British Gas charging me for old capped meter.

Ryune

molerat wrote: »

Get off your high horse.

BG have no legal justification for billing the op. Nowhere have I suggested they refuse access to any authorised person just that they inform BG in no uncertain terms that they are not paying for their unused and unwanted service that neither party have entered into a contract for.

- Aproperty has a gas supply.
- National Grid charge whoever the registered supplier is for that supply (including but not limited to metering costs).
- The supplier recoups these charges from its customers however they see fit.

Why should they not recoup said costs from the owner if they are being charged for a supply to their property?


If the owner wants to take the stance that the supply (and costs) are nothing to do with them then they should ask for the supplier to permentantly disconnect the supply. Problem Solved.

If they want to keep the supply (even if they're not using it) then they should take responsibility for it and either pay BG, or move to someone like Ebico.

Made_in_Cornwall

Not really a problem solved when I rent the place and therefore cannot authorise the meter to be taken out.
And I've not paid anything for the last seven years as it was capped before I got here.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Made_in_Cornwall wrote: »

Not really a problem solved when I rent the place and therefore cannot authorise the meter to be taken out.
And I've not paid anything for the last seven years as it was capped before I got here.

A change to ebico will solve the problem.

molerat

Ryune wrote: »

- Aproperty has a gas supply.
- National Grid charge whoever the registered supplier is for that supply (including but not limited to metering costs).
- The supplier recoups these charges from its customers however they see fit.

Why should they not recoup said costs from the owner if they are being charged for a supply to their property?


If the owner wants to take the stance that the supply (and costs) are nothing to do with them then they should ask for the supplier to permentantly disconnect the supply. Problem Solved.

If they want to keep the supply (even if they're not using it) then they should take responsibility for it and either pay BG, or move to someone like Ebico.

A customer has to enter into a contract with a supplier. That contract can be entered into either by agreement, on paper or electronically, or entering a deemed contract by using the service. The op has done neither so no contract exists and no payment is due. A change in the law (or a legal challenge / clarification of the current law) would be required to justify a charge where a property is connected but the service is not used.

Mr-Chris_2

if your landlord is a housing association. they should not have a issue with you getting it took out ( mine didn't). if u have not used any gas and have no contract with them, don't give them a penny


ps I bet the letter is to the occupier NOT your name, and there will be wording like DEEMED CONTRACT..


here is the funny bit, although the metre belongs to them they cant take it out because it stealing, UNLESS you sign up to a contract with them so you can give them permission to take it out...stupid isn't it. hope this helps

Ryune

molerat wrote: »

A customer has to enter into a contract with a supplier. That contract can be entered into either by agreement, on paper or electronically, or entering a deemed contract by using the service. The op has done neither so no contract exists and no payment is due. A change in the law (or a legal challenge / clarification of the current law) would be required to justify a charge where a property is connected but the service is not used.

The supplier doesn't raise the fixed costs. The grid publishes its charges and the supplier pays them then recoups them from to the end user (rather than have you be billed by both the grid for the physical supply and the supplier for the gas itself).

Who is responsible for a supply to a property that isn't being used and who should pay the grid?

molerat

Ryune wrote: »

The supplier doesn't raise the fixed costs. The grid publishes its charges and the supplier pays them then recoups them from to the end user (rather than have you be billed by both the grid for the physical supply and the supplier for the gas itself).

Who is responsible for a supply to a property that isn't being used and who should pay the grid?

That is for the government and regulator to sort out but as it currently stands you cannot be charged until you enter into a contract and, in OFGEM's opinion, you must use some energy for a deemed contract to commence.

matelodave

If there's a meter there, then you have a gas supply available to the property even if it is capped off. You would hope that a contract could only be enforced if you'd used some gas which would initiate a deemed contract. The only way to make sure you don't have a service is for the meter to be removed which has to be done by the supplier and recorded by them as being officially removed


It's probably got to be tested in the courts to get some degree of clarity especially if Ofgem can't make a decision. Your problem is that now that BG have your name & address they can make life difficult for you if you don't pay up possibly earning you a black mark on your credit report.
A very firm letter, sent recorded delivery is required requesting that the meter be removed at no charge as no contract has been entered into.(make sure you keep a copy as well).


If I've had problems I send the letter in an e-mail stating that it's also being copied and posted as recorded delivery letter so that there is no confusion about what was sent and when. I've usually found that this is the most effective way to get a result as there is no confusion about what's been said or when they got it

Don't muck about with phone calls, unless you can guarantee that they've been recorded (and get a copy of it) they are only as good as the notes that the operator on the other end makes - usually not very good. You could also record it yourself, but you have to tell them that's what you are going to do