Final bill - disagree with bill. Where do we stand?

Wizwoo

We recently moved into a new rental and decided to stick with the supplier we had in our previous property.

So the supplier was updated at the end of March and SSE (who previously supplied our rental) have sent a final bill for the Feb & March.
We took the house on 1st Feb but didn't move in until 10th (we were out of the country).
Due to a lack of meter box keys we didn't read the meters until the 12th Feb.
Our average use appears to have been 3 times higher when we were not in the house (only boiler runs on gas and thermostat was set on winter mode & v low temp just to avoid frozen pipes etc).

Can we make a case or do we need to just settle a put it down to lesson learnt! (Our key for the meter boxes will come with us to our new home!)

pooch

Wizwoo wrote: »

We recently moved into a new rental and decided to stick with the supplier we had in our previous property.

So the supplier was updated at the end of March and SSE (who previously supplied our rental) have sent a final bill for the Feb & March.
We took the house on 1st Feb but didn't move in until 10th (we were out of the country).
Due to a lack of meter box keys we didn't read the meters until the 12th Feb.
Our average use appears to have been 3 times higher when we were not in the house (only boiler runs on gas and thermostat was set on winter mode & v low temp just to avoid frozen pipes etc).

Can we make a case or do we need to just settle a put it down to lesson learnt! (Our key for the meter boxes will come with us to our new home!)

Bit confused by your post as you should first be a customer of whichever supplier supplies the property, and then you can initiate a switch of supplier if you want.

So I'm not really claer who supplied what when. Without appropriate meter readings, nor can you be sure what was used when. (Normally your start meter readings should be recorded and agreed on your inventory/statement of condition statement at the start of the tenancy)

Anyway, all you can do is contact the supplier and discuss the situation. Perhaps they will re-assess any previous estimated reading based on your current usage?

But if you don't pay for the energy, then the previous account holder will be charged, so that will probably be the previous tenants or the Landlord if there was a gap in tenancy.
Chances are they gave a final reading, so you have been charged from that, and without evidence of a different reading at the start, you are in difficulty.

If you have changed supplier, then the final reading of the old supplier should match the start reading of the new supplier.

macman

Without a meter reading from 1/2, you're going to find it hard to make a case. A pair of long nose pliers will open a meter box, you don't need a key.