Rented house - previous tenents left big elec & gas debt - now key meters are taking that debt.

easy

My son and 2 other students moved into a rented house in September.
While trying to sort out energy contracts,  one of son's friends found the previous tenents left debt with Eon.  Before new contracts were sorted,  a bloke from Eon arrived,  waved a piece of paper that he said was a warrant,  and insisted on fitting key meters in the house.   Unfortunately these 3 students didn't ask any parents for help with any of this when it happened.
Now every time they top up the key for the meter,  £20 or £30 disappears off the key straight away towards the old debt.  The student 'dealing with ' this keeps ringing Eon to try to get them to stop taking this money,  but he's getting nowhere.   So far they have put over £500 in the meters - it's a small terraced house ,  and they now daren't turn the heating on !
I keep telling my son to get in touch with the letting agency to get them to write confirming when they moved in - but the boys say the agency  aren't interested.

I've never been in this situation myself,  so don't know what the legal position is -  but surely the letting agency should take some part in getting this sorted.  I want my son & his mates to get back the money they are paying to the previous tenent's debt. 

MWT

The letting agent will have no part in this, your son & his mates should have a tenancy agreement showing the date they moved in.

They should immediately file a written complaint with E.ON and make it clear that they expect a full refund of all the additional sums taken and request a return to a credit meter.

In the circumstance I suspect they are going to be stuck with the PAYG meter, but they should be able to get the debt removed and refunded.

I do hope though that they have properly registered a new account with E.ON though?

wild666

The debt is not yours if you moved in after the previous tenant left. The letting agent should have details for the previous tenant like their mobile number or previous address that they used for correspondence! 
E.ON might be difficult and say the pre-payment meter has to stay but I would regularly check to see if any credit on the meter is being taken off to pay a debt. 
The meter they put in would be a smart meter and it should have an IHD which they should have left when fitting the meter.

Just my opinion but letting agents should ask for the NINO of anyone who applies for a rented property so they can check that the person applying is the person with the NINO. Then a pervious tenant who leaves a property with bills owing can be tracked down easily as they have to give the DWP or employer their NINO.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

seems what has happened, previous tenants have run up a debt and ignored debt letters/payment demands.

Then got to the warrant stage to remove the credit meter and fit a key meter to collect arrears.

Pity they didn't have a look at warrant and check who it was addressed to, then deny entry.

Have they now got supply in their own names?

easy

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

seems what has happened, previous tenants have run up a debt and ignored debt letters/payment demands.

Then got to the warrant stage to remove the credit meter and fit a key meter to collect arrears.

Pity they didn't have a look at warrant and check who it was addressed to, then deny entry.

Have they now got supply in their own names?

yes,  the supply is now in the name of one of the students

PennyForThem_2

Tell one of them on behalf of the others to go to Citizens Advice - the advice may shape the complaint.  At the same time, write down in WORD exactly when they moved in, the Agents, the fact that the Agents will have previous tenants' details, photos of the meters (did they take those but possibly agent did)  readings of meters on day got keys (I assume????? this was taken - agents may have), then write a formal complaint to Eon via recorded snailmail (email too) detailing all of the evidence they have and asking to be reverted.  

The agents do a 'finalisation' report for the landlord when a tennant leaves.  This may contain meter readings.  

Robin9

Has you son and his mates agreed how to split the bills ?  That might save the  - I pay less because I went home for the weekend/ you should pay more because your girlfriend stayed over scenarios.

easy

Robin9 said:

Has you son and his mates agreed how to split the bills ?  That might save the  - I pay less because I went home for the weekend/ you should pay more because your girlfriend stayed over scenarios.

There is no argument about that,  they had all agreed before they moved in that bills would be split equally - because over the course of a year it would probably even out,  and life is too short to squabble with good friends over the odd fiver . 
Now they are topping up meter keys,  they all just contribute say £20,  and one of them will get the £60 top-up.

dbks

easy said:

My son and 2 other students moved into a rented house in September.
While trying to sort out energy contracts,  one of son's friends found the previous tenents left debt with Eon.  Before new contracts were sorted,  a bloke from Eon arrived,  waved a piece of paper that he said was a warrant,  and insisted on fitting key meters in the house.   Unfortunately these 3 students didn't ask any parents for help with any of this when it happened.
Now every time they top up the key for the meter,  £20 or £30 disappears off the key straight away towards the old debt.  The student 'dealing with ' this keeps ringing Eon to try to get them to stop taking this money,  but he's getting nowhere.   So far they have put over £500 in the meters - it's a small terraced house ,  and they now daren't turn the heating on !
I keep telling my son to get in touch with the letting agency to get them to write confirming when they moved in - but the boys say the agency  aren't interested.

I've never been in this situation myself,  so don't know what the legal position is -  but surely the letting agency should take some part in getting this sorted.  I want my son & his mates to get back the money they are paying to the previous tenent's debt. 

easy said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

seems what has happened, previous tenants have run up a debt and ignored debt letters/payment demands.

Then got to the warrant stage to remove the credit meter and fit a key meter to collect arrears.

Pity they didn't have a look at warrant and check who it was addressed to, then deny entry.

Have they now got supply in their own names?

yes,  the supply is now in the name of one of the students

Then they need to contact E.ON and ask them why they are expected to pay off the debt of a third party.

They should get the money back later anyway, because when they put the accounts in their name they would have been asked for meter reads. When they leave, tell them to ensure they give final meter reads to the supplier.

They would only be charged for what they have used.

i.e they will receive a statement showing the cost of energy they have used, and the credits they have topped up with.

They will be due the difference back
 ... but better to get it sorted sooner rather than later, when they are all still together, so the refund can be easily distributed between them.

Armengar

1.in writing complaint to eon with copy of tenancy agreement. explain that eon actions are putting them in poverty and require immediate resolution.  List all the phone call times.  Be firm but not rude. Put a 14 day time limit for a resolution. Regiatered post and keep a copy.

2. Eon might ignore you. Ombudsman time. Again stress that this is putting you in poverty.

As others have said, you might be bwtter off with Citizens advice helping craft the letter.