

PasturesNew

£25 per month, for a big house, during the winter .... isn't too much at all. Just pay it, sounds about right.

Half that will probably be standing charge anyway. It's not worth the effort of investigating further.

BargainGalore

Its your responsibility to tell the utility company your readings if you cant do that then afraid you have no choice but to pay

Cardew

The builders rechargeable tools will probably have been charge on your electricity, with lights(during winter), kettles, cement mixer for 6 months £150 is reasonable and I would have thought that the initial reading was probably correct.

macman

Power tools use a lot of juice (as do cement mixers-which are certainly not rechargeable)), your bill is tiny compared to what I would expect for 6 months usage.

corine39

Thanks for all your replies - very kind.

Mmmm but the builders told me they charged their tools at home (I get on very well with them so I don't think they would lie, plus even if they had charged them using my elec, that would been fine, as long as I know what makes the bill up). Also the property has been empty all this time so there has not been any domestic usage.

macman

How much of that bill is the standing charge? And how do you think they can run a cement mixer (unless it's a petrol one) except by plugging it in you your supply?
£25 a month is a tiny amount over that period.

molerat

What about site lighting, those yellow 500w things. They were working in winter so I reckon they would have used a few of them.

sassyblue

corine39 wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies - very kind.

Mmmm but the builders told me they charged their tools at home (I get on very well with them so I don't think they would lie, plus even if they had charged them using my elec, that would been fine, as long as I know what makes the bill up). Also the property has been empty all this time so there has not been any domestic usage.

Sorry but l stil wouldn't believe that 100%. With the best will in the world the equipment could still lose it's power if it's been used alot and need recharging that day.

We had similair with our first home, 9 months of electricity being used and those lights mentioned above our bill was £400 and that was 12 years ago :eek: we had to pay it off @ £40 a month back then.

Premier_2

As others say, you'll have to pay it.

It was your responsibility to have taken a meter reading and advised the supplier that you were responsible for the property.

You failed to do that, and so the supplier has eventually caught up with you and billed you from the last reading they billed the previous occupier. Without the evidence to challenge that, you'll have to accept it.

As for the letter box being sealed up, you could alawys have advised an alternative mailing/billing address if you had contacted the supplier when you took over the property as you should have done.