Am I liable to pay the previous tenants' supplier?

mv001

Having taken tenancy over a student house in Durham at the start of July, I've recently been contacted by the landlord informing me that Eon energy have been sending me electricity bills over the summer. Eon provided the previous tenants with power, but neither my housemates nor I have signed a contract with them. In fact we have (albeit very slowly) been setting up an account with another supplier. None of the tenants have been in the house over the summer months, so we (arguably) haven't tacitly accepted Eon's service. Are we still liable for the cost of power, or was it the previous tenants' responsibility to end the contract with them? The bill isn't especially large, but I am curious as to what my rights are in this situation.

Thanks for your time

bob_bank_spanker

mv001 wrote: »

Having taken tenancy over a student house in Durham at the start of July, I've recently been contacted by the landlord informing me that Eon energy have been sending me electricity bills over the summer. Eon provided the previous tenants with power, but neither my housemates nor I have signed a contract with them. In fact we have (albeit very slowly) been setting up an account with another supplier. None of the tenants have been in the house over the summer months, so we (arguably) haven't tacitly accepted Eon's service. Are we still liable for the cost of power, or was it the previous tenants' responsibility to end the contract with them? The bill isn't especially large, but I am curious as to what my rights are in this situation.

Thanks for your time

You are liable for energy consumed since the 1st July. Provide Eon a copy of your tenancy agreement, this will allow them to close off the previous account.

When you take over a property, even if you don't move in, you enter a deemed contract with the energy supplier in place. It is important therefore to contact them on the date of tenancy change to register an account. You can't change supplier (away from eon in this case) without doing this.

Nearly all tariffs now have standing charge, so you will have to pay the standing charge from 1st July until the switch has been completed.

HappyMJ

mv001 wrote: »

Having taken tenancy over a student house in Durham at the start of July, I've recently been contacted by the landlord informing me that Eon energy have been sending me electricity bills over the summer. Eon provided the previous tenants with power, but neither my housemates nor I have signed a contract with them. In fact we have (albeit very slowly) been setting up an account with another supplier. None of the tenants have been in the house over the summer months, so we (arguably) haven't tacitly accepted Eon's service. Are we still liable for the cost of power, or was it the previous tenants' responsibility to end the contract with them? The bill isn't especially large, but I am curious as to what my rights are in this situation.

Thanks for your time

You are liable to the previous supplier from the date you moved in until the date you switched away from them. There is no signed contract...it is a deemed contract. The law allows the contract. If you don't pay, the supplier could take you to court to get a CCJ. If the amount is very low they'll usually just write it off so you could choose not to pay and take the risk.

macman

You can't set up a contract with another supplier until you have registered with Eon and submitted opening readings (which I hope you took on 1/7). Once that's done, you can commence a switch if you wish. However if the bill is more than about £200, Eon will probably block the switch, so clear the o/s bill first.

mv001

Thanks a lot for all of your responses. I've paid the bill off now after hearing your feedback.

undaunted

Not for the previous occupiers consumption but you are liable for any used since you moved in.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Sorry for the late reply mv001. Not been around since last week.

Other posters have provided excellent advice. Can't add much to that but, must admit, I'm not sure if you've registered with us or just paid a bill in the previous occupant's name.

If you've not registered your tenancy with us, I'd let us know the details. We can then make sure the account is set up correctly. This will also help you switch supplier.

Sorry if I've the wrong end of the stick here. Just ignore this is if I have.

Malc