Charging for 4 years worth of Standing Order Charge

rlphillips630602 · 24 April 2013 at 9:35PM

Hi All,

Hoping to get some advice. I moved into a property around 4 years ago. I sought electricity supply from EDF. I had no gas appliances and as far as i can seen there is nowhere to plumb anything in if i wanted to.

I have continued to receive post for the previous occupier who i had no forwarding address. I just recycled the letters and just assumed it was marketing material. In the last month i had called EDF and advised them they are still sending correspondence to this previous occupier and could they just stop it. I was advised that they had now closed the gas account (upon me calling)and i could opt to remove the meter and pay to have it reinstalled at a later date, or just leave it. So i figured i would just leave it, why pay to have it reinstalled if it ws already there. Anyway, few weeks later I receive a letter form EDF addressed to Owner/Occupier telling me my Gas Bill is overdue and i now owe £174.98. The meter still shows the last recorded reading they have and is capped off, deemed contract would mean i would have had actually consumed gas and that i would have to been made aware of whatever the charging structure is.

I have challenged this and i have been told that i am liable simply because i live at the property. I cant believe that is reasonable. If i knew i was liable for a charge would have had the meter removed.

Where do i stand on this? Any advice appreciated.

Richard

Nada666 · 25 April 2013 at 7:21AM

Yes, it is reasonable, and, yes, you are liable. You did not attempt to identify and contact your gas supplier so you are liable for a full six years of standing charges.

I think you should be grateful that the bill is as low as it is - at only £3.60 per month that is very low for a gas standing charge.

DragonQ · 25 April 2013 at 9:56AM

If you still have no use for gas but don't want to get rid of the meter, I suggest you switch to a company and tariff with no standing charge (e.g. Ebico)!