british gas making friend pay someone elses debt

england8325

my friend recently moved into a property in kirklees from a bradford traveller site to get away from trouble there. unfortunately on the property gas meter there is an outstanding debt from the previous tennant of nearly £2000 for every pound she puts on the meter she gets 10p worth of gas another 10p goes on emergency credit the previous tennant used and 80p goes towards there debt, for 6 days now she has been from pillar to post and probably every department british gas have in this country and abroad. to cut a very long complicated story short british gas have basically told her unless she provides a form from kirklees council which according to that website will take 7 weeks to get to her they wont reduce the debt ( she has to pay £16.50 a week for debt) on the meter and that she just has to like it and lump it and pay the 16.50 she is very poorly and suffers from a thyroid problem which means she struggles to stay warm she will end up in hospital very poorly if they leave her without gas, she is on benefits which means she has very little money to play with so paying nearly £20 a week for someone else is leaving her very stressed and very ill does anyone have any advice as shes pretty much just been told its her problem!

ihateyes

england8325 wrote: »

my friend recently moved into a property in kirklees from a bradford traveller site to get away from trouble there. unfortunately on the property gas meter there is an outstanding debt from the previous tennant of nearly £2000 for every pound she puts on the meter she gets 10p worth of gas another 10p goes on emergency credit the previous tennant used and 80p goes towards there debt, for 6 days now she has been from pillar to post and probably every department british gas have in this country and abroad. to cut a very long complicated story short british gas have basically told her unless she provides a form from kirklees council which according to that website will take 7 weeks to get to her they wont reduce the debt ( she has to pay £16.50 a week for debt) on the meter and that she just has to like it and lump it and pay the 16.50 she is very poorly and suffers from a thyroid problem which means she struggles to stay warm she will end up in hospital very poorly if they leave her without gas, she is on benefits which means she has very little money to play with so paying nearly £20 a week for someone else is leaving her very stressed and very ill does anyone have any advice as shes pretty much just been told its her problem!

Very fustrating for your friend im sure....

But British Gas want proof your friend has moved in, and simply a new name isnt being used to evade the bill.

If your friend recently moved in and is a council tenant, surely, they have a tenancy agreement, which will prove beyond reasonable doubt she is the new tenant.

Joyful

I agree she should have a tenancy agreement. If not it should not take 7 weeks to get one. Most councils can fax change of tenancy agreements to British Gas the same day. As soon as this is received the meter will be reset and any debt paid by her will be refunded.

spiro

I would be blaming the council not British Gas, she should have a tenancy agreement before she moves in otherwise how does she know what her rent is etc.