British Gas Lite - Charging Business Rates on a Residential Property

pottski

Hi all, will try to keep this as brief as possible.

Moved into my home (mortgages) and was contacted by current supplier - British Gas Lite. They provide Gas & Elec to business customers so I assume previous owner put their energy through their business. I explained the property was my residential home so I shouldn't pay business rates, a couple of weeks later they eventually moved me to British Gas (Residential) but it was hard work.

After the previous owner provided glaringly obvious incorrect meter readings, I received an extortionate bill of over £500 for 20 days usage . I have eventually sorted this aspect out however so they have billed me for the correct usage.

Can British Gas Lite charge me business rates, even though I am not a business customer? They are very expensive rates so my closing bill is extortionate for the minimal usage. Final elec bill is £150 but I calculated at residential rates would be £80. Similar with the gas, £52 versus £17. The standing charges play a big part in this. British Gas Lite have said that as they are the supplier, they charge these rates and it's tough luck - surely this is not right/fair?

You can only communicate with them via Live Chat, which takes hours and hours of time so I am tempted to pay and move on as I am so frustrated with having to deal with them. I have made a complaint regarding several issues but they are wooden in their approach i.e you have to pay although I haven't been provided with a final response yet. I have provided my council tax bill which I believe proves the property is being used for residential purposes. Surely they cannot charge me at business rates?

Appreciate any assistance/advice - have searched online but can't seem to find anything similar. 

BarelySentientAI

They can.  And they're right to do so.

Council tax bill proves nothing.  Looking like a residential property means nothing.

If you've been billed for the right amount of energy on the right tariff, which it sounds like you have been, then it's correct.

You're now on a residential tariff that you think is correct?

pottski

Thanks for the reply. I moved into the property so obviously inherited the existing supplier which happened to be a business supplier. I have been billed the correct usage in terms of KWH but the rates are for Business Customers - I am not a business so how can I be charged business rates? Surely British Gas Lite should have moved be to British Gas from day 1 rather than it taking 20 days to move to British Gas (residential). How can it be fair that I was charged standing charges that are x4 for elec and x2 for gas - all because the previous owner chose to put their energy through their business, at their residential home? Your reply states if I have been charged on the right tariff then it is correct, I do not own a business so how can a business tariff be correct?

Robin9

pottski said:

........................... rather than it taking 20 days to move to British Gas (residential). .................

Is there still an issue -  you are now on a BG Domestic tariff.

You were actually quite fortunate - had you been on a specialist Business supplier this matter would have been rolling on for months.

BG Lite are actually quite innocent in this - if anyone is at fault it's the previous occupier.

elmer

Have you checked that the council will be charging you Council Tax and not Non Domestic Rates for the property?

pottski

Robin9 said:

pottski said:

........................... rather than it taking 20 days to move to British Gas (residential). .................

Is there still an issue -  you are now on a BG Domestic tariff.

You were actually quite fortunate - had you been on a specialist Business supplier this matter would have been rolling on for months.

BG Lite are actually quite innocent in this - if anyone is at fault it's the previous occupier.

Ok but my question remains, how can a residential property owner who does not have a business, be charged business energy rates? That just seems completely unfair/wrong. 

rp1974

OP,why wasn't this picked up on before it became your responsibility?.
Your ownership of a business or otherwise isn't relevant,if the contract was in place at the time you took possession then those are the terms which are applicable.
Given that you have been billed at the correct rates and usage figures as unfair that may appear that's the jist of the matter,it's unfortunate but something that's probably better chaiked up to experience and moved on from.

pottski

I was advised via my solicitors that that the Gas & Electricity supplier of the property was British Gas so didn't think anything of it before I moved in, only to find out it was indeed British Gas Lite. 

Appreciate your comments, you live and you learn I guess. 

WBCPB

You say "Moved into my home (mortgages)" so surely your solicitor should have picked this up during all the searches they charge you for, i would be contacting them for some compo.

Robin9

I haven't moved house for years but I believe there is a form that the seller completes and the "who is my supplier questions" are asked. Does it also ask "is this a domestic  or business tariff" ?


It may well be that if the house was being sold by executors they didn't know.

BarelySentientAI

pottski said:

Thanks for the reply. I moved into the property so obviously inherited the existing supplier which happened to be a business supplier. I have been billed the correct usage in terms of KWH but the rates are for Business Customers - I am not a business so how can I be charged business rates? Surely British Gas Lite should have moved be to British Gas from day 1 rather than it taking 20 days to move to British Gas (residential). How can it be fair that I was charged standing charges that are x4 for elec and x2 for gas - all because the previous owner chose to put their energy through their business, at their residential home? Your reply states if I have been charged on the right tariff then it is correct, I do not own a business so how can a business tariff be correct?

Because you don't need to own a business to have a business electricity tariff.

And the supplier shouldn't be guessing whether you want a business tariff or not.  It's your job to tell them. 

Just like it's your job to find out who the supplier is when you move in, and decide whether the tariff that you are on is right for you or not, even amongst residential tariffs.