BG - Ownership of supply issue

Mahreeree

Hi all, wondered if anyone could help!

I moved into my current property around 4 and a half years ago. We had an issue with British Gas and decided to change supplier. Wheels set in motion for change over, and we ended up not going ahead with it and to stay with BG.
When i called to arrange a prepayment metre to be installed, they then declared that they didn't supply my house. I called the company we had planned to crossover to, they didn't own the supply either. I called several places, no one laid claim.
We have never been sent a bill in all of that time.

I've not got BG telling me they do in fact own the supply, and are billing me for the last 12 months. I have no issue paying for what i have use, however, i have been e-mailed now estimating my usage for the year as over £1k. They have no accurate metre readings to go on. I have a small 2 bedroom house.

Is this accurate, is there anything i can do, is there generally any advice you can give me?

Many thanks guys!

D_M_E

You have had no bills for over 4 years and are now complaining about an estimated bill of about £1,000 for 12 months?

I would just pay that bill and take meter readings now and keep a close eye on consumption taking meter readings on at least a weekly basis.

Also note that your usage would be low now that the warmer weather is here (or should be) but if you want to estimate, for your property my estimate would be 13,000 Kwh for gas and 2000 Kwh for electric for 12 months.

victor2

Mahreeree wrote: »

Hi all, wondered if anyone could help!

I moved into my current property around 4 and a half years ago. We had an issue with British Gas and decided to change supplier. Wheels set in motion for change over, and we ended up not going ahead with it and to stay with BG.
When i called to arrange a prepayment metre to be installed, they then declared that they didn't supply my house. I called the company we had planned to crossover to, they didn't own the supply either. I called several places, no one laid claim.
We have never been sent a bill in all of that time.

I've not got BG telling me they do in fact own the supply, and are billing me for the last 12 months. I have no issue paying for what i have use, however, i have been e-mailed now estimating my usage for the year as over £1k. They have no accurate metre readings to go on. I have a small 2 bedroom house.

Is this accurate, is there anything i can do, is there generally any advice you can give me?

Many thanks guys!

If you didn't take meter readings yourself, you cannot dispute their estimate, which seems within the typical average use on their standard tariff, which is their most expensive.
Given that you've had over 4 year's worth of electricity and gas for £1,000, I'd pay up and look at switching to a more competitive tariff, for which you'll have to use average annual consumption figures, since you don't know what yours is. Many of the comparison sites will suggest typical figures for your type of house and services.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


If you 'have no issue paying for what i have used' then presumably you will be happy to pay for the whole 4 and a half years??


Incidentally the 12 month back-billing code(note 'code' not regulation) has specific exclusions for people who move into a property and do not take steps to get properly billed i.e. the onus is on you to get billed. see


http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication.html?task=file.download&id=5220

Mahreeree

Wow, was that was a barrel load of judgement.

I only want to question the metre readings as the readings on their system are all the same. No change at all. So no, i don't have a problem in paying an estimate, as long as it is worked out accordingly.

I moved into this house, and make sure i call almost (i say almost because i am only human!) every quarter to check who my provider is for GAS ONLY. No issues with Electricity. I have Called multiple companies on multiple occasions to no avail, so yes, i have taken steps to be properly billed.

Honestly thought i would have had a slightly different experience here. How bloody judgemental of you all.

molerat

Provide them with an accurate meter reading from one year ago. Simple, problem solved.

D_M_E

Your original post does not make clear that BG have sent you an estimated bill for gas only.

Over £1,000 gas only bill for your property is very expensive, unless you have your gas heating set to tropical.

Your best course of action is to raise a dispute and/or complaint with BG and point out that they have been given readings on which to issue bills.

It's too late now to do weekly readings and get a revised estimate based on those as the heating should have been turned off 2 weeks ago and should stay off for the next 4 months at least.

If you have readings can you not work out what the bill should be, based on the BG standard tariff?

You could also ask that they recalculate the bill based on their cheapest tariff - you never know, they might agree.