Incurring Standing Charges while the house is disconnected from grid

35har1old

Keep_pedalling said:

NG would not have needed permission to carry out a disconnection for safety reasons. My understanding is that the only way to get standing charges removed is to have the meter removed, so I am afraid the estate does owe this money. Meter removal and reinstatement involves significant charges.

The meter could have been removed at the time of disconnection

Singlespeeder

Thanks for all the advice.
I can't be certain we notified Octopus at the time, I'd have to ask my sisters. But the fact there provably wasn't a physical connection should trump everything else.
I don't want to fall out with Octopus, they're my supplier at home and frankly I like them. It'll just go down as a business expense but I'd prefer not to have to pay it in the first place. 

MeteredOut

Ectophile said:

I would immediately put in a complaint, on the basis that you had no supply, thus the estate cannot have a deemed contract with the energy company under the Electricity Act.

And be prepared to take it to the ombudsman.

Is the estate a separate legal entity to the father? If not, then surely the deemed contract rolls onto the estate and it was the responsibility of the executor to inform the supplier of the changes NG did. 

Singlespeeder

ALL SORTED ! 
Fantastic customer service from Octopus!
They've cleared all charges /debt from before us being reconnected on the 7th November AND given us a good will gesture of £50 credit.
Outstanding outcome.

Reed_Richards

I guess you just had to speak to the right person!

400ixl

Good to hear of a decent outcome. Pleased for you.