Trouble getting gas bill

WintersCreek

I am having trouble getting a supplier for my gas. I moved house three months ago.

Scottish Power are saying my account is with OVO and I can't transfer the account without an account number from Ovo. Ovo say there is no account for that meter registered with them.

On a separate note Scottish Power have quoted a fixed price for estimated 8,000 kWh usage at £800 plus and state they can't do a standard variable tariff that would be around £450. 

Where do I go from here?

Gerry1

Find My Gas Supplier

There will be no point trying to switch away from the incumbent supplier: the deemed SVT rates are virtually all the same.  When you have identified them, just provide your name, address, date of taking possession, opening meter reading and DD bank details.  That's it, don't sign up to any fixed tariffs.  Contact by phone or snail mail if necessary.

WintersCreek

Gerry1, thanks for that. Seems a bit strange entering a contract without checking the rate though. 

WintersCreek

OK I've been calling Scottish Power and Ovo for 3 months with no traction.

Scottish Power have insisted the account is with Ovo. 

Ovo have twice hung up mid call and given a number for a subsidiary called Boost. That number was a duff number so called Ovo again. Customer services kept me on the line while they resolve the issue with Boost. Boost representative then states the account is with Orion, then Spark and finally Southern Energy a  subsidiary of SSE which has been taken over by Ovo.

Boost only do prepayment but the meter is a credit meter.

Worse Ovo can't / won't give me a quote for their price per kWh and standing charge without creating an account.

This is a shambles. Perhaps I should put the money in a savings account and wait for them to contact me.

WintersCreek

PS I have spent over 4 hrs on the phone today and about 30 hours or more over the last 3 months trying to resolve this.

Gerry1

You entered into a deemed contract the moment you switched on a light or when the central heating kicked in.  If it didn't work that way you'd have had fun trying to sign up electricity and gas suppliers in a cold and dark property !

molerat

What do you get from the link in Gerry1's post ?

https://www.findmysupplier.energy/webapp/index.html

That will tell you who is supplying gas to your property.

Gerry1

WintersCreek said:

PS I have spent over 4 hrs on the phone today and about 30 hours or more over the last 3 months trying to resolve this.

1. Forget the phone.  Just send your details by post to the company that's shown as your supplier on Find My Gas Supplier, stating that you are registering for their SVT.  They cannot force you to accept any other tariff, so decline any such offers.
   
2. Forget worrying about the deemed SVT kWh rate and standing charge, you have no more control over them than you do over your water charges or council tax.
3. Start enjoying your new home !

WintersCreek

Thanks molerat.

I get the following from Gerry1's link:

Meter Point Reference Number:	*********
Gas Supplier:	OVO (S) Gas Limited
Gas Transporter:	Scotland Gas Networks Plc.

Unfortunately Ovo has insisted I am on a prepayment meter through their Boost subsidiary. I am on a credit meter so how they see my meter as prepayment I have no idea.

They then corrected themselves stating it was through Orion, Spark, then Southern Energy / SSE.

I've noted Gerry1's post and will follow that line.

Gerry1

When registering, it would be a good idea to get a free certificate of posting.  Send Ovo meter readings monthly, again by post if you can't set up an online account, and keep photographic records of the meter readings.

If Ovo don't set up a DD, then calculate what you owe and put the money aside ready for the catch up bill.  If they still don't sort things out then they won't be able to back bill more than 12 months because you'll be able to prove that you've made every effort to register.

Just keep it all in writing so that you have an audit trail.

WintersCreek

Thanks Gerry1, points noted.

Cheers molerat.

I've drafted a letter and will send it off tomorrow.