Empty property - overcharged, can’t move

JRB123

I have a holiday chalet where I took over the same energy company as predecessor. I was unaware there was a £1.50 daily standing charge, which predecessor did not have. It has stood empty since Sept and I am paying over £40 per month. Eon Next won’t offer me anything less unless I fix for 2 years, which I don’t want to do. No search engine will quote me due to energy crisis. My home energy company (BGas) won’t do it via email/messages even though they have given me a lower figure. They tell me to ring but there is over an hour wait and I have hearing issues. I have tried to do it online with them and that will not work either. I have sent messages of complaint, gone through Resolver and complained to the Ombudsman - so really don’t know where to go with this anymore……

Zandoni

Are there different rules for holiday chalets, the combined standing charge on the standard variable rate should be about 80p

MWT

Zandoni said:

Are there different rules for holiday chalets, the combined standing charge on the standard variable rate should be about 80p

Most likely on a business tariff, as a holiday chalet is not usually considered to be 'residential', especially if it used for short-term letting.

MWT

JRB123 said:

I have a holiday chalet where I took over the same energy company as predecessor. I was unaware there was a £1.50 daily standing charge, which predecessor did not have....

Sounds like you are on an out-of-contract, deemed, business tariff.

The previous owner probably had a contract, hence now having the same high daily standing charge.

If you are not currently in a contract you can look around for other business tariffs, but yes, they will be offering fixed contracts.

JRB123

I would consider anything at the moment but every time I try a company it gives me a message about sticking where I am and unable to offer anything due to energy crisis. Eon Next are now offering £150 to disconnect but it will be used in the summer. So I am stuck with paying £40 a month for absolutely nothing…..

Thrugelmir

JRB123 said:

 So I am stuck with paying £40 a month for absolutely nothing…..

The infrastructure exists whether you use the chalet or not, which is your choice. 

MWT

Just so we are clear, is this a business tariff?

If so then you will probably have more luck phoning a supplier or two rather than just going through the websites...

Try Octopus for example, they tend to have reasonable business tariffs ...

JRB123

Yep, but previous chalets I have had have not encountered this problem. There are other tariff available at a sensible standing charge, I just don’t appear to be able to get any further with any of them 

MWT

Hence the suggestion to call them, most of the websites are set to discourage switching, but a few of them will still do it over the phone.

JRB123

I have tried to phone other providers and am told over an hour wait just to ask. It is a business tariff that doubled the standing charge. I am currently in comms with my home energy company to see if they will do something. 

Robin9

Have you tried OPUS ?