British Gas bill from previous property.

mazjam

Hi,

We left our previous property on 16 October 2009, the tenancy actually ending 24 October 2009 (keys were handed to the letting agent on 16 October 2009). After we vacated the landlord undertook repairs and redecoration. Unfortunately we lost our meter readings taken on vacation, but accepted one from the letting agent which was used to prepare our final bills (gas and electric) from British Gas. We promptly paid these final bills in November, and then received a refund in December of the value of our last electricity bill.

Yesterday I received a call from British Gas out of the blue telling me I owe them 41.93 for electricity (which includes the refunded 36.03) and an additional 62.45 for gas. Our accounts were settled, closed and a refund given so we assumed all was OK. Also we have had no notification of this ammended bill until now (nothing in writing as it was done online, but our online access to the account was lost when the account was closed off... not even any red bills etc).

It turns out the letting agency contacted British Gas on 12 June 2010 telling them the vacation date and meter readings had changed... the vacation date to 27 November 2009. Obviously they are trying to palm the bill off on us. British Gas are continuing to hold us responsible. They say the dispute is a third party one and we have to settle it with the letting agent and they will not investigate or settle the matter.

Can they hold us responsible ?
Should British Gas address this themselves since they say we owe the money ?
As the account was closed by them after our final bills were paid can they reopen it now, after so many months ? Is there ever truly a 'final bill ' ??
Can they demand the refund back if they issued it incorrectly and it was accepted by us in good faith (although we understand and recognise the payment was initially for electricity we had used, why should we pay again after they made the error in refunding it??)

Any advice appreciated !

mazjam

KimYeovil

There is no official final bill - an account can be re-opened and revised and chased for six years (five in Scotland.)

But in this case I do suspect the letting agent is trying to cheat you and get you to pay for the interim bill. I do think British Gas are wrong that it is a third party dispute. The letting agents are definitely responsible for the bills from when you flitted.

But you say there is the complication that some of the electricity is correctly due by you? Plus, of course, you no longer have definite reads.

You certainly have a case to stand your ground and disentangle the bills but it'll be a palaver.

mazjam

I am good at palavers ! If I am sure I am right I chase to the end ;o)
Thanks,
M

KimYeovil

Actually, just to revise things, it isn't that clear cut. It does not make practical sense for the the landlord to take over an account for a week or six between every tenancy.

The normal way that this is resolved is that the meters are read at the end of the tenancy and the new tenants will read the meters at the start of their tenancy but their first bill will have the start read that is the end read of your tenancy and they will then demand the difference from the landlord. That way you pay your bill, the landlord pays the interim bill, the new tenant only pays for their bill and the suppliers are not messed around with a double change of account.

As to what to do now after the fact...

Poosmate

I would say stand fast and don't pay! Someone is trying to pull a fast one on you by the sounds of it.

If you submitted your readings (those given to you by the letting agent) and BG were happy with that and you paid up I can't see how a 3rd party can come along and tell BG that it's your responsibility if you've left the property.

Just had a thought, maybe they feel they could if you'd left the central heating on and maybe some appliances on standby. But then, surely it's up to them or the landlord to visit the property to check all that? Maybe the landlord wanted the central heating left on so pipes wouldn't freeze and also so people being shown the property wouldn't be put off by it being cold? Sorry if that's stupid but I don't rent properties so maybe just talking crap! lol

It does beg the question though, what if the property was left unoccupied for several months? Some appliances would remain plugged in and (pressumably) left on (fridge/freezer), surely the landlord is responsible for that electic/gas.

Poo

Joyful

This is a third party dispute. As you do not have your actual read you are on very thin ground. You need to find out if the agency actually took the reading you supplied to BG. If they will confirm this to you ( in writing) you can then dispute the final bill with BG. Otherwise I think you are stuffed.

All suppliers expect the outgoing and then incoming tenant to give reads. If these are not correct it is the problem of the tenants to sort it out between them not the energy company.

A good agency would take reads and get the tenant to sign to agree. I think if this was enforced problems like these would not exist.

mazjam

KimYeovil wrote: »

Actually, just to revise things, it isn't that clear cut. It does not make practical sense for the the landlord to take over an account for a week or six between every tenancy.

The normal way that this is resolved is that the meters are read at the end of the tenancy and the new tenants will read the meters at the start of their tenancy but their first bill will have the start read that is the end read of your tenancy and they will then demand the difference from the landlord. That way you pay your bill, the landlord pays the interim bill, the new tenant only pays for their bill and the suppliers are not messed around with a double change of account.

As to what to do now after the fact...

That is what we thought had happened. The landlord should be responsible for everything between our last bill and the new tennant's opening reading. He should not be able to revise readings / moving out dates without our agreement. Luckily we can at least prove when we moved out ! The letting agent is known for his stupidity though... you should have seen the re-write of the tenency agreement I had to do when we moved in !

mazjam

Poosmate wrote: »

I would say stand fast and don't pay! Someone is trying to pull a fast one on you by the sounds of it.

If you submitted your readings (those given to you by the letting agent) and BG were happy with that and you paid up I can't see how a 3rd party can come along and tell BG that it's your responsibility if you've left the property.

Just had a thought, maybe they feel they could if you'd left the central heating on and maybe some appliances on standby. But then, surely it's up to them or the landlord to visit the property to check all that? Maybe the landlord wanted the central heating left on so pipes wouldn't freeze and also so people being shown the property wouldn't be put off by it being cold? Sorry if that's stupid but I don't rent properties so maybe just talking crap! lol


It does beg the question though, what if the property was left unoccupied for several months? Some appliances would remain plugged in and (pressumably) left on (fridge/freezer), surely the landlord is responsible for that electic/gas.

Poo

We checked all was off before we moved out, the appliances were disconnected where appropriate (freezer was ours and came with us) but the landlord was making repairs whilst the property was empty, so could conceivably have used the utilities in that period. Fast one seems logical to me.

mazjam

Joyful wrote: »

This is a third party dispute. As you do not have your actual read you are on very thin ground. You need to find out if the agency actually took the reading you supplied to BG. If they will confirm this to you ( in writing) you can then dispute the final bill with BG. Otherwise I think you are stuffed.

All suppliers expect the outgoing and then incoming tenant to give reads. If these are not correct it is the problem of the tenants to sort it out between them not the energy company.

A good agency would take reads and get the tenant to sign to agree. I think if this was enforced problems like these would not exist.

That is my concern, but it is basically our word against theirs. With proof of move out date it should go in our favour though. If we can't prove readings, I am basically happy to pay a reasonablly arrived at figure (an estimate based on actual move out date) but not the full whack. I am also a fighter, and know how the court system works. I actually think the letting agent (judging by past experience) hasn't a clue about anything legal and will actually just mess his pants if it starts to get that far ! Fingers crossed eh !