Default for british gas account i knew nothing about

oljomo

Hi

I recently found out that my credit report has linked me to an address i rented 3 years ago and there is an unpaid gas bill there that has lead to a default.

Now, i did not sign up for this account, received no letters about it while i was there, and the landlord closed the account when i moved out. After this they sent all the bills to the address that i had moved out of. They also had an incorrect date of birth for me.

I have rung them about it, and asked them to send me this information, but they say that they have done nothing wrong, and that i was obliged to notify them when i moved in - and the fact that the landlord has done this is no excuse, and there is nothign i can do to remove the default.

Now i find this incredible that they can just file a default that i only find out about when the credit reports link addresses, years down the line with no notification, when i knew nothing about a debt being due to them - however they say that they did everything right and that by using the gas i agreed to the terms and conditions i knew nothing about.

I know that the address had dodgy post delivery, as we had lots of other post that went missing - this was part of the reason why we werent there for long (6 months)

Is there anything i can do about this, or am i stuck with a default for 4 more years because the landlord signed up for this in my name?

I do not have nay of the paperwork anymore because i figured that it was years ago so was of no use, and this was the first time i had rented, and we had to keep topping up a meter for electricity, i assumed it was all the same thing.

rizla_king

So this was your ex landlord taking out the BG account in your name while you were still in the property?

StuC75

How long were you at the property? How did you think the gas was being paid for?

was the Electric Token meter account in your name or was it something you assumed was provided by the landlord in with the rent?

To say you knew had to pay for electric but not for Gas sounds a tad unbeleivable..

oljomo

I was only in the property for 6 months.

As the electricity was on a meter, i assumed the gas was too and that wed top it up when it ran out - the fact we weren't there for long (and barely used the heating - it was a basement flat so it got hot anyway just from being in there)

No gas cooker - bill is apparently only £87, which i would have paid had i received correspondance about it.

I had no idea top up meters were in anyones name - i thought it was jsut you put money in, it runs out and you put more money in - assumed that the previous tenants had just topped the gas up by too much.

Buzby

There are two separate issues. The first, is you remain liable for any utilities you consume and are required to pay them on demand. However, unless the default is a CCJ, BG cannot modify your credit file without your permission. The fact they don't even have your correct DoB should have prevented it being applied.

Give them 28 days to remove it, and if they don't advise you will take it up with the ICO for a serious data breach.

oljomo

They say i gave them permission when i used the gas as that agrees to the terms and conditions.

It seems unfair - i don't mind paying the money, what i mind is that they wont remove the default.