New Build House - British Gas to supply, who pays now work needs to be done.

canonman

Hi all. 

I have just purchased a new build house and i was told we will be suppled by British Gas. On the day of the exchange and getting the keys the rep for the home builder showed us about and took the meter reading and simple as that however The house has a digital pannel and the temp is set to 21c . The house needed some work done sych as the front door and painting and Carpentry so we left the keys so they could do the work. While they do the work such as paint and the door the entire house windows and doors are open/off and this was every day for the last 2 weeks.

I have tried to contact the builders but i am not getting a reply!

1. I have not entered into any contract for my Gas and electrcity so can i simply switch, no rates or cost other than they will contact me soon to setup my account. Is there anything i can do to tell them i dont want to be with them?
2. How can i ask the builder to compensate me for the loss of heat etc?
3. Where do i stand with the Utilities as i have not been given the option to shop about etc? 

Many thanks 

[Deleted User]

You are on contract with BG under deemed supplier regulations. Once you advise them of the date that you became responsible for the property along with meter readings, you are free to switch suppliers.

Your dispute is with the builder. I would press them for an ex gratia payment. Best of luck.

ariarnia

unfortaunely as dolor says you became responsible for the energy as soon as you became the owner.

what you have to do is contact BG to finish setting up your account so they can bill you for the use to date. then you can move to someone else if you want. you wont be able to change supplier before you settle with BG. not really much shopping around you can do as theres not really any fixes and everyone's rate is the same unless you want a split rate tarrif (for cheap overnight electric). 

so then its for you to try and chase anyone you think owes you (and they will probably say they dont owe you because you should have turned down or off the heating or something but you can try and they might give you a 'gesture of goodwill').   

Mstty

You took responsibility for the house on exchange.

Just because you didn't reduce the temperature before handing over the keys to the builder to do further work isn't really their fault.

Out of interest what are the meter readings after their work as you have the initial ones. How much are you talking about?

Unless you detest British gas with a passion there are not any better deals on the market right now than the government discounted standard variable rate.

Gerry1

As it's a new build, do the Meter Sanity Test to make sure you're not paying for a neighbour's usage !

bagand96

canonman said:

3. Where do i stand with the Utilities as i have not been given the option to shop about etc? 

When you buy a house you don't get the choice of supplier, you automatically enter into a deemed contract with the existing supplier.  If it's a new build that's whoever the developer has used.  If it's a non new build then it's whoever the previous occupants used.  You are free to shop around and switch immediately though, but as said above there's no point at the moment as the deemed contract with be at the Government's EPG rates and nobody is offering anything cheaper.

[Deleted User]

bagand96 said:

canonman said:

3. Where do i stand with the Utilities as i have not been given the option to shop about etc? 

When you buy a house you don't get the choice of supplier, you automatically enter into a deemed contract with the existing supplier.  If it's a new build that's whoever the developer has used.  If it's a non new build then it's whoever the previous occupants used.  You are free to shop around and switch immediately though, but as said above there's no point at the moment as the deemed contract with be at the Government's EPG rates and nobody is offering anything cheaper.

I think that we have made the point. Our new homeowner is frustrated, as we all would be, that he has incurred costs that he was not expecting. I am sure that he will store away the lesson in his  Book of Life’s Experiences so, should he move again, he will ensure that the heating is turned down to frost protection if he is not moving in immediately. 

Mobtr

We had a similar issue few years ago. Have you spoken to the builder? Ours agreed for the utilities to go in our name once the work was all completed & we could move in

MattMattMattUK

canonman said:
3. Where do i stand with the Utilities as i have not been given the option to shop about etc? 

With regard to utilities there is not a huge amount of shopping around to take place. Gas and Electricity will all be on the SVR unless you had E7 or want an EV tariff, E7 would not make sense as you have gas and you have not mentioned an EV, so beyond those they are all the same rates. Water you do not have an option to shop around. Broadband you have no existing contact or supplier so you can do what you want.