Round in circles: nPower & Scottish power

Cornucopia

I have a crazy problem with the gas account for the house I've just moved out of.

When I moved in, I contacted Scottish Power, who I thought were the suppliers and asked them if they were, they initially said yes, but there was an error with the account.

Some while later, I contacted them again to find out what had happened to resolve the issue, and they told me that they had made a mistake, and my account was actually with nPower.

So, I contacted nPower who took my details.

Some while later, I had not received a bill, so I contacted nPower who still at that stage appeared to be happy that they were my supplier, and I even checked the gas meter number with them.

I've now moved out, and still with no bills, I contacted nPower... who told that they were not my gas supplier, and never had been. They said the supplier was Scottish Power.

I contacted SP, and after having been on the phone for over half an hour, I *think* someone is looking into it.

Is there any better way to tackle a problem where something is falling between two suppliers, or should I just leave it with SP to resolve (despite them ignoring the account for 2.5 years).

Also, it looks like my historic meter readings have been lost by the suppliers. Are there any useful rules about how historic estimates should be carried out?

pmerryman

Transco should be able to tell you who is supplying the property.

Cornucopia

The property has a different gas transporter. I contacted them, and they confirmed Scottish.

I suppose what I'm really asking is if nothing happens with SP, at what point (if ever) can I just forget about it? Or is it likely to come back to haunt me? I have given SP full contact details, so if they don't contact me, it is down to them.

Wolf3

I believe the billing code applies for 12 months and as you have made reasonable attempts to inform your supplier of your responsibility for the bills at the property, you shouldn't receive a bill for a longer period of time. It depends upon the suppliers definition of "reasonable" and if they have records of your original phone call advising them you were moving into the property.

However any estimated bill should be based upon your estimated consumption for the supply number for the property, which might be completely out of sync with your actual consumption, as you stated your historic meter reads will have been credited to another supply number which NPower supplied, which will have the meter number you confirmed with them installed. IGT's do have a tendency to have incorrect meter information installed on them.

I would wait to see what Scottish Power send you a bill for and if they do and your not happy with the amount they do bill you, then you would have reasonable grounds to raise a complaint and go to an ombudsman if you cant agree a figure. I also hope you havent paid any money to NPower for the supply as they should give you a full refund

wavelets

The Meter Point Administration Service on 0870 608 1524 can confirm who is the supplier.

Cornucopia

It's not so much a question of what the national database says, as getting one or other supplier to accept it.

Anyone got any suggestions as to how I can go about making my own estimate of gas consumption, so I have something to compare the eventual Scottish Power bill with?

wavelets

Cornucopia wrote: »

It's not so much a question of what the national database says, as getting one or other supplier to accept it....

Once you know who the registered supplier is, they should accept this fact.

If not, follow the suppliers complaint procedure. Worst comes to the worst, I'm sure they'll soon agree when the ombudsman charge them £500+ to see sense.

Cornucopia wrote: »

Anyone got any suggestions as to how I can go about making my own estimate of gas consumption, so I have something to compare the eventual Scottish Power bill with?

There's a thing called a meter that records the actual consumption

Cornucopia

wavelets wrote: »

Once you know who the registered supplier is, they should accept this fact.

If not, follow the suppliers complaint procedure. Worst comes to the worst, I'm sure they'll soon agree when the ombudsman charge them £500+ to see sense.

Hopefully they will.

There's a thing called a meter that records the actual consumption

I have provided meter readings in the past to both suppliers, and both seem to have lost them. I'd never considered the need to keep a historic record just in case.

Found this which seems to be able to estimate on demographics...

https://www.which.co.uk/switch/

It says £667 pa (£55 pm) which sounds plausible.

wavelets

Whilst you know there is currently a dispute over the supplier, it beats me why you wouldn't have kept a record of the meter readings.

They should also be on the rental paperwork of the property if you had a decent agent/landlord.

Cornucopia

I owed the property, it wasn't rented.