Unregistered Gas Meter

KNIGHTRK

I wonder if you can help me. Apologise if this has been discussed before.

I'm stuck in a situation that I don't know how to resolve. I hope you can help. 

I purchased the flat I am living in from my landlord a few years ago. Having completed the purchase, I wanted to change gas supplier but the landlord did not know who the current gas supplier was. 

Therefore, I contacted the National Grid Meter Point Administration helpline to see if they could help. I gave them my address and my gas meter number. They said the meter was not registered and I should pick a gas supplier and ask them to start billing me. I tried a number of suppliers but they said as the meter wasn't registered, I should go back to the National Grid. I'm stuck in an endless loop being passed back and forward from the National Grid and suppliers. 

It has not bothered me much up until now but I read today that an unregistered gas meter can be consider as gas theft. So, I am now worried. 

p00hsticks

Are you saying that you've never paid for gas the entire time you've been living there (both renting and as owner / occupier) ?  

KNIGHTRK

@p00hsticks That is correct 

CSI_Yorkshire

KNIGHTRK said:

It has not bothered me much up until now but I read today that an unregistered gas meter can be consider as gas theft. So, I am now worried. 

It can, if you've deliberately tried to hide the fact that you are unregistered and tried to avoid being charged.  You have done the opposite of that, so don't worry.

KNIGHTRK said:

Therefore, I contacted the National Grid Meter Point Administration helpline to see if they could help. I gave them my address and my gas meter number. They said the meter was not registered and I should pick a gas supplier and ask them to start billing me. I tried a number of suppliers but they said as the meter wasn't registered, I should go back to the National Grid. I'm stuck in an endless loop being passed back and forward from the National Grid and suppliers. 

The helpline are correct.  You should choose a supplier, give them your address and MPRN, and they should do the rest.  If you don't have an MPRN, they should organise getting one, but you should have one that was created when the meter was installed.

KNIGHTRK

@CSI_Yorkshire Thank you.  I will try again. But every time I speak to a supplier they tell me my meter does not exist and I don't have gas.  I will try a supplier I have not yet approached. Thanks again. 

CSI_Yorkshire

The new connections departments are more likely to understand the issue than the general retail customer service lines.

I don't know how well the two departments (which are often in different companies in the same group) actually communicate though.

molerat

Granddaughter moved into a flat.  Letter from Octopus addressed to "new occupier" with contact details for electric.  I had already checked the registers for the whole block of 6 and it was a train wreck, flats are numbered A to F on the doors and with RM and electric and gas registers are a combination of that and GL, 1R etc some duplicated and some missing and council tax is GL, GR, 1L, 1R, TL, TR. 6 properties registered for electric, one shipperless, 7 for gas with 2 shipperless, her flat is duplicated with 2 different MPRNs.  She asked Octopus if they supplied the gas, we knew they didn't, and gave them the meter number.  They said no one supplied that flat / meter was not registered and they would set up an account - 2000+ hcf on the meter.  2 weeks later account set up and showing on register, first bill using correct opening meter read. 

The moral being some suppliers can do it if they want to !

KNIGHTRK

Thanks @molerat Glad it's not just me. :-)