Utility final bill after checkout

Alkolor

I would like to ask about my situation:

Agency arranged checkout two weeks earlier than end of tenancy agreement. We agree to pay for rent, council tax and water (not metered) until end of tenancy. But we provide meter reading from checkout to the gas and electricity supplier and agree to pay for them until checkout time, not end of tenancy.

We paid final bill and right now after two months gas and electricity supplier send us final bill with date end of tenancy agreement, because agency contact them. We don't want to pay this bill because obviously we didn't have keys to the property and even don't know how accurate the meter reading is after checkout report on day when tenancy end.

Could you advise if we should pay this or it is landlord's responsibility? Thank you for answer.

Mr_Moo_2

Hi, who did you agree with to only pay the bills up until checkout? You're liable until the end of the tenancy, so unless you've got something in writing confirming early termination, you're on weak ground. Can you look at your previous usage to see if the extra amounts for the post-checkout period look right?

Guest101

I would be interested in know how the agent supplied these final readins on your behalf.

Theres a clear breach of data protection here. The utility company should not be accepting readings from anyone but their own employees and the person named on the bill

Alkolor

Thank you very much for your two answers.
Information about data protection and meter reading not from us was really helpful!

tim123456789

Guest101 wrote: »

I would be interested in know how the agent supplied these final readins on your behalf.

Theres a clear breach of data protection here. The utility company should not be accepting readings from anyone but their own employees and the person named on the bill

Really!

Perhaps you better make a "super" complaint to the regulator then, because agents giving utility companys the readings at check-out/in happens all the time

tim

mrginge

Guest101 wrote: »

Theres a clear breach of data protection here. The utility company should not be accepting readings from anyone but their own employees and the person named on the bill

Just read that back to yourself. See how ridiculous it sounds?

mrginge

Alkolor wrote: »

Thank you very much for your two answers.
Information about data protection and meter reading not from us was really helpful!

I wouldn't advise using that as an argument against paying up. You'll only end up looking silly.

There is no data protection issue here, and even if there was, MrMoo's comment still applies.

Guest101

tim123456789 wrote: »

Really!

Perhaps you better make a "super" complaint to the regulator then, because agents giving utility companys the readings at check-out/in happens all the time

tim

Ahem, I am a private individual, who has a private contract with a private company, which is to provide me, via the house at which i legally reside, elecricity, gas and water. (ok two or even 3 companies). That contract is nothing to do with the Letting Agent, who is NOT my agent, and who has no authority to speak on my behalf. By your logic, I could telephone your supplier and provide meter readings? No of course i couldn't and this is no different. It is a clear breach of data protection legislation, which is interference of a 3rd, unrelated, party into a contract.

mrginge wrote: »

Just read that back to yourself. See how ridiculous it sounds?

Not at all, it's perfectly valid. The contract is to supply the tenant with elecricity, gas and water. This is done via the house. However it is no different to a SKY contract, a Mobile Phone contract, or any other contract which provides a service, in exchange for payment.

Unless you have specifically given the utility company authorisation to speak to a third party regarding your account, they should refuse all communication.

Unfortunatly LA are all to happy to open the tenants mail, find the account number and use the automated service to update the meter reading. If they do not then forward this mail on, they are also breaking the law.

Guest101

mrginge wrote: »

I wouldn't advise using that as an argument against paying up. You'll only end up looking silly.

There is no data protection issue here, and even if there was, MrMoo's comment still applies.

I agree with the part about being liable for the bills until the end of the tenancy, unless the OP has it in writing that they end that liability from the letting agent (if managing the property) or the LL.

mrginge

This is getting a bit embarrasing now.

Here's some useful advice from npower -

https://customerservices.npower.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/591/~/i-have-a-new-tenant-moving-in-to-my-property-–-what-do-i-need-to-know-and-do%3F

Now, under your logic that would be a pretty clear breach of the DPA. Since you are so knowlegeable in the legal interpretations of the act i look forward to hearing of of your complaint and the subsequent outcome regarding this.

Fortunatly, i suspect your interpretation to be shall we say, 'slightly lacking'. Given previous track record I do however expect an impassioned justification and/or refusal to accept the truth. I wont be bothering to continue this as it's clear that the hole you currently occupy is deep enough.

Kynthia

There are no data protection issues there is no evidence of any personal information being given out by the utility company and that is what data protection act prevents. Accepting a meter reading from a third party does not involve giving out your private information and a utility company will defend any claim otherwise.

Do you have any reason to disagree with the bill or new meter readings you've been sent? Are the bills just for a couple of weeks service charge which is nominal or are they based on estimated readings or higher ones than you provided? Tell the utility company that the property was vacant and ask them to recalculate.