Please help need to know where i stand regarding mess up by utility company

Azure

Hi!

I am really hoping someone can help me regarding where I stand. In summer 2010 our block of flats (freeholder is a housing association) were taken off bulk gas supply but we are now with an Independent Gas Transporter. Initially everyone was put with a certain utility company (lets call them A) on their standard tarriff. I had arranged to switch to another utility company (lets call them on a fixed tarriff for a year almost immediately and was only with A or so I thought a couple of days. Everything seemed hunkey dorry paid company A, set up direct debit with company B and then at the end of the year (summer 2011) switched to company C on another fixed tarriff. Anyway today I receive a bill from company A for gas from 2010 until now so I phone them up and after some investigation they are saying that the Independent Gas Transporter has details of my switch to company C in the summer 2011 but nothing for company B and as far as company A are concerned and the Independent Gas Transporter are concerned I was with company A from summer 2010 until summer 2011. What they want me to do is pay them from summer 2010 to summer 2011 and claim back from company B who they are saying never supplied me with gas but confirmed everything in writing and took my money.

I am concerned that both company A and B are going to blame each other and I am going to be left well out of pocket. The whole situation just seems wrong and how come company A if they thought they were supplying me until now have never sent me any bills prior to this one. Are they allowed to send a bill over 2 years later? I entered into a contract with company B trusting that everything was in order and that they would do their job properly and yet I am the one who is left with this mess. There is no way I could have foreseen this.

Any advice, pointers would be much appreciated, pretty please

Azure

can anyone offer any advice?

spiro

Azure wrote: »

set up direct debit with company B

Check your bank statements and see if company B took the DD, if they did get them to sort it out, if they did not the switch did not go through so you should have 1 years of gas money still in your account.

Azure

Thanks Spiro for your reply, it is much appreciated. Yes the DDs did go through. Customer services at company A have said they are now going to escalate the matter and will get a call in a couple of days about what I owe them. Do you know how they going to work that out seing as the bill they sent me is all estimated?

We were all put on company A's standard tarriff and looking at the bill they sent me yesterday it was for June 2012 to June 2013. It details what they estimated my bill to be from 2010 to June 2012 and then set an amount for june 2012 to 2013 based on their estimations. I use very little gas and was on a fantastic fix with company B. Is their a limit to what they can charge me for summer 2010 to summer 2011?

chanz4

If company B confirm they didn't supply as per the transporter, ask for a refund and then pay company a

Azure

Thanks chanz4 but I paid very little for my gas with company B as was such a good rate and with company A I was on their standard tarriff so won't I be out of pocket even if company B refund me? That is what concerns me. Can I ask for compensation from Company B to cover what company A might ask me for seeing as they did not transfer me successfully? Also does anyone know if can ask company A to wait for payment until company B have refunded me?

It just seems so wrong that I have to suffer when this whole situation is no fault of mine.

steph100

It could be crossed meters, when you went with company B you need to confirm they took over the correct supply. Check your meter serial number and see if it corresponds with the bills from all companies, if not then the IGT may be holding incorrect records for your flat and they will need to ascertain the correct ones before you can work out who was actually supplying you at what time. Crossed meters means that the meter serving your flat is actually showing as belonging to a different address. If your meter is inside your home then its easy to check the serial number. If its outside, you may well need to carry out a burns test. Your current supplier will be able tohelp you do this.

YoYoY

Azure wrote: »

Hi!

I am really hoping someone can help me regarding where I stand. In summer 2010 our block of flats (freeholder is a housing association) were taken off bulk gas supply but we are now with an Independent Gas Transporter. Initially everyone was put with a certain utility company (lets call them A) on their standard tarriff. I had arranged to switch to another utility company (lets call them on a fixed tarriff for a year almost immediately and was only with A or so I thought a couple of days. Everything seemed hunkey dorry paid company A, set up direct debit with company B and then at the end of the year (summer 2011) switched to company C on another fixed tarriff. Anyway today I receive a bill from company A for gas from 2010 until now so I phone them up and after some investigation they are saying that the Independent Gas Transporter has details of my switch to company C in the summer 2011 but nothing for company B and as far as company A are concerned and the Independent Gas Transporter are concerned I was with company A from summer 2010 until summer 2011. What they want me to do is pay them from summer 2010 to summer 2011 and claim back from company B who they are saying never supplied me with gas but confirmed everything in writing and took my money.

I am concerned that both company A and B are going to blame each other and I am going to be left well out of pocket. The whole situation just seems wrong and how come company A if they thought they were supplying me until now have never sent me any bills prior to this one. Are they allowed to send a bill over 2 years later? I entered into a contract with company B trusting that everything was in order and that they would do their job properly and yet I am the one who is left with this mess. There is no way I could have foreseen this.

Any advice, pointers would be much appreciated, pretty please

It typically takes 4-6 weeks from application to switch supplier.
You couldn't have switched supplier until you had a supplier, and if you did attempt before then, this is yet more evidence such attempts usually end in tears.

Azure wrote: »

Thanks Spiro for your reply, it is much appreciated. Yes the DDs did go through. Customer services at company A have said they are now going to escalate the matter and will get a call in a couple of days about what I owe them. Do you know how they going to work that out seing as the bill they sent me is all estimated?

We were all put on company A's standard tarriff and looking at the bill they sent me yesterday it was for June 2012 to June 2013. It details what they estimated my bill to be from 2010 to June 2012 and then set an amount for june 2012 to 2013 based on their estimations. I use very little gas and was on a fantastic fix with company B. Is their a limit to what they can charge me for summer 2010 to summer 2011?

What happened to Company C that no one seems to dispute you were supplied by from Summer 2011?

Or did you switch back to Company A after the fixed tariff offered by Company C expired in Summer 2012?

When you switched to Company C in Summer 2011, which company contacted you with the 'sorry you are leaving' message?

YoYoY

Azure wrote: »

Thanks chanz4 but I paid very little for my gas with company B as was such a good rate and with company A I was on their standard tarriff so won't I be out of pocket even if company B refund me? That is what concerns me. Can I ask for compensation from Company B to cover what company A might ask me for seeing as they did not transfer me successfully? Also does anyone know if can ask company A to wait for payment until company B have refunded me?

It just seems so wrong that I have to suffer when this whole situation is no fault of mine.

You can ask.

But don't bank on getting any as it appears Company B haven't ever supplied you. If this is the case, Company B will return to you any money you paid to them and I can't see any reason for a delay by Company B to refund you.

Man_Overboard_2

Azure wrote: »

We were all put on company A's standard tarriff and looking at the bill they sent me yesterday it was for June 2012 to June 2013

But in another of your posts, you said that company A had acknowledged your switch to company C in 2011, so I don't understand how they can be claiming the right to bill you in advance for the year June 2012 to June 2013

I think the 'crossed meter' possibility is worth pursuing - I had experience of this myself when some ancient almshouses were converted into modern flats, each with its own meters

Try to find out if any of your neighbours are experiencing similar problems - in my case, it took nearly three years for British Gas to wake up to the fact that there was a problem, and, for me, the result was a complete write-off of more than two years unbilled energy supply

Azure

steph100 wrote: »

It could be crossed meters, when you went with company B you need to confirm they took over the correct supply. Check your meter serial number and see if it corresponds with the bills from all companies, if not then the IGT may be holding incorrect records for your flat and they will need to ascertain the correct ones before you can work out who was actually supplying you at what time. Crossed meters means that the meter serving your flat is actually showing as belonging to a different address. If your meter is inside your home then its easy to check the serial number. If its outside, you may well need to carry out a burns test. Your current supplier will be able tohelp you do this.

The meter serial numbers and point reference number correspond correctly with records. My meter is outside but I can easily access it with a key.