Student Utility Bill Packages

Melamine

Last July my son and 3 others rented a property within the contract was a utility bills package. The boys signed the contract but in the months leading up to the start of the tenancy I questioned the amount they were being billed and asked to have an amendment to the contract to remove this and was told this was not possible by the letting agent. They have been paying just over £100 a month each for a 3.5 bed house. When covid hit and the boys moved out this march I asked for the utilities to be stopped as they would not be returning, this was denied. They have been paying for gas electrics and water they have not used as the house was empty.  Can we appeal this?

MaryNB

Does the tenancy agreement state if they're liable for the bills? Or are the utilities covered under the rent?
Did the tenancy end when they moved out due to Covid?

If the agreement says they are liable for bills, they should have been allowed change supplier. Although this would also mean they're liable for them for the duration of the contract. Even if they moved out, a standing charge is still due on gas and electricity and their tv & broadband payments would stay the same (and water if it's not metered).
If it's included in the rent, well, they'll still owe rent until the contract is terminated.

Edit: On renewal, my tenancy agreement said we would be moved onto Ovo but I contacted the letting agent to say we would be staying with current provider. The clause stayed in the contract but agency didn't pass our details onto Ovo.
After your son's letting agency refused to remove the clause did you ask about them changing supplier?

Melamine

I should say this is a student rental. The bills package was part of the monthly payment and they did continue to pay the rent as the landlord would not let them terminate early. The bills package came via a company called Glide and the package is an attachment to the rent.  In total for the year the boys have paid £5000 for gas electricty water, tv broadband. Meters were read when they moved in and when they moved out. I have no issue with paying tv & broadband but to have paid so much money for gas, electricty and water seems like daylight robbery to me.

silvercar

Melamine said:

I should say this is a student rental. The bills package was part of the monthly payment and they did continue to pay the rent as the landlord would not let them terminate early. The bills package came via a company called Glide and the package is an attachment to the rent.  In total for the year the boys have paid £5000 for gas electricty water, tv broadband. Meters were read when they moved in and when they moved out. I have no issue with paying tv & broadband but to have paid so much money for gas, electricty and water seems like daylight robbery to me.

Enough said. 
From their website here. 

Earn commission on referrals
If you’d rather not go bills-inclusive, just refer them to us and we’ll send them a combined bill directly each month, and we’ll pay you commission for every one. 

silvercar

You need to take it up with Glide. Even though you have signed up for a tariff that is stupidly high, you shouldn't be charged for utilities you didn't use. They market themselves as providing a set charge each month to account for expected use, but they should refund you if you have been overcharged by having lower readings than expected.

Melamine

I am calling Glide today