Confusion over gas supply and no bill for 2 years..

Einbn1

Hi, 

This is my first post here and I would like some advice please..

My domestic gas was supplied by British Gas, as soon as my bill was due to be paid they would ring me from an overseas call centre every day without fail..  it was ridiculous and in the end I lost it and told them I was going to change my supplier. This was May 2018… I actually never did, but in late July of the same year I got an email saying “we’re sorry to see you go”, I just ignored it as I was still seething with them.

There are two flats in my property and a residential letting business has been run from an Office on the ground floor for over 50 years, its on the electoral register. The name of the business attached to the address always comes up when you search the address, not the individual flats which can get quite confusing sometimes…

So it transpired that the chap I share the house with, (he lives in the flat upstairs), decided he was going to change his supplier at the same time as I had told them I was, and it just so happened to be British Gas! I remember him mentioning something about some confusion with the whole thing and a mix up with the address’s when he did it, but again I didn’t pay much attention to what was going on… Anyway, I never received another bill from British Gas or any other supplier since, as I said, this was back in 2018.

I couldn’t be bothered to get in touch with British Gas. I really had had enough of them and I didn’t know if I had another supplier (or who they were anyway) so just left it… so in May this year upstairs got an estimated bill for both our meters and wanted proof that my meter wasn’t his responsibility. He took photos of both meters, explaining that mine was in a separate property and wasn’t anything to do with him. I then didn’t hear anything more until this month when I seem to have been sent a welcome pack by Green Star energy saying they were the supplier to the property and a bill for the period Aug 2018- May 2020 for £1211. It’s addressed to ‘The Occupier GROUND FLOOR FLAT’ etc, I didn’t notice this for a few weeks as it wasn’t actually addressed to me personally so it got left in the hallway. Then I got a letter from Shell Energy who it transpires have bought out Green Star with another welcome letter and another bill saying I had to settle up by August 27th (today). 

So then today, (27th), I had a threatening letter from MIL Collections (again dressed to The Occupier)  demanding arrangements for the  bill to be settled within 72 hours or they may instruct an agent to establish residency and reason for non payment.. “This may be my final chance to resolve this before legal action is instigated”.. 

What is annoying is this letter was dated the 22nd August, 5 days before I had been asked by Shell to settle the bill. Slightly premature I think…

Anyway I have never signed a contract with either Shell or Green Star to supply my gas and would like to know the best way to proceed. I don’t mind paying the bill for the gas used but none of this was really my fault and also I have been out of work since lockdown and would have to pay it in instalments. As I said any advice as to what my rights are and the best way to deal with it all going forward, wether I have to use them as a supplier, (maybe I could get a better deal from a different supplier?) I don’t like the idea of giving my money to Shell, not the most ethical of corporations…

Thanks in advance for any help received!

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

Firstly, it wasn't a good idea to be paying on receipt of bills, which is presumably the arrangement you had with BG.  That's usually more expensive than direct debit.  Secondly, it probably wasn't a good idea to be with BG, they're seldom the cheapest, especially if you just let things drift rather than shopping around from time to time.

That said, you are where you are so the main decision is probably whether to arrange a payment plan with Shell or challenge an Erroneous Transfer.  Find out from Shell what the tariff is and read the meter.  Do the sums yourself and calculate what the accurate bill would be.  Then dig out your old BG bills, see which  tariff you were on, when it expired and what the default tariff rates would have been.  Consider challenging an Erroneous Transfer to Green Star / Shell if BG would have been significantly cheaper.

If you're very, very lucky you might just be covered by the 12-month back billing rules and not have to pay anything before until May 2019, but unfortunately it seems that you are mostly the author of your own misfortune.  It might be worth a try, but I suspect you'll end up with a hefty bill on an expensive tariff and won't be able to switch to a competitive tariff with a new supplier until it's been settled. Learn from the experience and keep your eye firmly on the ball in the future.

macman

OP has made no attempt in 27 months to establish who had the supply, or to get a bill raised. Under those circumstances I cannot see any possibility of back-billing rules being applicable.

rp1974

I initially wasnt sure if serious tbh.If genuine then the use of "I couldn't be bothered" sums up why the situation is as it is.Good luck helping sort this out.

Cardew

1. Nobody signs contracts these days for gas and electricity.

2. I don't think the 12 month Back-billing provision would apply as OP has made no attempt to sort out account; the back billing provision specifically excludes it applying when the customer has not attempted to co-operate with the supplier. In any case the account is with a Debt Collection Agency. If it goes to court, and OP argues for the 12 month back-billing provision it is pertinent that this provision is not legislation but a voluntary code by the suppliers.

3. It is not clear to me if the 'ground floor'  is solely for the letting agency or both the agency and OP's living accomodation. The letting agency should be a commercial contract paying 20% VAT and not covered by rules/guidance for domestic accounts

MWT

Cardew said:

 If it goes to court, and OP argues for the 12 month back-billing provision it is pertinent that this provision is not legislation but a voluntary code by the suppliers.

It hasn't been voluntary for some time now, Ofgem have build it into the Supply Licence (SLC 21BA Backbilling), so it is a contractual obligation.

However, it does only apply where the customer is not at fault and that is going to be difficult to claim when you knowingly fail to pay anyone for your consumption for two years...

spiro

As soon as you recieved the 'sorry you are leaving' letter that should have set alarm bells ringing and you should have called BG to find out what is going on. Your failure to do anything means you are liable for all the bills. I'm also surprised your neighbour didn't contact his own supplier when he didn't switch as expected which might have sorted things out sooner.