Haven't signed, but got a bill

MikeH2508

Hi, so here is the dilemma, recently moved house, did my research, decided who I wanted to go with for my energy suppliers and signed up.

Happy days, until I then get a bill from eon claiming I owe them money.

I have never signed with them, so dispute the bill, they have supplied readings to me etc which they got from my new supplier not from me.

I also questioned the tariff they are charging me, it's not the highest, but it isn't the lowest.

So here's the main point I would like to discuss, under what law, regulations etc is the previous supplier allowed to automatically bill me at a rate chosen by them without my authorisation? I wouldn't expect a bill from virgin just because the previous tenant had it and I'm now with Sky.

I supplied the meter readings to my current supplier from the day I moved in, so in my mind they should bill me from that point, not the magical day the suppliers do the swap over as without the information I have supplied no one would be the wiser.

Would love to get some feedback on this.

spacey2012

If you use the utility, you automatically are liable for the amount by legislation of whatever quantity you use, they dont need a signed anything and if you did not make arrangements with them from day one and supply meter readings, they can charge it at the standard rate normally applied to new customers.

cajef

It takes a few weeks to transfer suppliers, you appear to think you should have any usage from the date you moved in until the change over for free.

It does not work like that, you would have received an estimated bill from EON if you had not provided a reading.

HappyMJ

Have you spoken with Eon? They have the right to charge you but you also have the right to negotiate with them about the amount. To prevent going to court to get the money they'll usually accept any reasonable offer you make....so I'd offer an amount equal to what the bill would have been had you been with your new supplier from the day you moved in.

Eon was supplying you with energy until the day they do the swap over so by you providing false information to the new supplier you have commited fraud. Nothing too serious at the moment but they want the meter readings from the change over day not an earlier date so provide them with those meter readings and you can get an accurate bill and everything should be OK.

macman

MikeH2508 wrote: »

Hi, so here is the dilemma, recently moved house, did my research, decided who I wanted to go with for my energy suppliers and signed up.

Happy days, until I then get a bill from eon claiming I owe them money.

I have never signed with them, so dispute the bill, they have supplied readings to me etc which they got from my new supplier not from me.

I also questioned the tariff they are charging me, it's not the highest, but it isn't the lowest.

So here's the main point I would like to discuss, under what law, regulations etc is the previous supplier allowed to automatically bill me at a rate chosen by them without my authorisation? I wouldn't expect a bill from virgin just because the previous tenant had it and I'm now with Sky.

I supplied the meter readings to my current supplier from the day I moved in, so in my mind they should bill me from that point, not the magical day the suppliers do the swap over as without the information I have supplied no one would be the wiser.

Would love to get some feedback on this.

You did this all back to front.
You were in a deemed contract with the existing supplier (Eon) from the day you moved in and started using their power. You can't switch away until you register for an account with them. Only then can you switch to your preferred supplier, which will take 4-5 weeks. Accordingly you will be billed by Eon until your switch goes through (if it hasn't already been rejected as above). On the switch date advised, you take a final reading and submit it.
If you don't specify your preferred tariff at sign-up, then you are placed on the default Standard tariff, which is also the most expensive.
No written signature is ever required to form a utility contract-deemed contracts have been in place for 20 plus years now..

Wywth

MikeH2508 wrote: »

Hi, so here is the dilemma, recently moved house, did my research, decided who I wanted to go with for my energy suppliers and signed up.

Happy days, until I then get a bill from eon claiming I owe them money.

I have never signed with them, so dispute the bill, they have supplied readings to me etc which they got from my new supplier not from me.

I also questioned the tariff they are charging me, it's not the highest, but it isn't the lowest.

So here's the main point I would like to discuss, under what law, regulations etc is the previous supplier allowed to automatically bill me at a rate chosen by them without my authorisation? I wouldn't expect a bill from virgin just because the previous tenant had it and I'm now with Sky.

I supplied the meter readings to my current supplier from the day I moved in, so in my mind they should bill me from that point, not the magical day the suppliers do the swap over as without the information I have supplied no one would be the wiser.

Would love to get some feedback on this.

As it typically takes 4-6 wekks to switch supplier (and you can't switch supplier unlesss you have a supplier ), who do you think supplied your energy before the switch occurred?

Any new supplier will request from you a meter reading on or about the day a switch occurs. If you don't supply this it'll cause you even more problems as it is this that will be used to (estimate what to) bill you from.

Your TV was different. You got neither Virgin nor Sky until you signed up. Is that what you'd prefer for gas & electricity? No supply for a few days/weeks???

StuC75

as per other posts, you are in a deemed contract for the original reading through to when any transfer you put through is then completed..

Do you know how long the property was empty for? as the eon bill is likely to cover from there last reading to what you gave to new supplier.

How much is the bill for? does it cover readings for when you were in the house?

When I bought my house, it had been empty for nearly a year (estate sell off), so there were a series of bills 'to occupier' advising of owed balance and series of estimated readings giving a bill of over £1,200..

A quick call to British gas to advise of situation and give correct readings and it was all cancelled out, and have only paid for what I have used..

undaunted

I sympathise with your apparent frustration / irritation & believe the "deemed contract" system leaves much to be desired but unfortunately as things stand the last occupiers supplier continues the supply until it is switched to a new one.

The only way you can avoid being billed by them is not to use the supply until the new supplier takes over.

As to your question re what legislation permits this it can be found here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/29/schedule/6

Cardew

undaunted wrote: »

I sympathise with your apparent frustration / irritation & believe the "deemed contract" system leaves much to be desired but unfortunately as things stand the last occupiers supplier continues the supply until it is switched to a new one.

The only way you can avoid being billed by them is not to use the supply until the new supplier takes over.

As to your question re what legislation permits this it can be found here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/29/schedule/6

What would be your alternative to the 'deemed contract' - other than speed up the switching process?

The deemed contract was introduced to help new occupants so they could move into a property with the gas and electricity still connected.

It used to be the case that gas and electricity were cut off when the old occupant left, unless the incoming occupant contacted the supplier and gave them their details.

Now it is often impossible to know who is supplying the property.

Utility companies cannot take instructions from a tenant/owner until they are legally in occupation/possession. "Hallo British Gas - my name is Ed Miliband and I am moving into 10 Downing Street W1 in October - please take over the supply"

undaunted

The deemed contract system might not be so bad if it was time limited and somebody enforced license conditions (eg see the current thread from the British Gas customer who says they didn't do so), but they certainly shouldn't be able to rely upon it for ever more or get away with failing to notify customers of terms & conditions within a short time scale.

If they don't know who the customer is within say 3 months (or less) and have an agreed tariff for the future then yes they should notify an intention to (and then if necessary act to) cut it off until they do.

Given that in the majority of cases the solicitors or landlord should have full knowledge of who will be in & out when and most outgoing consumers will want to tell the supplier in order to ensure they aren't left with the next occupiers bills there is no sensible reason that arrangements couldn't be made in advance & if, in the odd cases, there is any doubt then it wouldn't be rocket science to "contact David Cameron & ask if he can confirm his departure / Mr Millibands arrival"

It should never be impossible to know who is supplying the property as that is at odds with the suppliers license conditions - requiring them to notify the consumer of terms & conditions within a reasonable time

Personally I don't believe the old system was so terrible or difficult for the consumer - I think it was just more trouble and expense for the suppliers & so they lobbied for the current poor system to be put in place

Joyful

Undaunted. Your idea would not work. I speak to customers on prepayments meters who often think they do not need to contact a supplier if there are topping up devices at the property already. The first time we hear from them is when they want something or a meter goes faulty.

Often too a customer will move out and not advise us( sometimes not paying the bill or their rent). Then it may be 4 months before a bill goes out and the new tenants contact us.

I feel how to manage utilities should be taught at school and at the least the suppliers info given when a property changes hands.