How should I play this situation re previous tenant not paying any gas/elec bills

spiro

The supplier is also likely to want a copy of you tenancy agreement to prove when you moved in, they may also want proof of your previous address. Both of these can be required to prove that you are really a new tenant and not someone pretending to be a new tenant to get out of paying the old bills.

silvercar

...... number to get an MPAN number. I don't have a landline and can't afford to dial an 0845 number from my mobile so I can't do what they are requesting.

One of the hassles of moving into a new property is setting up services, advising change of address etc and one of the costs of this is having to make some phone calls. You need to budget to have to spend something on calls or you will have unnecessary hassle avoiding it.

spiro

silvercar wrote: »

One of the hassles of moving into a new property is setting up services, advising change of address etc and one of the costs of this is having to make some phone calls. You need to budget to have to spend something on calls or you will have unnecessary hassle avoiding it.

I agree, plus you can always try looking on www.saynoto0870.com for another number

undaunted

Now that you've opened the mail isn't there a meter number on that bill which you can use to switch to British Gas or whoever else you may choose?

As others have already said ensure you have a meter reading from the date you moved in (or as early as you now can if you haven't) and if I were you I'd have someone else witness that reading - like the letting agent, a neighbour / anyone else who isn't related to / living with you, and tell the supplier that you require them to attend and read the meter for themselves without delay should they have any issue with the situation. Thereafter it's not your debt / problem.