British Gas insisting that I'm their customer

ChrisMP

Hi, really hoping that someone can help me with this issue.

I've been contacted by British Gas 3 times now where they are insisting that I am one of their customers for a property that I don't live in.

I've called British Gas 4 times and been told each time that it has been resolved and nothing to worry about ... but then I get another letter or a home visit. I've already put in a complaint to British Gas.

Can anyone give some advice on what I should do next? Feels like I'm bashing my head against a brick wall.

** Edit - The property they are chasing me for is my old flat. For 2 months last year I was still tenant at the flat whilst my tenancy notice was being used up even though I'd bought a place on the other side of town. I changed my address on the account to my new place as I was still paying the bills.

Thanks!

Alter_ego

How do BG know your home address?

ChrisMP

Sorry, should have mentioned this in the main post.

The property they are chasing me for is my old flat. For 2 months last year I was still tenant at the flat whilst my tenancy notice was being used up even though I'd bought a place on the other side of town. I changed my address on the account to my new place as I was still paying the bills.

System

ChrisMP wrote: »

Sorry, should have mentioned this in the main post.

The property they are chasing me for is my old flat. For 2 months last year I was still tenant at the flat whilst my tenancy notice was being used up even though I'd bought a place on the other side of town. I changed my address on the account to my new place as I was still paying the bills.

If you are a legal tenant, then the supplier can look to you to pay the bills even if you live in a tent in the garden. The property will at the very least incur daily standing charges irrespective of power used. You cannot just move out and take your account with you. I trust that you contacted the Deemed Supplier at your present home when you moved in ?

wavelets

ChrisMP wrote: »

Sorry, should have mentioned this in the main post.

The property they are chasing me for is my old flat. For 2 months last year I was still tenant at the flat whilst my tenancy notice was being used up even though I'd bought a place on the other side of town. I changed my address on the account to my new place as I was still paying the bills.

Did you ever call BG to tell them your tenancy was ending, and provide a closing meter read once ended to finalise your account?

Did you ever receive a final bill for that supply address?

wavelets

ChrisMP wrote: »

Hi, really hoping that someone can help me with this issue.

I've been contacted by British Gas 3 times now where they are insisting that I am one of their customers for a property that I don't live in.

I've called British Gas 4 times and been told each time that it has been resolved and nothing to worry about ... but then I get another letter or a home visit. I've already put in a complaint to British Gas.

Can anyone give some advice on what I should do next? Feels like I'm bashing my head against a brick wall.

** Edit - The property they are chasing me for is my old flat. For 2 months last year I was still tenant at the flat whilst my tenancy notice was being used up even though I'd bought a place on the other side of town. I changed my address on the account to my new place as I was still paying the bills.

Thanks!

Continue to follow their complaint procedure

Btw, what happened when they visited you at your new address?

ChrisMP

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

I'm not a tenant at the property and haven't been since July 2017. I have an email confirmation from them to update my address and that confirmation that I moved out of the property.

Final bills for all utilities were paid up.

It turns out after being on the phone again to them that they have reopened the account because they think that I moved back in September 2018.

When they visited my house today they left a calling card to say that they read my meter. Hopefully the reader saw a different meter number than the one they were expecting.

Cardew

You cannot change your address on your account; i.e. transfer the account. Your account with BG ceases when you move from the flat.



As indicated above, you are responsible for the bills on your previous flat whilst the tenancy is still in your name.


In your new property you will have an account number based on the address and meter(s) serial numbers.


It is important to appreciate that you will be on a legally binding 'deemed' contract with the company supplying the new property. If that company is British Gas, or any other company, you give them your details and meter readings for the day you took responsibility for the property and will be given an account number.


If the company is not British gas you can instigate switching to BGas or any other company.

ChrisMP

Hi Cardew

As I've said in the thread I'm being billed for a property that I don't own or currently live in. Final account was paid up in July 2017, and BG has opened up a new one in September 2018 thinking that I live there again.

D_M_E

Your tenancy finished July 2017, so you were not resposible for the bills at that address from that date.

You also say - or imply - that you left the flat 2 months before that, so this means that 2 months of standing charges are down to you.

How do you know that no energy was being used during those 2 months - was everything turned off?

When did you hand the keys back to the agent/landlord?

You further say BG think you moved back September 2018 - moved back where - the flat with the bill in dispute? - answer to this is yes, that's what they think and that's why they are pursuing you for payment.

Seems that they may well think that you took your account with you when you moved.

System

ChrisMP wrote: »

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

I'm not a tenant at the property and haven't been since July 2017. I have an email confirmation from them to update my address and that confirmation that I moved out of the property.

Final bills for all utilities were paid up.

It turns out after being on the phone again to them that they have reopened the account because they think that I moved back in September 2018.

When they visited my house today they left a calling card to say that they read my meter. Hopefully the reader saw a different meter number than the one they were expecting.

You can resolve this in a very simple way. Provide the supplier with a copy of your tenancy agreement showing the end of tenancy date: note this may not be the same date as the day that you physically moved out. I would also check that the end date of the tenancy agreement and the Final Bill are the same.

PS A supplier can chase you for payment for a property that you no longer live in for up to 6 years.