British Gas have debit my account for energy to a property I don't own or live in.

janrees

I received a notification from the bank today that I was overdrawn A debit has gone through to British Gas for £490. I am a British Gas customer at my home, but this was unexpected so I contacted them.
I have been told it relates to a property I have not lived in for 50 (fifty) years, and have never owned.
Apparently several warrants had been issued to the property and British gas gained entry and fitted a prepaid meter and this was the bill.

I explained the following:

I left the property, my parents home, in 1957.

My parents sold the property in the 1990's and leased it back. I do not know the details but my Mum lived there until her death in 2008. I contacted British Gas and settled the bill, in full, and have had no connection with the property since then.

I cannot afford to be without this money as I will be defaulting on a number of bills over the coming days. British gas say that my name is on the bill so I owe the money unless I can prove otherwise.

What is the quickest course of action please.

Joyful

First of all do an indemnity claim from the bank to get your money back.

Then ask to have the account blocked until you get the paperwork required. You will need proof that you are no longer connected to the property.

janrees

Joyful wrote: »

Then ask to have the account blocked until you get the paperwork required. You will need proof that you are no longer connected to the property.

Thanks for your quick response.


I have been a British Gas customer for many years at several properties, not the one in question, so they know I am resident elsewhere. I do not have any paperwork that says I do not own the property, as I never have. I have explained I cannot prove I have no connection to that property. All the paperwork relating to my Mums death is long gone.

Joyful

Do you know who bought the property ?

janrees

No,my parents sold it to release equity and carried on living there.


I am very distressed, I will return later.

janrees

Joyful wrote: »

First of all do an indemnity claim from the bank to get your money back.

I have just been to my Bank, they did not know what I was talking about. Could you please elaborate.


My Mortgage is due tomorrow and I do not have the funds to cover it. I am going to the citizens advice bureau now.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/financial-services-products/banking/your-rights/unauthorised-payments

Priority 1: The bank must refund an unauthorised payment immediately - go there and do not leave the branch until it has been refunded.

Then deal with British Gas

janrees

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Priority 1: The bank must refund an unauthorised payment immediately - go there and do not leave the branch until it has been refunded.

Then deal with British Gas

Thank you for your help. The lady at CAB helped me speak to my Bank on the phone. I think I was in such a flap I was not explaining the situation properly.


British Gas are still insisting I owe the money and that I have been ignoring their letters. They have all been sent to the property I left 50 years ago. A relative is going to visit the property today to see if they speak to the current occupiers. The lady at CAB suggested I check the land registry, which a friend is about to help me with.


Will the Bank recredit the charges I have incurred so far?

Cardew

As above. The bank have no option but to refund you any debit that you did not authorise; also if you incurred charges because of that debit e.g for being overdrawn, they must refund those.

Even if your name had been(wrongly) put on the bill when you settled the outstanding bill after your Mother's death, they still cannot debit your bank account.

I would immediately raise a formal complaint with BG along the grounds you outlined in the opening post - do this in writing not on the phone.

If you don't get complete satisfaction from BG take the matter to the Ombudsman.