Long suffering gas problem - advice needed

feetastic

Hi there,

This is quite a long story so i'll begin.

I moved into a flat a two years ago, thought everything was fine then when a couple of people moved out I took over paying the bills.

Soon after this we started receiving large bills from British Gas, all relating to several different accounts and totalling over £3000, up until this point we had been paying every bill that had been sent to us.

As a result of this I got the Ombudsman to take on our case and do an investigation, they, found an account that we had been paying all of the bills into, which British Gas did not have registered for us so hence all of the bills. In the meantime they sold the debts onto several debt companies and we got threatened with court action. After many phone calls, trips to citizens advice, tears and stress we managed to get the debts given back to British Gas. Initially they recognised their mistake and said the whole amount would be credited, after further chasing and being passed to several different account managers I have found out this was not going to happen, I gave them a current reading a couple of days ago and they said we owed £1278, this is dating back to 2007 as apparently they have been billing us wrong since then and we have to pay the difference.

One of the main issues was that they couldn't tell us where our gas meter was located (we lived in a flat above a restaurant) the letting agent or landlord didn't know (illegal, I know) eventually I managed to locate it in the basement of the restaurant, but we had further problems that the restaurant would never let the British Gas man in to take a reading after I found it, despite me giving them advance notice. Eventually I had to take a day off work and it took me two attempts to get in, I had to threaten them with a warrant to eventually gain entry.

I have now moved out of the shared flat and into another property but seem to be involved still as no one currently living there will take responsibility or sort this mess out. I accept that I do owe some of the money, but I didn't move there until late 2008. I just don't know how it all works, I estimate I owe around £250 but my name is on the account with others, so how do I stand if I pay that. I am just worried that I will end up having to pay the whole amount (which I don't have, just because I want to sort this out), how do my rights stand? British Gas do have the names of all the people who have been in the property and their tenancy dates, plus they have our letting agent details. I have been advised to pay my share, gain evidence of this and take my name off the account then just let British Gas deal with the rest, but I am worried that I will still be held accountable and possibly taken to court or given a bad credit rating.The letting agent refuses to get involved or help with the issue as they say they don'y deal with problems related to 'domestic bills'.

Just really want to sort this out now, has been dragging on for over a year and as i no longer live in the property and it was a problem I inherited I just want it sorted.

Any advice happily accepted,

Fiona

undaunted

What resolution did the ombudsman suggest? (The supplier is obliged to accept their suggested resolution but you are not)

Wasn't the account on hold whilst the Ombudsman investigated?

What was the reading when you moved in & left? You can only be liable for this period not any debts of previous tennants.

feetastic

Hello undaunted,

The Ombudsman suggested they look into the account that we had been paying into and had evidence for, they did this, deducted what we had paid and merged all of the accounts into one. A couple of days ago I gave they a meter reading and that is how they came up with the amount we have been billed for.

The issue is that it took so long to locate the meter, neither BG or the landlord knew where it was located, so for a long time we were being charged for estimated bills. now it has been located and an accurate reading has been taking we are in a better position.

Unfortunately a fair few people have lived in the house and not paid their fair share of the gas bill, I am not in contact with all of them and just don't know where I stand on paying the bill, I can pay what I owe, but not even sure I can chase everyone up and not willing or indeed able to pay their share. not sure what to do or where I stand rights-wise if I pay my share..

spiro

A few points about this, unofrtunately most are about hindsite:

Have you advised BG of your moving out date amd meter readings - this will be used to finalise the account for that property.

When you moved in (assuming you took over the flat) you and the LL should have agreed the meter reading which would have required you both to know the location of the meter. If this didn't happen you have no evidence of what gas useage you have to pay for and what should be paid for by previous tenants.

Not knowing the location of the meter also means you did not know the location of the ECV which is a major problem in the event of a gas leak.

Suppliers only have to read the meter every two years, in between its your responsibilty to provide readings (this is in BGs T&Cs), this is to avoid 'catch up' bills which you appear to have got based on latest bill for £1278.

The problem you now have is that all the underestimated gas consumption has been included in the latest bill. BG will pursue you for the full amount.