New Home/Temporary Supplier Bill

unclebatman

Hi folks,
I wondered if anyone had any experience of the position I find myself in. 
Moved to new property in mid-August, and moved my existing supplier (Octopus) with me.
The company supplying the premises previously (EDF) have now sent a bill, addressed to "the owner occupier from 18 August to 01 September" which for 13 days energy is more than I have paid per month in any of the previous 5 years. I've clearly been put on the most basic of tariffs for the short term hence this ridiculous charge - has anyone experience of challenging this? 
Speaking freely, they obviously don't know who I am - can I ignore?
Any help welcome!

MWT

You have made a basic error.

You can't move your previous supplier with you.

When you take responsibility for the new property and use energy, you are automatically in a deemed (expensive) contract with the existing supplier there, you need ot set up an account with them, move to a cheap tariff with no exit fees, then switch to your preferred supplier.

If you don't do that then bad things happen like getting bills you were not expecting.

So no, do not ignore, and no, you can't do anything about it, you do owe them the money.

Just make sure that the meter readings on the bill make sense when compared to the meter readings you tool when you moved in and the first bill from Octopus at that address...

unclebatman

Deep joy. Thanks MWT

matelodave

The problem with not signing-up with the existing supplier and giving meter readings when you move in is that not only do you end up on the most expensive tariff but you also run the risk of paying for the previous tenant/owner's energy if they didn't close their accounts properly and give accurate readings when they left.

There are lot of threads on this very subject and it can take a lot of unravelling. 

As MWT says, check that the meter readings that EDF have used for their opening and closing readings look sensible and that the closing reading is the same as Octopus's opening reading.