House purchase completed, but previous owner owed electricity bill

eltisley98

So yesterday we collected keys to a property we had been purchasing for months. Today we got the metre readings and tried to switch to a new utility provider online.

The switch of gas was smooth, but for electricity the new provider just told me that the old energy provider, Ovo, had objected the switch because of an unpaid bill.

The new provider advised that it could be because the previous tenants (the house was rented out before we bought it, but it had been vacant since April) had un(der)paid their bill.

I was told by the new provider to contact Ovo to set up a temporary account in my name to resolve this issue. However, I am reluctant to give my information to Ovo, as I am worried that they will chase me instead, when they couldn't trace the previous tenants. I know that I have taken pictures of the metre readings today as evidence, but I read some crazy stories where innocent homeowners were chased for previous residents' debts.

I have contacted my solicitor, but I am not sure if they would still reply to my emails as now the case seems to be "closed"? I am quite sure that the solicitor asked the seller to confirm that there was no outstanding bill and only proceeded after getting a positive answer.

What is the best course of action? 

Thanks.

Hoenir

eltisley98 said:

I am quite sure that the solicitor asked the seller to confirm that there was no outstanding bill and only proceeded after getting a positive answer.

There'll always be an outstanding bill. As until the account is closed charges will continue to accrue. You have no liability for anything prior to your arrival. Normal practice would be for you to register with the existing supplier. There's no harm in doing so. 

Now that the property is sold. The vendor will have the funds to settle any outstanding liabilities pertaining to ther ownership of the property. 

eddddy

Just set up an electricity account with Ovo, and tell them the opening readings and take photos of the meter readings as extra proof. You can't be held liable for other people's bills.

(I wouldn't call it a temporary account - as that isn't really a thing - and it might cause confusion.)


TBH, you probably need to set up a gas account with the current provider (Ovo?) as well. And then do the switch. I think you might end up confusing things if you try to switch to a new provider before you've set up an account.

I suspect the new Gas provider is assuming that you are the existing account owners who are trying to switch.

youth_leader

I hope you have been able to photograph your readings and time/date stamp them. 

My vendor had given the gas company the wrong reading, much higher,   it caused difficulties for me as when I read it and phoned it in,  it was lower .  She hadn't been on line with them and had always phoned in her readings.  Luckily it is a smart meter and once I'd signed up with them I was able to give them remote access.  I then changed to Octopus almost immediately.

bobster2

In my experience the sequence of events when moving has always been - set up account with existing provider first (giving meter readings for move in date), then switch providers later.

No idea how you can "switch" before you've got an account with the existing provider.

penners324

You have to set up a dual fuel account with Ovo first and then switch.

ThisIsWeird

Eltisley, all of the above is the correct way to do this. To not do it this way is far more likely to cause problems - as you've discovered.
It's straight forward. Usually hassle-free. You should get yer leccy up and running pretty much right away. Give it a few weeks tobesuretobesure. And then change providers if you want.
And don't worry about it - just get on and enjoy your new house.

eltisley98

Hi guys, thanks for all your kind replies! I have taken time-stamped photos of the metres, so hopefully that will work.

our_des

We couldn't switch from Ovo to Octopus (who'd been our previous supplier) for a few months as the previous owners hadn't settled their final bill. The person I spoke to at Ovo told me it was because the previous owners bill totalled more than £300, if it had been less then they'd have been able to switch us. How true that actually is, I don't know but Octopus were aware that we were having to wait and were finally able to switch once it had been paid by the previous owners. We just set a temp account up with Ovo until the switch.

saajan_12

THe process they suggest is the normal one. The switch isn't instantaneous, so you're liable to Ovo (the original suppier) for the bill / standing charge between your completion date and when you switch. You need to set up an account with Ovo to manage this switch from the old occupier to yourself. Perhaps your worry comes from what if Ovo don't believe you're not just trying to get away with not paying the old debts.. but you'll have plenty of proof of when you purchased and photograped meter readings. Then once set up with Ovo, you can switch to your new chosen provider. Meanwhile Ovo can get on with chasing the previous occupier with a firm end date & meter level. 

eltisley98

our_des said:

We couldn't switch from Ovo to Octopus (who'd been our previous supplier) for a few months as the previous owners hadn't settled their final bill. The person I spoke to at Ovo told me it was because the previous owners bill totalled more than £300, if it had been less then they'd have been able to switch us. How true that actually is, I don't know but Octopus were aware that we were having to wait and were finally able to switch once it had been paid by the previous owners. We just set a temp account up with Ovo until the switch.

Those who don't pay the bills or deliberately delay doing that should be sentenced