British Gas chasing me for business account!!

[Deleted User]

macman wrote: »

Why would anyone prefer to be on a business tariff, where they will pay 20% VAT rather than 5%?

Vat claimed back

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

naedanger wrote: »

You could be liable under a "deemed" contract. If you move into premises and use any energy you are "deemed" to have entered a contract. However it is not clear to me that you can be deemed to enter a business contract in domestic premises.

We're talking the finer points of deemed contract law under the Gas + Electricity acts of 198X, of which none of us are experts.


My bet is a county court judge would quickly summarise that BG acted in good faith, and the OP didn't - if it ever got that far.


My advice to the OP is to pick your battles - most people know that you have to register with the incumbent supplier on moving in, had this been done all this would have been avoided. £80 is neither here nor there for a months energy.

naedanger

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

We're talking the finer points of deemed contract law under the Gas + Electricity acts of 198X, of which none of us are experts.


My bet is a county court judge would quickly summarise that BG acted in good faith, and the OP didn't - if it ever got that far.


My advice to the OP is to pick your battles - most people know that you have to register with the incumbent supplier on moving in, had this been done all this would have been avoided. £80 is neither here nor there for a months energy.

If the OP chooses to complain to the Ombudsman then it will be for the Ombudsman to decide rather than a county court judge.

However I agree with your view that it probably not worth the OP's time complaining as the amount in dispute is likely to be minimal, being only a fraction of the £80. That said, if the OP wishes to complain my view is that their best bet is via BG and then the Ombudsman. This is a free complaints process (unlike the county court). However the OP should also be aware it is a slow process, and I would also question whether it is worth the effort.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

What are the Ombudsman going to say? "BG you should have your special intuition hat on that day, you must have known that the premises had been converted into a residential dwelling and NickJ79 had moved in!"


Really not worth the time and effort OP.

naedanger

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

What are the Ombudsman going to say? "BG you should have your special intuition hat on that day, you must have known that the premises had been converted into a residential dwelling and NickJ79 had moved in!"


Really not worth the time and effort OP.

The Ombudsman might say it is unfair and inappropriate, that a domestic customer, is charged business tariffs.

If you know what the Ombudsman will say then fine, (but I don't believe you do).

Cardew

It is also pertinent to point out that had you been on a domestic deemed tariff it would have been at their Standard tariff rates. Some business rates can be cheaper than the Standard Tariff rate even allowing for the higher VAT rate.


Also although you state 'They now want £81.43 off me for roughly around 4 weeks supply!' it is pertinent that you would be paying a Daily Standard Charge for the whole period the flat was in your name.


That said IMO it is up to the owner or letting agent to sort out the change from business premises to domestic property with BG.

modsandmockers

I think the OP should discuss the issue with the landlord. The fact that the landlord sent a letter regarding the energy supply indicates that the landlord has some awareness of the issue, and hopefully submitted a final meter reading. The bill which BG are asking the OP to pay will hopefully show the same opening meter reading. In any event, the OP should keep a record of meter readings starting from today. Changing a property from business use to domestic probably needs to be done by the owner. I wonder if the OP has sorted out what kind of council tax is due on the property.

I think the OP should withhold any payment until the issue is resolved. If the landlord is unwilling to help, then talk to Shelter or CAB. A month’s delay in contacting the energy supplier is not excessive.

[Deleted User]

NickJ79 wrote: »

Hi, I haven't signed any contract with British Gas or agreed any tariff etc. They took my name when I called and now have put this onto the account set up by my landlord when his offices were here. I have a letter from British Gas saying that I must pay this bill as per the terms of my contract but I haven't signed or agreed any contract with them so how can I be liable? Surely when the landlord relocated his offices he should have either closed the account or transfered it to the new address?

OP, thats how the energy market works, you move into a property on a "deemed " contract, no signatures required, otherwise you would move into a property with no gas and electricity supplied at all. It would be a good idea to phone BG Business up and get details of how to change the status from business to domestic whilst you are sorting out the start reading and enquiring about standing charges. Many tenants simply leave without submitting end reads so your start read may well be an estimate.