Gas Supply - Please Help!

charlie792

I moved into a rented property at the end of August and I phoned Swalec to have my supply with them (I was with them at my previous student place).
Swalec said they would contact British Gas and sort everything out, however, everything is still far from being sorted.
Basically the electric isnt really a problem (except Swalec keep telling me its a Pre-Payment Meter which it really isnt).
I recieved a letter from British Gas with account numbers and a letter from Swalec saying British Gas had objected to the switch of the Gas Supply and to contact them. So I contacted British Gas who tell me that the electric is switching but the gas is staying with them because Swalec never requested it to switch. Yesterday Swalec told me the gas supply will be switching to them from the 12th Oct, but British Gas are still telling me that the supply is staying with them - I dont want to end up with two bills for the same thing!
The man from British Gas phoned me just now to give me the serials they have and to check them with the meter and make sure Swalec are transfering the right one. However heres the issue - I live in a converted house (two flats) and Ive confirmed the meter which says is ours is actually ours by running the hot tap for a bit, but I cannot see any serial on the meter - all I can establish is that it was installed in 1989 from a sticker put on the bottom of it

This is me and my partners first place together and ive never had to deal with all this before...please someone give me some advice!

dogshome

Hi charlie792 - Be very afraid !
Sorry to be dramatic but your post is worrying, and not just for the Gas.

If SWALEC are saying that your Elec.meter is a pre-pay model but have not visited you to verify this, then their info has come from the National Data Base, and if these records are are wrong it can be Hell on Wheels to sort out - Write to SWALEC enclosing a photo of your meter with it's numbers legible, and ask for their assurance that all future billing will be based on your Credit Meter

A Gas meter with no information printed on it's Face Plate ? !
There is chance that the questions from BG about the meter are them just trying to stymie a transfer.
But if it really has no other markings other than the dials recording use, it could be a private sub-meter put in to register the use in your flat, while the real meter which records the total use for both flats is somewhere else ! - Have an urgent word with the landlord

Premier_2

Makes one wonder why the landlord didn't mention such peculiarities with his property when he handed you the keys.

If he's failed to mention this, one wonders what other surprises he's failed to mention that may lie instore. :eek:

charlie792

The house is rented through an estate agents so Ive never met the landlord.
As for the lack of serial numbers on the meters - neither meter electric or gas has any serials on them - the man from british gas says they should have them under the usage amount, but litterally there is nothing all it says is the meters are property of british gas... I phoned Swalec regarding the prepayment meter and told them this was wrong and gave them the serial british gas told me they had on file and said they would try and sort it. I do know that the previous tenant along time ago (the house was empty for at least 8 months) didnt pay any bills or rent so she got evicted, when I first moved in there was a letter already at the property from British gas saying that due to non-payment of bills a pre-payment meter would be fitted - although this was from a long long time ago and since then the landlord had the gas and electric switched off until we moved in so I dont know if this is why the meter is listed as a prepayment meter even though it was never fitted?

Premier_2

charlie792 wrote: »

The house is rented through an estate agents so Ive never met the landlord....

As I suspected. LL doesn't want to get involved with the messy end of dealing with his clients directly, so employs the services of an agent to keep himself well & truly remote.

Remember, the agent is paid for and should be acting on behalf of the landlord.