British Gas say they don't supply my home when they were the previous owner's supplier

lodsofemone

I've just bought my first home and I need to make sure the gas & electricity is sorted out. I figured I'll carry on using British Gas as they were the supplier for the previous owner (and I have proof - there is a smart meter there, and I have a copy of some of their bills) and then maybe switch later once I'm settled and want to save some money. However if I go on their website on the moving home bit and put the address in it says "British Gas doesn't supply your new home" and "when we ask you if your new home is already supplied by British Gas, remember to answer no". What's up with that?

I did manage to get the current meter reading from yesterday (the day I completed) and submit it on their meter readings page, but it didn't ask me for any personal info, and if I want to set up an account, I have the same issue as above.

Should I set the account up anyway under the assumption they don't supply the home currently (I mean, they must do, because the gas and electricity is still on)? The water was much easier, had no problem making an account with Thames Water.

Gerry1

Find My Gas Supplier

Your DNO can tell you who supplies your electricity.

Start comparing with Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?' and remember that separate suppliers are often cheaper than dual fuel.

stewie_griffin

Just because BG installed the smart meter doesn't mean they're still the supplier. This website should help establish your gas supplier. You can then contact them and find out if they also supply the electricity. https://www.findmysupplier.energy/webapp/index.html

lodsofemone

findmysupplier does in fact say my gas supplier is Britsh Gas:

Gas Supplier: British Gas Trading Limited

Gas Transporter:Southern Gas Networks Plc

The other site Gerry linked said it was UK Power Networks. I went to their site and again used their "who is my electricity supplier" tool and again it said British Gas, but this one gave me a phone number and MPAN.

So sod knows why Britsh Gas' website is saying they're not my supplier!

I think I need to speak to a human, but we all know how difficult that can be these days. Might have to try again on Monday

Thanks for your advice!

Robin9

lodsofemone said:

..........................................

I did manage to get the current meter reading from yesterday (the day I completed) and submit it on their meter readings page, ............

How did you manage to do this without having a sign on and password ?

lodsofemone

I'm not allowed to post links yet but, on British Gas' website, there is a section to submit meter readings, and one option is for "your opening meter reading"

macman

Robin9 said:

lodsofemone said:

..........................................

I did manage to get the current meter reading from yesterday (the day I completed) and submit it on their meter readings page, ............

How did you manage to do this without having a sign on and password ?

You don't need an online account, you simply need to give them the address or MPAN so they can link it to the correct meter.

yksi

Any chance it's a problem with the address? Is it letter-perfect, number perfect, with all the bits and pieces in the correct places? I've had tenants that struggled because, for example, the supplier had them in the system as "Flat 1, 28 Mayfair Lane" rather than "The Annex, 28 Mayfair Lane" or "Flats 1-4, 28 Mayfair Lane" or "28 Mayfair Lane, Flat 1" or even "1 28 Mayfair Lane" or "Flat 1, Marine Apartments, 28 Mayfair Lane", or missing the flat number completely.

lodsofemone

Yep, it's the right address "Flat X, Y Street Name, Town, Postcode"

ElephantBoy57

lodsofemone said:

So sod knows why Britsh Gas' website is saying they're not my supplier!

Maybe they were the previous occupants supplier, but they moved and transferred their account to their new address?

Gerry1

You can't transfer an account to a new address, you have to sign up with the incumbent there.  However, if you switch to your old supplier they may let you continue with the deal you had before moving.