Energy Supply and previous occupant

Newlyboughthouse

Hi guys

I moved into my house back in August 2013 and very promptly (that day!) informed my energy supplier Flow Energy that I had moved, gave them my opening meter readings, and they advised me all was in hand and not to worry about a thing.

However it was not all in hand at all as NPower rejected the application (but Flow did not communicate this to me). Eventually in December my switch for electricity was completed after several rejections. I got in touch to ask how the gas application was coming along and Flow informed me this has been rejected, and advised me to contact NPower to find out why they were objecting and to lift them.

The lady I spoke with at NPower advised me that because the previous occupant never told them they were moving out, I am liable to pay Npower, even though Flow had me believe they were my suppliers from the very beginning.

She said it was not her problem that the previous occupant never told them. I have returned over 10 letters from Npower addressed to the previous occupant, with "this person no longer lives at this address -forwarding address unknown" clearly written on each and every one.

What is my position here - has anyone else been in this position before? My contract is not and never has been with NPower - so I am extremely wary of paying them anything.

Pixie5740

You're not liable to pay for the previous occupants gas and electricity. Thankfully you took meter readings when you moved in.

Have you made a written complaint to Npower yet?

Newlyboughthouse

I thought it sounded dodgy - really didn't sit right with me. Not yet but I will! Got the NPower ladys' first and last name too yay

Pixie5740

nPower seem to have a complaint form on their website:

https://www.npower.com/At_home/applications/MyNpower/CustomerComplaint.aspx?workflow=CustomerComplaint

I'd fill that in, follow their complaint procedure and if they still don't sort the matter out I would then look at lodging a complaint with Ofgem.

I had a similar problem involving a landlady, who apparently doesn't know how to read a meter, trying to get me to pay utility bills going back to over a year before I moved in. Thankfully the utility company in question wasn't nPower so I managed to resolve the matter in an hour long phone call.

emilybean

She said it was not her problem that the previous occupant never told them.

lmao I'd have responded the exact same thing back!

DRP

so since moving in you've been paying Flow energy? (and not Npower)

societys_child

My contract is not and never has been with NPower

I do believe, if Npower supplied the previous occupants, then you had a deemed contract with them from the day you moved in. This continues until the switch to a new supplier is completed . . .

Newlyboughthouse

societys_child wrote: »

I do believe, if Npower supplied the previous occupants, then you had a deemed contract with them from the day you moved in. This continues until the switch to a new supplier is completed . . .

Hmmm this does make sense, which is why I am confused and don't know whether to cough up. End of the day NPower have been supplying my energy. And yes I did indeed tell her it was not my problem either emilybean!

Pixie5740

If indeed nPower are supplying your gas and electric at the moment then ask the to send you a bill using the meter readings you took the day you moved in. You've used the gas and electric since then so that's fair.

As for any usage the previous occupant has used and not paid for, that is very much nPower's problem and not yours.

spender717

Good luck with npower s complaint procedure hahahahaha!!

We've got an ongoing complaint with them from March 2013!! Ofgem are next to useless too!

lavalamp

OMG npower - I can't even write on here about them because it would all be 'bleeped' out! Good luck getting the letters to stop - they are a NIGHTMARE and don't know their !!!!!! from their elbows!