Can I dispute standing charges for electric

Hasbeen

Lucy_in_the_sky wrote: »

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

Standing charges are low compared to 200% some council tax charge on empty property?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Lucy_in_the_sky wrote: »

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

When I move home, I have a tick list of things that need to be sorted. Utilities is on that list. I'm astonished that as a LL (you deal in property for goodness sake), you aren't aware of these things.

Corporate robbery it ain't - there is a very real cost of maintaining supply, something that used to be recovered in the first x KW/h of consumption. OFGEM in their infinite wisdom did away with this, the alternative is what we see now. You'll have to pay up.

If I were you I'd initiate a move to somewhere with a 0p standing charge - ebico provide both gas and electricity. Be aware that the unit charge they offer is eye-wateringly expensive, so when energy is eventually used bills will be high. It would be courteous to tell your next tenant this of course.

Sorry if that wasn't constructive enough!

lstar337

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.

Sory Lucy, but while the property was empty did you have the gas and electricity meters removed and the piping and cabling dug up, removed and capped?

If not, then you have to pay the standing charge as it covers the cost of maintaining your meters, the connection to your property, and any safety inspections that may be required.

All of these things need paying whether a property is occupied or not, just like council tax.

joncombe

sacsquacco wrote: »

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

First Utility are also offering a tariff (ISave Everyday) which in my area at least gives a standing charge of 2.34p per day for gas and 1.63p per day for electric which is a lot cheaper than the "big 6" offer. I haven't checked Npower (you mention they have a zero standing charge) but then I would never recommend anyone switch to them anyway.

Lucy_in_the_sky

I am not , nor ever wanted to be a professional Landlord . The property in question was my family home for 20+ years but is completely unsaleable due to the double whammy of history of subsidence and ongoing, terminal decline of the area. It has only ever been occupied by family relations & most latterly my sons x partner following the break up of their relationship. I visited the propery just a few hours after her handing me back by the key to find the CH boiler and all copper pipes had been ripped out and the property was completely flooded. For reasons to long winded to explain the insurance did not cover. It has taken me 12 months to afford and organise several thousand pounds worth of repairs. At the same time following redundancy I was working all hours establishing my own small business and very short of money and time & wasn't on top of things like standing charges, or the most costly mistake of my life ( I hope) , being unaware of certain exclusions in the property insurance.

Anyways the property was 'void' , I don't suppose this will make a difference but Cornucopia does mention void as distinct from empty?

undaunted

There could be an argument for contesting standing charges in this situation though I'm not aware that anyone has yet tested it & obtained a ruling in court.

IE A deemed contract is stated to exist when you begin to take supply. If you haven't used any energy then you haven't taken a supply & hence there is no basis for a deemed contract. If there is no contract there is surely no basis for standing charges either.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

undaunted wrote: »

There could be an argument for contesting standing charges in this situation though I'm not aware that anyone has yet tested it & obtained a ruling in court.

IE A deemed contract is stated to exist when you begin to take supply. If you haven't used any energy then you haven't taken a supply & hence there is no basis for a deemed contract. If there is no contract there is surely no basis for standing charges either.

I quite agree, but I'd bet this months salary that a light has been switched on in the last 12 months.

Lucy_in_the_sky

It gets worse - the bill with the standing charges shows an estimated reading which is way below the 'actual reading I provided BG with twice via telephone, but shows a usage of zero from then to now reflecting the fact they knew the property was empty. The discrepancy amounts to around £350 in consumption which is absolutely impossible as the only electric consumed has been used by tradespeople.

I know that the tenant left in arrears and provided them with her address. To my regret, I did not open subsequent demands but posted them through her letterbox. I was assured by BG that they recognised the debt was the previous tenants and that they would pursue her for it and my responsibility began with the provided reading. It took several phone calls to get to this position - now I'm back to square one and will call them tommorow. The standing charges now look laughable in comparison.

Having just completed all repairs I actually thought the nightmare of the worst year of my life was over . I'm going now to the OFGEM site to see if I can find any advice on how best to deal with this, but any advice appreciated.

Pincher

They only brought in this must have standing charge non-sense in the last year or so, to SIMPLIFY tariffs for brain dead zombie consumers, who sleep walk through life until they bump into something, stub their toe, and then complain "Who put it there!" .


Before this year, the "typical" (pedants alert) tariff is Tier 1 and Tier 2 based, with the standing charge attached to units used earliest. Under this regime, which was what YOU WERE USED TO, you did not have anything to pay if you did not use any gas.


Yes, I know, one day you are having a nice coffee and croissant in Warsaw, and then the next day there's a regime change, and they put you in a gas chamber. What did I do, you ask. NOTHING, except not keeping up with current events.

Nada666

Lucy_in_the_sky wrote: »

the only electric consumed has been used by tradespeople.

Pretty much QED and undermines any appeal. You owe the standing charges.