Moved into new place where old tenant did not pay the electricity provider

kirsty2010_2

Hello,

Great..... I moved into a new place three weeks ago where the previous tenant does not seem to have paid his electricity bills. The supplier now keeps leaving notes of debt visits and that they will install a pay-as-you-go meter taking off 50£ per week automatically.... today came the second letter, even though I responded to the first one by sending a text message to the mobile phone number that was on it, and I have never received even a call from them.

I informed them that I am a new tenant, that I have just moved in and that I have even taken with me my old account and supplier, which I already have for several years.

I am really worried that they just go ahead with legal action. What is my situation, how can I protect myself against them installing such a meter, and what are they obliged to do? They do not even seem to try to find the old tenant through other ways but just let it out on the people who live in the place.

Many thanks for any advise!

t0rt0ise

You need to contact the supplier. Which company is it?

Ignite

Firstly, make sure that you have registered the supply in your name. Make sure that the company who is sending the letters are the ones that have you on their system.

For example. Say British Gas are the current suppliers, and the ones writing to the previous tenant, make sure that you have contacted them and opened an account with them.

If you were with another company at your old property, say for example Npower, you will still be able to use them at your new property. HOWEVER, there will be a period that you will be under contract to the original supplier at your new property until your supplier of choice (the one you are bringing with you) is able to make the transfer.

Ok, I hope that makes things clear. The first thing you must do is to sort out everything with the current supplier at the new property.

Yellowcard

If it's not your account then you aren't legally liable and they can't / wouldn't take any action against you or your property so be assured of that! It's just a matter of ensuring they know you're the tenant and like the guys above say having a new account opened with yourself.

markharding557

The previous tenants bills are nothing to do with you and since they are not in your name no one can touch you for them.
If you have not already you must give the supplier readings and get them to set up your accounts in your name.

spiro

markharding557 wrote: »

The previous tenants bills are nothing to do with you and since they are not in your name no one can touch you for them.
If you have not already you must give the supplier readings and get them to set up your accounts in your name.

Whilst I agree with this, there have been instances of the suuplier not knowing about a new tenant and for the tenant to come home from work and find a ppm installed. Contact the supplier asap either by phone or letter (recorded).

Premier_2

kirsty2010 wrote: »

...I informed them that I am a new tenant, that I have just moved in and that I have even taken with me my old account and supplier, which I already have for several years...

When you move into a new property, you usually take over the existing supplier initially. You contact them, give them the meter readings and they set up a new account for you.

If you also advise at the time that the previous account holder is no longer contactable at the address and for them to refrain sending mail to them at that address ... they are expected to stop.

If they don't, just marking correspondence addressed to the former occupant "Gone away, return to sender" and putting back in post box unopened will usually remind them

kirsty2010_2

Many thanks for advise. It's Southern Electric, an odd company with a poor and uninformative website that makes you think it doesnt actually exist. There is hardly any contact information and you need to be inventive to identify an address. I wrote them, but have not received response. on the debt letter, there was also no contact information or letter head with address... except for a mobile phone number, but the person behind that mob nr is very bad at getting back - doesnt reply well to contact attempts, and I am still waiting for their fax number which I was told would be texted to me. That information is also not available on their website...

on top of that, they did not accept the application from eon to take over the account.

Joyful

You can either call Southern Homemovers team on this number 0800 107 3203. The reason they will have rejected the supplier change is the will not have your name on an account.

Call them with the date you moved in and a meter read then the other supplier can try again.

charlie792

I had the same problem but with BG when I moved into my property. You need to contact the Southern Electric directly - probably best to do this initially over the phone and send a letter also. You must inform them that the previous tennant is no longer at the property, as a result they have no right to install a prepayment meter, You need to open an account for your address in your name. If you have any other difficulties with it you should contact your estate agent/landlord and get them to contact the supplier and explain that you are a new tennant.

You need to get this sorted out as soon as possible, have they given you a date the prepayment is due to be installed yet? - I only ask because BG stated a prepayment meter was due to be installed at my property the day before I moved in - it was never installed as no-one was obviously living in the property at the time but BG insisted it had been and as a result has caused major problems for me with my new supplier (changed the meter registry so now all suppliers think I have a prepayment meter)