British Gas

Annie56

Hi

My friend has just moved in to a new flat, and needs to sign up with a new electric company,,she was with Npower in her previous flat and currently owes them about £1000 in electric/gas, her final bill has not yet been assessed but they have her final readings.
a) Her credit rating is not very good
b) Could BGas refuse her as a customer whilst she owes Npower for her previous bills.

Another thing that puzzled me was that after we checked on the comparison sites she decided the Websaver 11 tariff would be best.
Got in touch with BGas they did a credit check and that was ok then the guy on the phone said she would have to be on the Standard Tariff to start with then could then switch to an online tariff:undecided this doesnt sound right to me...

Then the guy took her bank details and sorted out a direct debit etc and said that was it?????


Im confused if BGas wont accept her as a customer, and Npower insists she stay with them until her debt is cleared they could threaten to try and install a pay as you go meter which the new Landlord wont allow as the meters are all in a cupboard all 20 on each floor and accessed only by the Landlord and a key so you couldnt check your meter usage on a daily/weekly if you wanted to..
There is a fusebox inside the flat

The flat she has moved into is an Extra Care Home where independent living is encouraged, she has multiple health problems and this place has all the facilities she needs

Sorry if this sounds garbled any imput would be helpful

jackieglasgow

If BGas are the supplier to the new property then she can become their customer as long as she passes their credit check, Npower cannot insist she becomes a customer at the new place, but will still pursue her for any debt she owes them. She will need to sign up for her online tarrif once she becomes a customer, that is normal, if she has started her account over the phone. But she can do it the day she becomes a customer.

Nice to see you back on the site Annie

spiro

As she is no longer an NPower customer they may not offer as long to repay the debt as if she was their customer. Also if they have problems collecting supplier now sell the debt to specialist debt recovery companies who she will then have no option but to deal with.

If she owes around £1000 plus the final bill (1/2/3 months?) thats about a years useage so what has changed that will ensure she does not get into the same situation when the supplier could force her to have a ppm (LL has no say)?