Someone keeps switching my GAS account - Help!

JonathanA

Steve
From another perspective, when we moved house, we tried to switch energy suppliers, but for some reason it was never successful. We didn't receive any correspondence from the company and I had to keep phoning them up to find out what was happening, only to be told that our switch was being rejected. It took me almost 6 months of persistence to find out that someone had mis typed our postcode at the energy company and all our correspondence was going to someone else's address and they were objecting to the switch.

Once we got to the bottom of what was going on, the switch became painless, but it took 6 months of arguing to get to the bottom of it.

It could be something as simple as a typing error that has linked your property to someone else who is trying to switch!

steveconrad

Agreed - and this is the sort of solution that I'm hoping it is, just a mix-up rather than some mad stalker out to cause grief

I did get a call back from BG Fraud in the afternoon. They said they had left a message on the voicemail of the number that was used as the contact point. They said they were hoping to get a call back to try and speak to the person. I asked about the previous attempt that they still held data for. Apparently the contact details were different (name, phone and DOB) but that number wasn't ringing at all.
That was yesterday, no further contact today...

MrandMrsB

This reminded me of the time when BT changed our address. I had this surreal conversation in which their representative argued with me about where I lived, and I said "look, I know where I am, sitting in the reception hall at xxxx, you are welcome to send someone over to check". He said "your husband must have phoned to tell us that you were moving, maybe you didn't know". When I objected, he admitted that they were having major billing problems in our area....probably some disgruntled member of staff had messed around with their records, and thought is would be amusing to move residents from a posh area to the most ghastly council estate.

SwanJon

BAA1 wrote: »

During a legitimate application to transfer your energy supply to another company your existing supplier already knows your details and your chosen new supplier already knows your details because you divulged that information when completing the transfer request.

You assume the existing supplier already knows my details...

BAA1 wrote: »

Under the scenario where you have requested to transfer the supply at the same time as moving into a new property, the existing supplier has a "deemed contract" with the new occupier so are entitled to be informed who has taken over responsibility for paying the bills when the property is sold or a new tenant moves in, so the details of the new occupier must be given to the "deemed contract" supplier prior to the transfer and an account will be setup (however temporary that may be), otherwise, how does the "deemed contract" supplier get paid for the energy used by the new occupier during the several weeks that it takes for the transfer to complete ?

If I haven't given my details to the deemed supplier, then no, they have no right to them. They are entitled to bill me as the occupier for my time with them, and I am obliged to pay such.

You've ignored the issue of people moving out without informing the supplier. Convenient.

System

To the OP, I'm sorry that this discussion between SwanJon and myself has gone off topic somewhat. I will make this my final reply on the subject.

SwanJon wrote: »

You assume the existing supplier already knows my details...

If I haven't given my details to the deemed supplier, then no, they have no right to them. They are entitled to bill me as the occupier for my time with them, and I am obliged to pay such.

You've ignored the issue of people moving out without informing the supplier. Convenient.

Are you just being argumentative for the sake of it

You are attempting to use DPA rules to justify mischievous behaviour - which the rules were never intended for.

If the existing supplier does not know your details and you are using energy then you are being mischievous, DPA may prevent the new supplier giving the old supplier this info, but it is your duty to give your details to the deemed supplier, so they do have the right to know your details.

I have not ignored anything, I have simply identified what should happen (in my opinion) and that the energy supply industry processes are riddled with holes that need to be resolved.
Burying your head in the sand and not admitting the problem is maybe why these issues exist in the first place.

If the old occupier has moved out, or died, or emigrated, or is otherwise not contactable, then the property will possibly be tied up in probate, or litigation to decide the ownership or there will be legal paperwork e.g. tenancy agreement or land registration which identifies who is liable to pay the bills e.g. the landlord, or the estate, so for the cases where the previous bill payer has not informed their energy company, then the new supplier can find the relevant info from many legitimate sources. I am not going to waste my time giving details of these sources since you work for British Gas and no-doubt you are already aware of them.

For those cases where the old occupier simply failed in their duty to inform their energy supplier they had moved out, then the old supplier learns of this when the new occupier either contacts them directly to arrange a new account (this is what they should do) or when a new energy company send them the transfer request. In both cases, the old supplier has a right to know who is now liable to pay any outstanding amounts on the bill.

steveconrad

Finally got a reply from BG. Basically, they have not got any joy with trying to contact the person via their email and phone number. No reply to the phone, email bounces as invalid.
They did check the route that the switch came from and it was originated from moneysupermarket.com
I've dropped msm an email in the hope they can assist. No responce other than the auto reply so far.

HugoRune_2

Similar thing has just happened to me, switched from EON to another supplier without my permission, wrong name on letter from new supplier, informed current supplier its wrong and they said to call new one, did politely suggest they sort it out seeing as I am, after all their bleedin customer! Though having read this thread maybe they cant?
Am gobsmacked I can become a customer of a company with no action or contact whatsoever from me. Its like waking up one morning and finding a different car in my drive, and then learning a garage had decided to change my car for me.