Can't get a bill from British Gas

Bluefox_2

Last May we bought a house where my daughter is now living and sharing with 3 other students, they're sharing the bills.
Previous owners had gas and electricity with British Gas, so I phoned them on the day we got the keys with meter readings and gave my daughter's name for the new account. Was told she would receive a 'Welcome Pack' in 2 weeks but this never arrived. After 6 weeks we got an estimated bill addressed to the occupier. I phoned again, confirmed meter readings and was told to ignore occupier bill and that my daughter would receive the correct bill in 2 weeks. This was about 7 months ago and we still haven't received a bill. Have contacted them a further 4 times by phone and email but every time we are told everything is OK and that the bill will arrive in 2 weeks, but it doesn't come. I'm concerned that when the bill does finally arrive it will be huge and the 4 girls won't be able to afford it.
Has anybody had a similar experience? How can I get it sorted out?

simonts

Going through the same with Npower for electric at the moment.

We bought our first house in may and had to take on the previous occupiers provider, I gave them a meter reading the first day and setup a regular fixed direct debit with them. since then I have asked for a bill I dont know how many times but finally one shows up today..£225 ! the worrying part is that its a quarterly bill.

I'm really wondering whats happens to May through to october

tripled

Do you know if an account has actually been set up on the system, or is it still in the name the occupier? If the account is set up in your daughters name, then give them a current meter reading and ask them to calculate the bill over the phone. They will want to speak to your daughter first before they give you any balances or account numbers over the phone due to the data protection act.

Bluefox_2

tripled wrote:

Do you know if an account has actually been set up on the system, or is it still in the name the occupier? If the account is set up in your daughters name, then give them a current meter reading and ask them to calculate the bill over the phone. They will want to speak to your daughter first before they give you any balances or account numbers over the phone due to the data protection act.

They have told me on the phone that the account is set up in my daughter's name but there has been nothing in writing to her at all.
Have you got them to calculate a bill over the phone like this for you before? If they do it then do you still need to get them to send a paper bill before it can be paid?

tripled

You can pay before a bill is issued, it will just show as a credit on the account until charges are added. Bills can be calculated over the phone around 70% of the time, certain system and procedural issues mean that for the other 30% it won't work. However, even if this happened your daughter could still ask to pay an amount towards her next bill and the payment would be accepted.

Bluefox_2

simonts wrote:

Going through the same with Npower for electric at the moment.

We bought our first house in may and had to take on the previous occupiers provider, I gave them a meter reading the first day and setup a regular fixed direct debit with them. since then I have asked for a bill I dont know how many times but finally one shows up today..£225 ! the worrying part is that its a quarterly bill.

I'm really wondering whats happens to May through to october

You say it's a quarterly bill but it is based on actual meter reading from the day you moved in or is it just an estimate for 3 months use?

tripled

If you haven't had a bill before, I would say it was for 8 months not 3

anniecave

bluefox - have you tried writing in with the same information and ask them to sort it out? Someone at BG will probably have to delete or amend the account called "the occupier" in order to get the correct account for your daughter set up. Sometimes writing rather than phoning helps. If you write and nothing happens within a month, complain to energywatch - google for this and you will find the information.

If you know the opening meter readings and you read the meter now, you will know how much they have used, and if you pick the standard british gas tariff and work it out, you will know approx how much the electricity bill will be to date. I would work this out and convey the information to the residents of the house and ask them to start putting money aside for it, eg into someones savings account, along with how much you estimate they are using per month ongoing.