Undisclosed electricity provider

Smudgeismydog

We moved into our new house 6 months ago. It comprises of a house plus 1 bed cottage, previously used as an Airbnb. 

The sales documentation noted Octopus as the electricity supplier (we have oil for heating and hot water, and the cottage has gas bottles for heating and hot water). We contacted Octopus with the meter readings on completion. I asked them if there was a sub account for the cottage, but they confirmed there was only 1 account with them at the property. The monthly payment was set at £213 which is quite a bit higher than I was expecting, but I figured this was due to the combined cost of the house and cottage.

We also had an electrician out shortly after we moved in who confirmed the cottage ran off the house supply.

We have subsequently had another electrician out to do some work at the house, and he advised that the cottage is on a separate electricity supply to the house. I recontacted Octopus to advise them of this, and they were able to determine, that the cottage is supplied by Corona Energy under a business account. The fact that it’s a business account is the reason they didn’t know about it.

I messaged the previous owners to say that this has just come to light, as there was no notice of this any of the sales documentation, and did they have any correspondence as we have not received any paperwork in respect of this. She confirmed the additional, supplier and apologised for missing this information. 

I also contacted Corona who, couldn’t tell me much due to GDPR as the account is still in the previous owners name. I was promised a call back, but this hasn’t happened and we have not received any paperwork from them. 

Octopus are happy to take over the supply, (we are not running at as an Airbnb), but have now advised an objection has been raised by Corona which means they cannot switch the supply over. 

After a really difficult house purchase, it’s so frustrating that 6 months on, the complete disorganisation of the previous owners is still causing issues for us. 

I’m planning on calling Corina again tomorrow to try and resolve this, but just wondered if anyone had any experience of anything similar, or any words of wisdom.

thanks all

Bookworm105

how is the fact the vendor failed to communicate who their suppliers (plural) were is a problem of Octopus?
take legal action against the vendor for .... something that gives you "compensation"

Smudgeismydog

Sorry, I’m not blaming Octopus in any way, they’ve been excellent in helping us work out who the supplier was. We are more than happy to move the cottage supply over to them, their communication has been excellent throughout 

AskAsk

perhaps give corona a week to look into it?

I would formally write to them so that you start an email trail as you may have to make a complaint to them and escalte to the ombudsman if they won't open a new account for you.

The way to do it is to open a new account with corona and then move to octopus.

You can also ask your solicitor to tell the other solicitor of the issues and ask that the vendors close their corona account so you can open a new account with corona.

p00hsticks

AskAsk said:

The way to do it is to open a new account with corona and then move to octopus.

I'm not sure this would be advisable if Corona only do business accounts....  

Hoenir

Your vendors are ones that need to be upfront with you as to what is actually going on. As it's a business contract. You need to ascertain what Corona's objection is.  The vendors obviously have continued to receive communications from Corona in the past 6 months. Little possibility that was overlooked other than intentionally in the sales process. 

We also had an electrician out shortly after we moved in who confirmed the cottage ran off the house supply.

Intrigued as to why they believed this to be the case. 

sheramber

Smudgeismydog said:

We moved into our new house 6 months ago. It comprises of a house plus 1 bed cottage, previously used as an Airbnb. 

The sales documentation noted Octopus as the electricity supplier (we have oil for heating and hot water, and the cottage has gas bottles for heating and hot water). We contacted Octopus with the meter readings on completion. I asked them if there was a sub account for the cottage, but they confirmed there was only 1 account with them at the property. The monthly payment was set at £213 which is quite a bit higher than I was expecting, but I figured this was due to the combined cost of the house and cottage.

We also had an electrician out shortly after we moved in who confirmed the cottage ran off the house supply.

We have subsequently had another electrician out to do some work at the house, and he advised that the cottage is on a separate electricity supply to the house. I recontacted Octopus to advise them of this, and they were able to determine, that the cottage is supplied by Corona Energy under a business account. The fact that it’s a business account is the reason they didn’t know about it.

I messaged the previous owners to say that this has just come to light, as there was no notice of this any of the sales documentation, and did they have any correspondence as we have not received any paperwork in respect of this. She confirmed the additional, supplier and apologised for missing this information. 

I also contacted Corona who, couldn’t tell me much due to GDPR as the account is still in the previous owners name. I was promised a call back, but this hasn’t happened and we have not received any paperwork from them. 

Octopus are happy to take over the supply, (we are not running at as an Airbnb), but have now advised an objection has been raised by Corona which means they cannot switch the supply over. 

After a really difficult house purchase, it’s so frustrating that 6 months on, the complete disorganisation of the previous owners is still causing issues for us. 

I’m planning on calling Corina again tomorrow to try and resolve this, but just wondered if anyone had any experience of anything similar, or any words of wisdom.

thanks all

An objection to switching can be because there is a debt or it is  fixed  term contract.

The previous user seemingly  has not advised  that they have  moved out and given  a final meter reading. 

If it is a fixed term contract then the pervious occupier will need to deal with ending it and paying any costs due.

Smudgeismydog

Thanks everyone, yes, my gut feeling is that the previous owners failed to advise them. As I said, the previous owners were very disorganised, we didn’t have any post for any of the utility suppliers, along the lines of ‘new occupier’ as we would have expected.

I hadn’t thought about a fixed term contract, but as noted, it’s something the previous owners will need to deal with. We don’t need a business account, and don’t want to stay with Corona.

I’ll let you know what the outcome is when I speak to them later this morning.

thank you

penners324

As stated Corona need to open an account in your name, then you switch it.

Sounds like you've asked for the previous owners account to be moved.

Have you told the Council it's no longer a business? They are likely to becharging business rates on it, as opposed to council tax

AskAsk

p00hsticks said:

AskAsk said:

The way to do it is to open a new account with corona and then move to octopus.

I'm not sure this would be advisable if Corona only do business accounts....  

I have checked my email trail, where my property was incorrectly put on a business account for next door for many years, and it does say the tenants could not have the business account set up in their own name but that they can choose a domestic supplier, so when corona has closed the account, the OP can open a new one with Octopus.

elmer

Please also check that you dont have a Non Domestic Rates liability for the cottage, you can find this on the VOA website, using your postcode, if you do have one you will need to notify the council asap as NDR bills now cannot be backdated to previous financial years and as you are not Air bnbing you may have a bill that will not be covered by the Small Business Bonus.