No gas bills for several years - new build

waccamole

Hi,

When we moved into our new build house several years ago we gradually received bills for all the utiities, council tax etc. but not gas.

To cut a long story short I tried several times to find out our supplier by phoning British Gas and Powergen (who supplied our electricity). I also wrote to them but didn't get a reply from either. I was variously assured that either Powergen must also be supplying our gas or that we would eventually receive a gas bill from whichever company was supplying us.

Time has gone by, we've had three children, been madly busy and the absence of gas bills has been 'on the back burner' so to speak.

We never have received a bill and eon assure me that they are not our gas suppliers.

Life has become a little less hectic and sorting out the gas (which has been nagging away at me but there's always been something more urgent) has got to the top of the 'To Do List'.

So, where do I start?

Anyone got any experience of this?

Cheers Waccamole

macman

So how many years has this gone on? It's up to you to register when you move in, not for them to contact you. With a new build the agent or builder should supply the details, but invariably they screw up. Since the suppliers are not psychic, they have no idea when people move in and out unless they are told.
http://www.ukpower.co.uk/who-supplies-my-gas-and-electricity
I hope that you've put something aside for a big bill, as the back billing rule may not apply in your case.

spiro

I agree as a new build the builder should have registered the gas supply with someone to get the meters fitted but in some cases the guys who installs the gas supply can do it which means nobody knows about it.
What you should have done was say to BG or Powergen, I want you to supply my gas. If they tried to do this and there was already a supplier that supplier may have objected or just sent you a final bill.
As already been said I hope you have put money aside each month for the impending gas bill which could be very big depending on how long 'several years' is.

macman

'We've had 3 children' since would indicate that it's going to be at least a 27 month bill...

[Deleted User]

all new build estates I see, the developer does a deal with one supplier for each or both utilities, so your immediate neighbours could indicate the contracted suppliers. I suppose the builders get a financial incentive for doing a deal with one supplier. There always seem to be mess-ups somewhere with new estates, be it serial numbers, plot numbers and house numbers

jalexa

macman wrote: »

I hope that you've put something aside for a big bill, as the back billing rule may not apply in your case.

Of course that is measured advice. Perhaps the OP should make their own mind up...http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills/412-the-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills-back-billing-for-domestic-customers.html

sub clause 4 refers.

My interpretation is that *probably* back-billing relief will apply. The rules are heavy on the use of the word "supplier", even though the problem (for the householder) is there is "apparently" no supplier. You, I (and spiro) know what inquiries to make to identify the "supplier" but I would question whether it is obvious to the layperson. Anyway the OP claims "I also wrote to them but didn't get a reply from either. I was variously assured that either Powergen must also be supplying our gas or that we would eventually receive a gas bill from whichever company was supplying us".

While proof is helpful, and sometimes difficult with the passage of time, that would certainly rule out Powergen (hmm...that's going back more than "several years") or BG as having a claim to be "the supplier". On the face of it they both appear to have been singularly unhelpful.

The first relevant proof anyway is not the householder's conduct but the meter registration history. No (or incorrect) meter registration, no supplier. If registered, the supplier's proof of "occupier" correspondence to the supply address. Not forgetting the biennial meter inspection records. Why do I get the feeling this is an industry fail of the type that sacsquacco hints at.

lemontart

with the majority of new builds a gas supplier will install a meter but more often than not a supply is not actually registered - the onus is on the occupier to register with a supplier - had you spoken to the m number line a dedicated line for those searching for registered gas supplier (there is also one for those with an independent gas transporter which I am sure others can provide you with details of) you would have been advised that if no details held you are free to choose a gas supplier of choice . If you do not know the mprn you could check the pipework by the meter or ask the builder for this as they would have been provided it when gas supply pipes installed.

If still no mprn the gas supplier you choose will be able to arrange for a new one to be issued .

fawd1

slightly different , but a while ago I moved into a flat that had a prepayment meter for gas. We wanted it changed to a credit one, so got the guys to come out and change it. After three months, no bill, but one letter telling us we had spent £0 on our prepayment meter. I call, and say you do realise we're not on prepayment? I don't want a massive bill in 3 months time. I was assured they would get it sorted. 3 months later, same thing happens. And again 3 months later. At that stage I said to them, please send me a letter confirming that I have requested for a bill to be sent for the last 9 months, and I have been attempting to maintain my account properly. They did send me an e-mail along those lines. I then left them to it. More fool them, because they never did their work properly and for the following 3 years I had free gas. It was great, we lived in the bottom maisonette of a converted flat above shops and got on really well with our neighbours. Come winter, we'd just whack the heating on full and leave our doors open so they could get our heat too. They even cooked their christmas dinner at ours! I got a letter at the end of my tenancy thanking me for my custom. No, thank you.

waccamole

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, have been putting away money each month so not too worried about the amount of the bill. If wildly higher than anticipated I'll be asking to spread payment for the balance.

Just think it's about time we tried again to get it sorted out. It's been important but not urgent so never made it to the top of the to do list before!

Looks like we were trying the wrong route. It's a fair point about it not being clear to lay people how to resolve these things.

Cheers again

Wacca

SwanJon

The only other thing I would do is take and keep readings so that if/when a supplier surfaces you have proof of what the last 12 months consumption actually was.

The next issue could come when/if you try to sell the house - do you need to give this kind of information to the next owner? (although they may be quite happy with free gas.)

Wolf3

As you said the property was a new build i would suspect your gas supply was installed by an IGT (Independent Gas Transporter) not Transco so it will probably be a little harder to track down your Gas supply number (MPR)

The builders will have registered a gas supply for the property and should have provided you with this information when they sold the property, in all likelihood the MPR will still be registered to a plot address which is why you have never recieved a bill

Transco have a telephone number and website but for IGT's i would try Envoy on 0845 055 6199 or you can go on their website at envoyonline.co.uk/homeusers

AFAIK energy suppliers cannot back bill more than a couple of years if the customer has never received a bill for their energy usage. However as the energy is supplied on a "credit" meter, if you do not come to an arrangement with an energy supplier over the usage of gas you may find your credit rating can be affected if you do not take necessary steps to resolve the situation.

So as previous posts have said i would make every effort to find out what your properties gas supply number is and then you will be able to find out who the registered supplier is. If you cannot obtain this number you will have to get a new supply registered for your property.