Vendor or New Occupier's responsibility when it comes to energy Final Bills?

Oompa

Several months ago, I moved into a new property where I began receiving 'New Occupier' letters in relation to the duel energy supply, so it seemed clear that the previous owners had notified their old supplier that they were moving.

Several months down the line, it's come to my attention that while the previous owners supplied a final gas reading, they didn't supply one for the electricity.

I have now been slapped with a large £150 bill for the electricity only (that's an estimate), while my gas bill has come to £31. I don't think this is fair.

Is there any way I can contest this and actually have a leg to stand on, or was the onus on me to give meter readings from the day I moved in?

I switched suppliers in May, so the £150 is an estimate for two months! Not fair.

molerat

It is the responsibility of both of you to take meter readings and contact the current suppliers. If you do not then one of you is likely to get stiffed !

matelodave

Fairness doesn't come into it - It's up to you to check your meters (water, gas, leccy) and open accounts with the suppliers on the day that you move in using those readings.

This ensures that you only pay for what you use from the day that you move in or take over and not anything from the previous owners or tenants - you cannot rely on anyone else doing it for you as you have now discovered.

Unfortunately if the previous lot have done a moonlight and you can't produce a meter reading from the day you took over to prove what you've used you'll probably end up paying for them as well.

JJ_Egan

Do you have no meter readings at all even if not from the actual move date .

Oompa

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Do you have no meter readings at all even if not from the actual move date .

Yes, I do have meter readings now. I had not planned to use the old supply, so there were two months when the property was unoccupied (I was renting elsewhere). I didn't actually physically move-in until mid-May.

When I moved in I changed the supply, but it seems that takes several weeks (up to six) to kick-in.

The supplier keeps asking me to provide a meter reading from the day I took over the property (start of April), which is kind of difficult now.

footyguy

Oompa wrote: »

Yes, I do have meter readings now. I had not planned to use the old supply, so there were two months when the property was unoccupied (I was renting elsewhere). I didn't actually physically move-in until mid-May.

When I moved in I changed the supply, but it seems that takes several weeks (up to six) to kick-in.

The supplier keeps asking me to provide a meter reading from the day I took over the property (start of April), which is kind of difficult now.

In the absence of any other evidence, then they will use the final reading supplied by the previous owner as your start reading (and your start reading with the new supplier as your final reading)

If you didn't agree any other tariff, then you will be charged at the supplier's deemed tariff which is usually their expensive standard variable tariff

macman

It's your job to take opening reads on day one and register for an account with the existing supplier, with whom you are in a deemed contract from the day you occupy the property.
Failure to do these two simple tasks accounts for about 90% of the issues posted on here when moving into a new home.
The previous supplier is entitled to bill you for the period after you took ownership or lease until the date you switched away: this will be around 3 months from your figures, and include standing charges on Standard tariff (the most expensive tariff).

Oompa

macman wrote: »

It's your job to take opening reads on day one and register for an account with the existing supplier, with whom you are in a deemed contract from the day you occupy the property.
Failure to do these two simple tasks accounts for about 90% of the issues posted on here when moving into a new home.
The previous supplier is entitled to bill you for the period after you took ownership or lease until the date you switched away: this will be around 3 months from your figures, and include standing charges on Standard tariff (the most expensive tariff).

Yep, as I found out. I have since contested these charges though, and have had my bill reduced from £150 to £33, so it's not so black and white.

sheffield_lad

Well done, that does not always happen.

But as a guide for others remember to meter reads the moment you take over a property.