Need some advice re- British Gas & EDF

EllieR21

I wonder if anybody could give me some advice?

I moved into a new property in March . A week prior to moving in I went online with British Gas and set myself up with there duel fuel websaver 11 package.

It is now May and the Gas has only just been set up very delayed but at least its done.

The electricity however is a different story. I have only just recieved a letter from British Gas telling me they can not set up my electricity I have a balance outstanding with another company (EDF).

I have spoke to EDF who confirmed that they provide electricity for my property but it is registered with the previous tenant. they asked me to fax in a proof of tenancy and the meter readings for the day we moved in which I have done. They also told me the elec was on a standard tariff.

Really what I need to know is where I stand. I have moved plenty of times and I have never experienced this before as far as I was aware I was getting set up with British Gas (slowly) and I had no idea I would potentially end up having to pay EDF 2 months of electricity.

I am also struggling to get through to EDF I have tried 3 times today (30 mins each time) with no luck. Has anybody else experienced this ?

Can anybody give me some advice on where I stand and what I'm entitled to as ideally I only really want to pay the cheaper duel fuel prices.

Thank you

Cardew

As soon as you moved in you entered a legally binding deemed contract with EDF. You should therefore have given them your details and meter readings on moving in to the property.

It often takes a couple of months for a switch, and the situation is further complicated by EDF not being aware you were in residence.

So the bottom line is you have to pay EDF for all the gas and electricity you used in the period until BG took over.

Widelats

You can ask EDF to accept payment on a reduced tariff as you were very unlikely to opt for their huge standard tariff out of preference.

Also you can argue that every time you called to let them know your a new resident, their phone lines were really busy and you never got through.

t0rt0ise

Widelats wrote: »

You can ask EDF to accept payment on a reduced tariff as you were very unlikely to opt for their huge standard tariff out of preference.

Also you can argue that every time you called to let them know your a new resident, their phone lines were really busy and you never got through.

No, don't lie to them. Apart from it being wrong, it wouldn't wash and you will lose all sympathy from them. Best you can do is explain your mistake and ask if you could move suppliers while you pay off the debt. If the debt isn't too high they may allow it.

spiro

If they say the is a debt, it sound like the old tenant did not pay some/all of their bills because when they moved out they should also have phoned EDF to advise their tenancy was ending.

Two questions: is it rented and was it empty for a period of time before you moved in?

EllieR21

Yes and Yes

t0rt0ise

I assumed the debt was from the few months that you have now lived there. You probably gave first readings to British GAs and can use these to check.

sunflower_2

its your respons to find out who supplies your energy when moving into a property.

its your respons to inform the supplier of your move (doesnt have to be by telephone, in this day and age we have email/website contact).

when agreeing a change of supply contract (in your case with BG) they would have read out a legal statement. In this legal statement would be something about how long the transfer to themselves would take.
so.... who did u think was supplying the gas/elec u were using at the time? didnt think about checking or trying to make any contact?
energy isnt free.

had you wanted to change supplier - you would have to remain on their standard tariff anyway - as for any other tariff you would have to agree a contract and be tied in for a length of time.

as for dual fuel discount - i am with edf and its worth nothing.
£2.10 per quarter - wow. not worth moaning about, esp as ur elec transferred earlier so u only had dual fuels with them for a v short period.