can't be found by energy supplier

savvysearcher

I purchased and moved into my new address March last year. Surprisingly I have not had any utility bills despite gas & electric being supplied. I have been told by the previous owner is it Scottish Power. I contacted them but they say they cannot find me on their records or the address. As of yet I have not opened up an account with them.

I have even supplied the MPAN number but still they cannot find me.

I am tempted to just open up an account with an alternative supplier given Scottish Power can't seem to find my address on their records.

Can I do this?

Responses appreciated, thanks

dj1471

You can only open accounts with the incumbent supplier(s) at the property. Maybe the previous owner is wrong about who the supplier was? Normally they will send a letter to "the occupier" shortly after you move in, once the previous owner has closed their accounts.

There's a guide for finding out who your gas and electricity suppliers are here. If it really is Scottish Power I guess you will have to try harder to convince them...

I hope you took meter readings when you moved in.

savvysearcher

thanks for the reply. You sure though I can only open accounts with incumbent supplier? I am certain it is Scottish Power given the previous owner says it is and I also checked with another energy supplier and they indicate it is by checking some sort of database which gives a Mpan number alongside who supplies the energy. Even with all this Scottish Power is still saying they can't find the property. Will pursue them again following your advice. Was hoping to just open an account with some one else rather than keep chasing a energy company that say they can't find us.

Did take a meter reading about a month I came to the address which will hopefully not lead to them giving us a estimate of sky high price.

thanks again for advice.

naedanger

savvysearcher wrote: »

I purchased and moved into my new address March last year. Surprisingly I have not had any utility bills despite gas & electric being supplied. I have been told by the previous owner is it Scottish Power. I contacted them but they say they cannot find me on their records or the address. As of yet I have not opened up an account with them.

I have even supplied the MPAN number but still they cannot find me.

I am tempted to just open up an account with an alternative supplier given Scottish Power can't seem to find my address on their records.

Can I do this?

Responses appreciated, thanks

Do you have evidence of all your efforts? If so then when your supplier eventually catches up, and if it is after 12 months from the date of supply, they may only be able to bill you for 12 months of usage under the back billing code. See here for details:

http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/files/docs/Industry%20codes/Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20accurate%20bills/code_of_practice_for_accurate_bills_-_back_billing_for_domestic_customers.pdf

That said you should try and put aside the full amount you think you are consuming.

savvysearcher

Many thanks for the response. Instead of trying to contact them via email in which they say they couldn't find me, I rang them on the freephone number. With the same details passed on by email they then found me! Luckily they say the previous owner took the meter readings the day before me completing.

Just gave them an updated one and should received my 1st bill soon (gulp!) - just taken 8 months!

All help has been much appreciated on this forum

zaax

Open account with your preferred supplier and give them the reading when you moved in.