I'm not paying for gas!!

Leep_4

I moved into a brand new house 3 years ago, I recently tried to save myself some money by switching my gas & electricity from my existing suppliers. When I moved in the homebuilders took readings from the meters and informed the necessary people, I was supposed to have a dual fuel agreement but as it turns out I am only paying for electricity!! and I haven't paid a gas bill in 3 years!!

I don't currently have a gas supplier, has anyone been in a similar situation or advice on what I can do to minimize the cost of paying for back dated gas??

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

If you don't have a supplier then who are you goin to pay????

Somebody has obviously been supplying you with it.

welshcakes

I take it that at some point you had a supply of and were using gas. It may well be that the previous owner failed to advise of move (and so I assumeyourself as new occupier)? However it seems on the face of it, that the customer account relating to your property gas supply has somehow slipped through the supplier's billing system resulting in no gas bills being issued.

The problem is, as you are quite rightly concerned about it, is that at some point, this administrative error may come to light. It's an unusual situation and one which I would presume should the 'ex' gas supplier may pursue, so will ikely be governed by consumer law wherein you were aware that by receiving a gas supply and using gas, you had entered into a customer/supplier contract. That normally by default means you have assumed responsibility to pay for the services provided.

Perhaps it is possible for you to ring up the enquiry line to find out who the last known supplier is on record. At the moment, it a question of you weighing up whether you want to 'let sleeping dogs lie' or be pro-active in bringing the matter to the attention of the last supplier. Bear in mind that if you decide to do nothing and simply approach a fresh supplier as a new gas customer, you'll constantly be wondering if a letter is going to drop on your doormat one day. There's also the moral duty as well however I must confess, I would not like to sit in judgement where the household is on a tight budget working hard to carve out a decent life - it's got to be tempting to say well stuff it, the onus is on any previous supplier to approach me, not the other way round.

In worst case scenario, I cannot find that 'interest' can be applied or a fixed late payment penalties as technically you have never been provided with a bill/invoice and therefore payment has never been requested. No doubt there would also be plenty of room for negotiating a clawback payment scheme especially if you have dependents/ are on low income.

What were the circumstances under which you eventually stopped receiving/using gas at the property?

lush_walrus

Check with Powergen, as they are a very common culprit of this and could well be your supplier even though its coming up as none!

My parents unbelievably had to fight a battle with them a year ago now to get them to send a bill, before that they hadnt had one for 2 years and spent most of that time trying to find who it was.

You must keep trying on this, as if you are seen to make an effort to pay it will not be considered as avoidance. Where as if you just try once or do not get to the bottom of it, it is.

Ah I forgot to say that with my parents, when eventually after all that time of trying they got to the bottom of it and convinced Powergen to send them a bill, Powergen decided to wipe the past and start from a reading taken that month. So trying might be worth it!

seven-day-weekend

Found this; don't know if it will help.

http://www.energylinx.co.uk/questions.htm#43

How can I find out who supplies the gas and electricity to my home?
GAS SUPPLY - If you do not have a bill or cannot see it the information on a recent bill, call Transco's Meter Helpline on 0870 608 1524 and ask them for your MPRN number and name of your registered supplier if it not shown or your recent gas accounts.



ELECTRICITY SUPPLY - Again the first step is look at a recent electricity bill, if it not clear what your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) call your local electricity distribution company. You should ask for their Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS). If you are not sure who your local electricity distribution company is, contact Energylinx

welshcakes

That's the "enquiry line"contact I was trying to think of - good link 7dw

jap200

This happened to me a few years ago when I rented a flat in London. I lived there 2 years and never received a gas bill. I made several enquiries initially - but finally gave up and enjoyed my free gas until I moved out.

The potential risk is that at some point you may be landed with a huge bill!

Wig

Information on gas suppliers is held by the transporters.

They are the only organisations that can confirm who the gas supplier is for any particular property. For the vast majority of consumers, gas is transported by National Grid, Northern Gas Networks, Scottish Gas Networks, Southern Gas Networks or Wales & West Utilities.

To find out your supplier with any of these companies, call 0870 608 1524.

If they cannot find any details it may be that the supply is via an independent gas transporter (IGT). More information can be found here.


As regards the large bill, it is in law known as an "unexpected burden" and you must be given reasonable terms of payment to pay it off each month, you pay what you can afford and no more.

tripled

As you moved into a brand new property, one of three things could be happening. Either there is a company billing it but the bills are going out to the plot address and getting lost, the company who supplies it never set up an account, or there is no registered supplier (although the third option is unlikely).

Follow the advice above to find out who your supplier is. It is useful to have your meter serial number to hand when you call these companies as if they have plot details on their database without it they may not be able to find your account.

If the registered supplier is at fault by not sendiing bills for three years, legally now they can actually only bill back for 2 years. They should also honour a request to allow you to pay the arrears over a similar timeframe, ie another 2 years, although you may have to fight to get this.

Good luck

Mr_Crafty

I've had the same problem too. An additional problem we've got is that we want to change suppliers but don't want to (well, can't) while we have a large bill from another hanging over us. It may look like we're trying to avoid paying it.

tripled

If there is an outstanding bill, the current supplier may well refuse the transfer anyway, if you follow the advice above you should be fine