Standing charges

jonnyboom

I have a question if I may. My mother owns a property that used to use British gas as a supplier of gas and electricity. When a Tennant moved in, the Tennant changed supplier to octopus energy. The Tennant moved out last November. Meter readings were taken and octopus were informed.

My mother doesn't have an account with them, but obviously expected to have to pay the standing charges whilst empty.

Since then. She has had demand after demand for not only the standing charges, but also "estimated" gas and electricity usage.

She has of course refused to pay. 

To top it off. My farther. Her husband of 50 years, passed away, and she's currently in a very vulnerable state. 

To the point where the stress is making her ill. 

The debt had now been passed on to a collection agency, which you can imagine has pretty much sent her over the edge.

Am I right in saying that she is ONLY responsible for the standing charges.

No gas or electric has been used since November.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Gerry1

Has she sent an up to date meter reading?  Has she paid the standing charges?  What stops mould growth and the pipes freezing in the winter?

matelodave

Has she been sending in meter readings, or just refusing to pay?. If the energy co hasn't had meter readings then they try and estimate consumption unless they have been advised by sending in up to date meter reads.
She should have sent in meter readings and got the bills corrected and paid the standing charges - what did she actually do.

I guess there have been several bills since last year, so plenty of opportunity to get it sorted out before they sent in the dogs

Robin9

Your mother as the landlord is responsible for all charges between lets. She should have read the meter in conjunction with the outgoing tenant  then rung Octopus with the readings and then switched to her choice of supplier. If there's been no actual energy used standing charges for 10 months for gas and electric will be about £160

Read the meters ASAP and get an up to date bill and pay it !

jonnyboom

Thanks for the replies.
All makes sense. 
my farther dealt with all this kind of stuff, so she was simply confused about the charges on top of the standing ones as she knew the place was empty.
your help is much appreciated

all the best