Help with energy bills - new tenancy

sk3008

I moved into a rented flat share on the 5th Oct, contract began on the 1st. I was told before moving in that I'd be in charge of the gas & electric bills which I'd take over from the flatmate moving out, and just assumed we' d need to call up and add my name to the account.

I forgot about this for 2 weeks after I moved in (this is my first time renting so things are pretty new to me) and when I asked a flatmate later she said that the previous tenant had completely cancelled the contract at the end of September! I didn't even realise this was allowed..! I've finally managed to set up a contract with Ovo but apparently that contract won't kick in until the 5th Nov.

What steps do I need to take to make sure October's bills are paid and who can I speak to? I'm not even sure what energy provider we had previously as the previous tenant dealt with it all, and I only remembered to get a meter reading done 3 weeks into October...

Really don't want this error to get me in trouble (credit rating-wise or other), so thanks in advance for your help and advice

Neil_Jones

See this:
http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/who-supplies-my-electricity-and-gas

And look at the two "Who supplies my gas" and "Who supplies my electricity" sections; there are two numbers you can ring.

When you know who you're with you can ring the supplier(s) in question, or you can wait until you move to Ovo and the old supplier send you a bill for what you've used to date. Typically you'd phone up and pay with card over the phone.

macman

If you failed to take an opening read then the reading will have to be estimated. You were in a deemed contract from day one of your tenancy.

sk3008

Thank you both for the advice

macman

You won't be able to switch to Ovo until you register with the deemed supplier. The outgoing tenant did what she should have done by advising her departure date and giving a closing read. Billing then goes to the 'occupier' but the supplier remains the same. You then give opening reads on day one (or should have) and you will be billed from that date only. The LL will be responsible for any usage during the void period.
Bear in mind that multiple names on the account does not means it is divisible; you are all jointly and severally liable.