Bought house and left with old energy bill

RoscoUK

Hi MSE Forum, I am a regular visitor to these forums for advice and info as a browser, however this is my first post.

I am after some advice please:

I bought my first property in April 2014, the property was previously rented by the same estate agent that I bought from 'Next Move'.

The energy bill's were in Next Move's name as I saw one of the bills come through and I forwarded it on to the estate agents. As soon as I moved in I set up my own energy services with British Gas.

I have now received a bill from Southern Electric with my name on it for £290 for the period before I purchased the house. I am guessing Next Move have told Southern Electric my full name as they are trying to get out of paying for it.

Is it legal for them to put my name on the bill?
To confirm I have never had an account with Southern Electric.

How should I procede with Southern Electric?
Should I state that I will not pay this and try and get Next Move to pay this bill?

Thanks in advance.

bebewoo

Just contact Southern Electric and tell them when you moved into the house, they may ask for proof, but you have this and can provide it to them.
It's not really your responsibility after that it's up to Southern Electric to find the person who is responsible for the bill, give them the details for Next Move if they ask but don't get stressed or work too hard.
It's not your debt, you may owe them a few days for the energy used inbetween moving in and switching to British Gas but that's it.

molerat

You should have contacted SE and given them meter reads as soon as you took over the property as they have the right to supply the property until you switch. Did you use any energy before the switch as you will be responsible for paying them for that. Check the meter reads on their bill and the bill from BG and the reads from when you took over then contact them.

keith1950

As above, you don't set up services, you switch so you have to register with the existing supplier, give them your opening reads and THEN start a switch.
They will now be unsure of your opening reads and you could end up paying some of the previous accounts usage.

RoscoUK

Thank you for the advice. I believe my partner did call up and give meter readings, I still have these somewhere.

Many thanks

footyguy

RoscoUK wrote: »

Hi MSE Forum, I am a regular visitor to these forums for advice and info as a browser, however this is my first post.

I am after some advice please:

I bought my first property in April 2014, the property was previously rented by the same estate agent that I bought from 'Next Move'.

The energy bill's were in Next Move's name as I saw one of the bills come through and I forwarded it on to the estate agents. As soon as I moved in I set up my own energy services with British Gas.

I have now received a bill from Southern Electric with my name on it for £290 for the period before I purchased the house. I am guessing Next Move have told Southern Electric my full name as they are trying to get out of paying for it.

Is it legal for them to put my name on the bill?
To confirm I have never had an account with Southern Electric.

How should I procede with Southern Electric?
Should I state that I will not pay this and try and get Next Move to pay this bill?

Thanks in advance.

When you bought the property, you should have set up an account with the existing supplier to the property, which it would appear was Southern Electric (SSE)

Did you know this? If so, why did you contact British Gas instead?