British Gas Headache!

HRHBrokeasduck

Hi there,

I’m hoping to get some advice on this as I seem to be going around in circles with it.

British Gas put an occupier bill debt into my name without me opening an account with them. 

I had infact selected GNE as my chosen supplier when I moved in to the property. Who have since ceased trading.

At no point did I register myself with British Gas at this address.

My previous address was a British Gas account and I left the new property as a forwarding address. (This is where I believe that they have got my name from)

I didn’t move in straight away as works were being done and it was lockdown so I stayed in rented accommodation until it was ready. 

In this time British Gas without my permission opened two accounts on my credit file and I have unpaid and defaulted payments on there one for gas and one for electric! 

Now I have spoken with BG who have closed the account at £0. With Defaulted payments. I have paid them nothing. 

Infact I have since learnt that what they did was transferred the balance to the GNE Account which I have been paying without knowing until recently! 

I am unable to contact GNE anymore and have tried to explain the issues I’ve had but still the debt has now popped on to my new EDF account. It’s like pass the buck every time.

I have contacted BG and complained. I get the same standard useless response. 

I raised a complaint with Equifax, who completely misunderstood my complaint and relayed it incorrectly due to language barriers and call centres abroad.

My main point is opening an account without my consent is surely not legal. 

The amount owed was in actual fact Zero as they have moved the debt to another provider anyway so no actual money owed - how is this a credit account?! 

I’m so frustrated that has impacted so severely on my credit file going from over 900 to very poor. 

I am due a new lease car and I’m unable to make an application I am also going for a mortgage shortly and this has ruined all my hard work building my credit over the years! 

I have requested the account to be removed however I’m receiving no luck just automated emails from BG.  

Can anyone help with the legal details here? 

ItsComingRome

When you move into a new property you are in a deemed contract with the existing supplier to the property the moment you use any energy. This supplier was almost certainly British Gas.

Your switch would have taken 10-21 days to complete during which time your supplier was British Gas and you were building up a debt with them.

You will owe them the money.  I don't believe for a second they'd transfer the (debit) balance over to a completely different energy supplier.  The account has likely been sold to a DCA, hence the £0 debt on British Gas' systems.  You'll just need to wait and see who comes knocking for the balance.