British Gas charging me daily charge for unused gas meter -advice please!

Kate90

I've lived in my property since 2011 and the house uses electricity only and a heating system which I pay along side my rent to the housing trust. There was previously has used in the house but was disconnected years ago, the meter however is still in the property.

My electricity is through Eon and we immediately informed them of my change of address when I moved in and have been paying my electricity bill by direct debit every month with no problems.

However when I moved house we also recieved a gas bill from Eon so I rang to explain there was no gas supply. They removed the bill, I never heard from them again.

Over the last 2 years I have recieved a few letters from British Gas belonging to the previous tenant, I sent them back but every 6 months of so if get another letter for the same person. I honestly didn't think too much of it, just thought it was junk mail.

Last week I recieved a letter from British Gas this time addressed to the tenant at my address. I opened it and it explained I have been charged for a daily Gas meter fee and now lots of added charges and late fees since 2013. The amount is £195 at the moment.

Apparently British Gas has only started charging customers this daily fee since 2013 but I didn't even know the account for gas at this address was even British Gas, I thought it was Eon! But since there is no Gas used I never thought anything of it.

What can I do now? Will I have to pay the bill, will I have to pay to get the meter removed?
I have a baby due in 12 weeks time and I'm no other debt, I'm due to start maternity leave in 5 weeks so income will be dropping considerably. I only wish I'd opened those letters out of curiosity in 2013 and this could have been avoided then surely.

Joyful

You will be due to pay the standing charge but they can remove the meter free of charge for you.

footyguy

Kate90 wrote: »

I've lived in my property since 2011 and the house uses electricity only and a heating system which I pay along side my rent to the housing trust. There was previously has used in the house but was disconnected years ago, the meter however is still in the property.

My electricity is through Eon and we immediately informed them of my change of address when I moved in and have been paying my electricity bill by direct debit every month with no problems.

However when I moved house we also recieved a gas bill from Eon so I rang to explain there was no gas supply. They removed the bill, I never heard from them again.

Over the last 2 years I have recieved a few letters from British Gas belonging to the previous tenant, I sent them back but every 6 months of so if get another letter for the same person. I honestly didn't think too much of it, just thought it was junk mail.

Last week I recieved a letter from British Gas this time addressed to the tenant at my address. I opened it and it explained I have been charged for a daily Gas meter fee and now lots of added charges and late fees since 2013. The amount is £195 at the moment.

Apparently British Gas has only started charging customers this daily fee since 2013 but I didn't even know the account for gas at this address was even British Gas, I thought it was Eon! But since there is no Gas used I never thought anything of it.

What can I do now? Will I have to pay the bill, will I have to pay to get the meter removed?
I have a baby due in 12 weeks time and I'm no other debt, I'm due to start maternity leave in 5 weeks so income will be dropping considerably. I only wish I'd opened those letters out of curiosity in 2013 and this could have been avoided then surely.

I would first discuss the matter with your landlord.

If you still have a meter, it does not sound as though the service has been disconnected.
Whilst you may be able to get the service disconnected for free, it could cost a lot of money to get it reconnected if that is how the property was originally let to you (and the landlord expects it back in the same condition).

You should also have had at least a couple of meter inspections over the last 4 years.
Even more importantly, if you do have a live gas supply, then your landlord should be obtaining an annual gas safety certificate, and you should be provided a copy of this. This is very important as it relates to your safety!

If you don't get the gas service disconnected and meter removed, consult a comparison site to find the best deal for you - probably separate gas & electricity suppliers particularly in your instance.

joncombe

Joyful wrote: »

You will be due to pay the standing charge but they can remove the meter free of charge for you.

I don't think that is right. If the OP has never used any gas I don't think they can be in a deemed contract with the supplier and therefore be liable for the standing charge. So I don't think they have to pay, assuming no gas has been used.

molerat

joncombe wrote: »

I don't think that is right. If the OP has never used any gas I don't think they can be in a deemed contract with the supplier and therefore be liable for the standing charge. So I don't think they have to pay, assuming no gas has been used.

That is the view of OFGEM. OP should WRITE to BG and state that the meter was in situ and unused when they took over the tenancy and as such they have not entered into a contract, deemed or otherwise, and to desist with this billing. They then need to either sign up with a no standing charge supplier such as Ebico or contact the landlord and request that they arrange to remove the meter.

footyguy

molerat wrote: »

That is the view of OFGEM...

... but a view that OFGEM agrees is not legally binding. They say the matter would ultimately be a decision for the courts to decide upon.

http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/the-ins-and-outs-of-deemed-contracts/804812

For less than £200 (before any court/legal costs) I'm not sure that is a route I would follow, particularly if the OP does not want the service disconnected for the reasons given above.

It would be worth running it past BG though, on a non-liability basis. They may just agree to waive the charges as a goodwill gesture, particularly if the OP agrees to have the service totally disconnected.


Edit: I think this is the OFGEM views/guidance referred to
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/38477/guidance-deemed-contracts-standard-licence-condition-7.3-gas-and-electricity-supply-licences.pdf

It is perhaps important to consider the reason stated therein as to the reason such guidance was issued - it may help put things into context.

molerat

OFGEM's view is no power used, no contract. OP moved into a property where the gas was disconnected downstream of the meter. The suppliers will not risk it in court. There have been many on here with the same problem, telling the supplier they have no contract seems to have made them go away. If they thought they had a solid case they would have taken it further. The many that cough up make a court case against a few a risky proposition.

I did say to either set up an account with a NSC supplier or get the LL to remove the meter.

Bark01

The latest view from Ofgem is referenced in this paper, its from 2104 so a lot more recent than the other links posted. As long as you have never consumed on that meter you should be fine.

The Ofgem view is non binding, but as stated above no supplier would want to challenge this view in court.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/88276/openletter-treatmentoflowandzeroconsumersofgas.pdf

see paragraph 2 and also annex 2

[Deleted User]

The new occupier does have a gas supply and a meter in situ, and unless it is officially capped by National Grid all the occupier now needs to do is pull the control valve down and gas is flowing. If they go down the "deemed contract " which has been suggested is not in force, it opens up a can of worms with people who can move in, claim no gas used, and never receive regular visits to check the meter as they will not have a supplier willing to do it.It seems that anyone with an unused ( at that moment ) gas meter is having it both ways and I am sure OFGEM will have a closer look at this and see sense. Theft of gas/electric is going through the roof with the useless privatised energy industry not willing to spend a penny on proper revenue protection ( British Gas excepted ). EDF for instance are 3 people in an office, EON have a few more, Npower of course are the worst of the lot and as for all the little guys, forget it, First Utility are a joke like Utility Warehouse and all the others. If you are nicking gas and electric with this lot, you re safe from being caught as they can t be bothered. Not safe from blowing the house up or burning it down but no ones bothered because it costs them to stop you.

C_Mababejive

#9 Agree withsacs...Energy theft has reached epidemic proportions due to a greatly diversified nd ill organised private energy sector and the only ones really trying to control it ar BG RP teams. Many of the other suppliers are just playing around at the edges and are clueless. Bottom line, nothing is free and stolen energy costs get spread over other peoples accounts one way or another.