Can I dispute standing charges for electric

Lucy_in_the_sky

I property I own has been vacant for over 12 months and despite myself and the tenant giving 'end readings' I had a real battle with British Gas who kept on sending escalating usage readings and bills. Having eventually resolved that one ie the tenant was responsible for the bill up to given metre reading , i have now received a bill for standing charges.

I was not aware I was liable for standing charges , it was not pointed out to me in any conversation regarding settlement of the tenants bill. I have not had my name on, nor been responsible for any energy bill in this property for over 10 years. So my question is:

I have not contracted with British Gas for electricity or gas for supply to this propert for 10+ years. I am not aware of the contract terms that the previous tenant had for gas and electricity. In these circumstances is their any basis for my disputing my contract with British Gas?

Clearly, if I had been informed by British Gas of my responsibility for standing charge, I would have looked at 'no standingcharge' contracts, but until today I wasn't even aware that this new 'corporate robbery' tactic existed.

Any constructive advice welcomed

Cornucopia

Are you saying that BG want to bill you for standing charges for a period when the property was empty? That sounds reasonable.

Nada666

As soon as the property was vacant you were responsible for the bills (assuming tenancy was ended/agreed.) Ofgem have banned tariffs without standing charges. Tariffs have been introducing them for a while. It was up to you to survey tariffs available at that time and choose one. If you did not choose then the Standard tariff would apply.

You have no grounds.

Lucy_in_the_sky

Thanks for the consructive reply Nada ie I have no grounds. Having read several similar threads it is the reply I expected - but posted on the off chance that some clever person had found a loop hole, as with unfair bank charges etc.

The other respondent clearly does not understand the term 'constructive' , but also thinks its reasonable that British Gas can charge 26p per day, per service for an empty propery. Enough said.

[Deleted User]

If you intend to keep the property empty for a while it may be worth switching to one of the few zero standing charge suppliers, that is Ebico for gas Green Energy for electric and I believe Npower have a zero pence standing charge tariff. Ofgem changed the rules last year and stopped the confusing two tier tariffs in which the standing charges were built into the first batch of units used per quarter.All the remaining suppliers charge daily standing charges ranging from 18p to 30 p a day. BG are one of the dearer ones at 26p a day. Npower have a 20p a day charge and slightly lower tariffs than BG in my area

Cornucopia

Lucy_in_the_sky wrote: »

The other respondent clearly does not understand the term 'constructive' , but also thinks its reasonable that British Gas can charge 26p per day, per service for an empty propery. Enough said.

You think there are no costs involved in keeping a Gas supply running to an empty property? It's possible that if the property had been empty for some time, you may have benefited from having the Gas supply capped.

BTW, if you think my response was unconstructive, you need to have a look around the forums. In fact, any forums.

Lucy_in_the_sky

Ignoring the subsequent standing charges issue. Getting British Gas to acknowledge and produce bills that reflected both the tenants and my end readings was a nightmare. Phone call after phone call , at my time, expense and worry, until they eventually got it right.

My Son switched from British Gas to a prepaid metre (ie the metre was physically changed) from Npower several months ago. Despite being told and retold this fact, together with evidence from new supplier of date of effective change, they continue to produces escalating bills which are now in the form of demands and legal threats.

To date my Son a nd his partner have run up big bills on their mobile phone due to costly 08 tariff trying to deal with this issue, and got nowhere. I intend to assist my Son with this issue following Ofgem advice.

How is it that British Gas can stubbornly persist in ignoring or refusing to acknowledge information they have been given about accounts, and continue to harass and put their customers under duress to pay bills they have not incurred? Is it reasonable that I have to spend time, money and energy in providing and re- providing this info . ?

Lucy_in_the_sky

How was your reply constructive to my particular question?

Cornucopia

They have to get to an accurate set of bills. That is the legal requirement. Anyone not in receipt of accurate and timely bills needs to complain, and escalate the issue until they get to an acceptable solution.

There is no need to talk to nPower on a costly phone line. For mobiles, you'll want an 03 number or an 0800 number. You can use saynoto0870 to find these. For nPower residental: 0800 0733000. If your mobile operator doesn't provide free/bundled 0800 calls, there are portals you can use.

Cornucopia

Lucy_in_the_sky wrote: »

How was your reply constructive to my particular question?

It wasn't clear from your question whether you were being asked to pay the SC for a tenanted period or a void period. My response helped resolve that ambiguity.

Cardew

Lucy_in_the_sky wrote: »

I was not aware I was liable for standing charges , it was not pointed out to me in any conversation regarding settlement of the tenants bill. I have not had my name on, nor been responsible for any energy bill in this property for over 10 years. So my question is:

I have not contracted with British Gas for electricity or gas for supply to this propert for 10+ years. I am not aware of the contract terms that the previous tenant had for gas and electricity. In these circumstances is their any basis for my disputing my contract with British Gas?

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what tariff the previous tenant was using, when the new occupier(i.e. yourself) takes responsibility for the property they are placed on a legally binding 'deemed contract'.


The tariff on the deemed contract must not have a penalty clause for leaving early, so inevitably you will be placed on their Standard tariff - i.e. the most expensive.


During the year the property was empty were you not sent any bill(s)?


As indicated above, I don't think you have any legal grounds for escaping payment. - Caveat emptor!


However sometimes a pleasant chat with a call centre manager might get them to give you a goodwill reduction on your bill.