Utility Bills - Pay the old supplier?

Yorkie1

vincent.waldorf wrote: »

That is quite a cunning plan. I was told that i would need to pay for the difference and the new company said that i need to settle the bill and that I should ask to pay it with cash so they dont keep my bank details and charge me "accidentally" the next month!

I hope you didn't agree :eek:

Vincent.waldorf

Well, i think technically i am obligated to pay the bill during the transitioning phase as i am technically using the electricity.
I will definitely be checking that the calculations are correct!!

R_P_W

The sellers should be responsible until the day that they no longer own the property and that ownership becomes yours - day of completion.

They should take meetings on that day. In my view you then become responsible for the utility bills from that point whether you move into the property straightaway of if you delay for whavever reason.

Only way to ensure the seller readings are 'accuarate' is to read them on the same day I guess.

pinkteapot

There isn't really a transition phase; I think you're over-complicating things. The seller should take readings when they leave, and give them to the utilities company. They (seller) will then receive a final bill.

You take readings as soon you can (on the day of completion if at all possible). This might be a few hours after the seller took readings of course, but they should have turned everything off. There may be a very small amount of usage if they left something on by mistake, but the utilities companies won't care about that.

As others have said - after completion (not exchange), read the meters as soon as you can and take a date and time-stamped photo if possible.

Phone the supplier that the previous owner used and say you've taken over the supply at XYZ address and have opening meter readings for them. They will bill you from that point onwards.

See below:

http://www.creditchoices.co.uk/partner-lp_moving-house-10-things-you-need-to-do-when-you-move-in/mortgages/guides/moving-house-10-things-you-need-to-do-when-you-move-in.html#3