Buying a repossessed house no gas and electric connected

rnegm

We completed on our house purchase today. The gas and electric was disconnected when it was repossessed. 

Does anyone know how we get it connected?

I suspect it’s a main fuse taken out to stop supply. 

We went round in circles trying to speak to existing supplier Utilita today. We got nowhere and after three hours were cut off the call! 

There are prepayment meters at the property (we suspect they’re smart prepayment meters). 

GDB2222

rnegm said:

We completed on our house purchase today. The gas and electric was disconnected when it was repossessed. 

Does anyone know how we get it connected?

I suspect it’s a main fuse taken out to stop supply. 

We went round in circles trying to speak to existing supplier Utilita today. We got nowhere and after three hours were cut off the call! 

There are prepayment meters at the property (we suspect they’re smart prepayment meters). 

If the supply has been disconnected, can you now choose a new supplier?  Utilita have proved their unhelpfulness, so choose someone else. Have you taken pictures of the meters, showing the meter numbers?

RHemmings

GDB2222 said:

rnegm said:

We completed on our house purchase today. The gas and electric was disconnected when it was repossessed. 

Does anyone know how we get it connected?

I suspect it’s a main fuse taken out to stop supply. 

We went round in circles trying to speak to existing supplier Utilita today. We got nowhere and after three hours were cut off the call! 

There are prepayment meters at the property (we suspect they’re smart prepayment meters). 

If the supply has been disconnected, can you now choose a new supplier?  Utilita have proved their unhelpfulness, so choose someone else. Have you taken pictures of the meters, showing the meter numbers?

Surely other suppliers would know if they can connect or not. And refuse if they can't. A simple phone call to another supplier probably - I would think - wouldn't hurt. Even if it's only to ask if they can start a supply and to send details of their tarriffs. 

user1977

If they’re prepayment meters are you sure they’re not simply out of credit?

Alderbank

Sometimes with repossessions the gas and electric have had to be capped off for safety reasons.

I think that before reconnection the utility suppliers will need to carry out safety checks and remedial work might be needed.

rnegm

Alderbank said:

Sometimes with repossessions the gas and electric have had to be capped off for safety reasons.

I think that before reconnection the utility suppliers will need to carry out safety checks and remedial work might be needed.

I think this is the most likely. I can’t see any meters as there are large stickers over everything. Saying do not use, needs to be recommissioned by a gas registered plumber. I do t want to call out and pay for somebody if Utility also need to do something first. 

GDB2222

rnegm said:

Alderbank said:

Sometimes with repossessions the gas and electric have had to be capped off for safety reasons.

I think that before reconnection the utility suppliers will need to carry out safety checks and remedial work might be needed.

I think this is the most likely. I can’t see any meters as there are large stickers over everything. Saying do not use, needs to be recommissioned by a gas registered plumber. I do t want to call out and pay for somebody if Utility also need to do something first. 

Have a word with a plumber on the GasSafe register. I expect that he will say that he can’t do anything until a meter has been installed, but see what he says. The usual procedure is that the plumber will do a pressure test, to test for leaks. That involves turning off all the appliances, letting gas into the pipework and then turning off the inlet valve at the meter. The plumber then checks how fast the pressure drops, using a manometer. A tiny pressure drop is acceptable, but any more means leaks that are unacceptably large.

I expect that the gas company can install a new meter, but leave it capped off, ready for your plumber to use.

Even in the past, when I drilled through a gas pipe, the utility company did not remove the meter. They just capped it off and attached warning labels. So, I’m unclear what the problem was with your property that led to the meter being removed altogether. Possibly simply non paying of bills?

silvercar

user1977 said:

If they’re prepayment meters are you sure they’re not simply out of credit?

I’d be wary of loading them with credit. They could well have a large negative balance attached to them.

prowla

silvercar said:

user1977 said:

If they’re prepayment meters are you sure they’re not simply out of credit?

I’d be wary of loading them with credit. They could well have a large negative balance attached to them.

Can you have a negative balance associated with a prepayment meter?
(Just asking, not challenging!)

prowla

I would've thought that it's a simple bread and butter task for a supplier to bring a supply back online and fit a new meter.

After-all, they're going around changing people to smart meters, which involves replacing the old one and thus entails doing the tests.

GDB2222

prowla said:

silvercar said:

user1977 said:

If they’re prepayment meters are you sure they’re not simply out of credit?

I’d be wary of loading them with credit. They could well have a large negative balance attached to them.

Can you have a negative balance associated with a prepayment meter?
(Just asking, not challenging!)

Yes. The standing charge continues to accumulate, even if no energy is consumed.