Bill from First Utility but I'm with Greenstar Energy

breaking_free

Hi all.

I've just received an estimated £244 gas and electric bill from First Utility for the period July 1st to July 27th.

The thing is that I've never been a customer of First Utility.

When I became a home owner in July I found out who the current supplier was (First Utility) and called them to let them know that I was the new owner and that I would *probably* be changing supplier. I promptly researched the cheapest tarriffs then switched to Greenstar on July 9th. The switch was completed on July 28th.

Incidentally my actual usage for gas and electric, plus the standing charges, has been less than £40 per month for the 3 months I've been receiving bills.

I never took out a contract with First Utility - all I did was let them know that I was the new owner. I certainly don't want to pay for a vastly overestimated bill (£244 estimate compared with 3 months of meter read sub-£40 bills including the standing charge).

Am I obliged to pay anything to First Utility? I would accept paying a month's standing charge and a revised estimate based on what I've used for the last 3 months with Greenstar, but I don't accept this enormous bill.

What would you advise?
Thanks.

JJ_Egan

You moved in and your immediately in a deemed contract with the supplier .So you are a customer of FU until you moved supplier .
That contract would have been at the standard rate rather than any negotiated rate .
However it does look on the high side .
You have your meter readings from when you moved in and when you switched .
Just find the standing charge and standard rate tariff from FU and work out your usage and bill .

naedanger

breaking_free wrote: »

Hi all.

I've just received an estimated £244 gas and electric bill from First Utility for the period July 1st to July 27th.

The thing is that I've never been a customer of First Utility.

When I became a home owner in July I found out who the current supplier was (First Utility) and called them to let them know that I was the new owner and that I would *probably* be changing supplier. I promptly researched the cheapest tarriffs then switched to Greenstar on July 9th. The switch was completed on July 28th.

Incidentally my actual usage for gas and electric, plus the standing charges, has been less than £40 per month for the 3 months I've been receiving bills.

I never took out a contract with First Utility - all I did was let them know that I was the new owner. I certainly don't want to pay for a vastly overestimated bill (£244 estimate compared with 3 months of meter read sub-£40 bills including the standing charge).

Am I obliged to pay anything to First Utility? I would accept paying a month's standing charge and a revised estimate based on what I've used for the last 3 months with Greenstar, but I don't accept this enormous bill.

What would you advise?
Thanks.

As already said, you were on a deemed contract until you moved so you do need to pay FU for when they supplied your energy.

To check the FU bill, first check that the final reading on the FU account is the same as the opening reading on your Greenstar account. If these are not the same then it should be quite easy to get that corrected.

The more likely reason for the high bill is that the FU opening reading may be too low. If this is the reason for the high bill then send them an email complaining that they have used a wrong reading. However if you did not take an opening reading yourself (and assuming they didn't either) then you will need to dispute the reading. If you cannot agree a reading between the two of you then you will need to take your complaint to the Ombudsman (which you are entitled to do, if after 8 weeks your complaint is still not resolved to your satisfaction).

breaking_free

Clear and precise advice on how to proceed. Thank you both.

macman

If you did not actually register for an account with FU and submit an opening read then I'm surprised that they did not block your switch-as you cannot switch to a new supplier unless you have a current one to switch from.
Who do you think should be liable for the first month's billing, if not yourself?