How do I take on a contract without the previous owner's invoice?

dogs_paw

I have bought a property in Glasgow and the previous owner doesn't seem to have any invoices for the utilities. They were paying the bills, but they're based abroad and the paper invoices were collected and disposed of by a caretaker. How do I change the contracts to my name without the invoices showing the customer reference number? (MAPN or something like that)
Same for water... (
Thanks! 

t0rt0ise

You can find out who the supplier is and contact them giving the address. They don't need any account number.

Gas: https://findmysupplier.energy/

Electricity: start here.. https://www.energynetworks.org/customers/find-my-network-operator

This explains too: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/moving-home-your-energy-supply/find-out-who-your-gas-or-electricity-supplier-is/

DullGreyGuy

Residential water is based on where the property is, you cannot switch suppliers on residential. https://www.water.org.uk/customers/find-your-supplier will tell you who supplies the area if you dont know. Given you are in Glasgow it will be Scottish Water (if you are on mains water - that will be in the paperwork for the sale)

Any particular reason you want to stay with the same supplier for gas/electric? You can just signup with whoever it is you want to go with and they'll deal with closing the old supply and switching it to them if they're not the current supplier. 

If you are particularly interested in the current electric supplier you would contact SP Energy who can tell you the MAPN either by phone or on https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/who_is_my_electricity_supplier.aspx 

dogs_paw

Thanks guys, no I don't want to stay with the current supplier, but in order to change to another one I have to provide the new one the reference number for the access point, that's what their intake form requires...

FlorayG

Seller will have informed them that he is no longer liable and you will get a letter addressed to 'occupant' very soon

Scot_39

FlorayG said:

Seller will have informed them that he is no longer liable and you will get a letter addressed to 'occupant' very soon

Seller should have and should have supplied a valid reading.

But may not have.

So only safe thing to do is take own readings, digital time stamped photos etc.

And don't forget to check water metered or not.  And take a water meter read as well if need be.  SW should be able to tell you.

EssexHebridean

Are things different in Scotland? In England you first need to sign up to the incumbent supplier, and once you have an account set up with them, then you can switch to your supplier of choice. 

Gerry1

You should read all the meters the day you take possession, take photos as well.

Never let anyone else do it for you (except an official meter reader) otherwise you may end up paying for usage by the previous occupant or for a void period.

DullGreyGuy

EssexHebridean said:

Are things different in Scotland? In England you first need to sign up to the incumbent supplier, and once you have an account set up with them, then you can switch to your supplier of choice. 

You can sign up directly with the new supplier... hence why for BG it asks if you are moving into the home or just switching supplier. 

Gas/Electric arent different. Water is because there is a much higher prevalence of those not on mains, you must have a certificate when you sell to say if its mains or not and its billed as part of your council tax still (unless youre in the small minority with a meter)

tim_p

Gerry1 said:

You should read all the meters the day you take possession, take photos as well.

Never let anyone else do it for you (except an official meter reader)

Wasn’t there a case on here within the last few days where an official meter reader had misread by around 1000 units?

WBCPB

tim_p said:

Gerry1 said:

You should read all the meters the day you take possession, take photos as well.

Never let anyone else do it for you (except an official meter reader)

Wasn’t there a case on here within the last few days where an official meter reader had misread by around 1000 units?

Exactly - TRUST NO-ONE.