British gas problem

zahidf

Rights here the situation...

Around four years ago, we moved to the new house and asked power gen to transfer it to british gas. We did not follow up on this. In 2007, we got a four year bill for around £2000.00.

My understaning of the regulation is that we are onyl liable for one year's backblling. We complained through energywatch. This was passed on the British Gas complaints department. However, British gas are saying that we should have told them that we were in the property specifically, and that it is our responsibility to tell them.

Question is, are they right? and how can i pursue the complaint through energy watch? Would it be worth writing to the British Gas MD?

dollarjon

Was the property already with BG or with powergen? had you not recieved any bills from BG at all in the 4 years?

was the first bill addressed to you or to the occupier?

zahidf

Its was actually with a third supplier: we transferred it to powergen, and then it was transferred to British Gas.

We have not recieved any bill, or any bills addressed to the occupier. They are saying they sent it too the previously named occupier, but won't tell us who this is for data protection reasons. The first bill was addressed to us.

hpsaucey

try the BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUST [google it] they help with gas/electricity bills to british gas/scottish gas customers.

SwanJon

zahidf wrote: »

we asked power gen to transfer it to british gas.

I take it you mean you asked BG to take over, as PG won't give custom away.

zahidf wrote: »

My understaning of the regulation is that we are onyl liable for one year's backblling. We complained through energywatch. This was passed on the British Gas complaints department. However, British gas are saying that we should have told them that we were in the property specifically, and that it is our responsibility to tell them.

This only counts if they have not billed for more than 12 months.
If they billed , but not in your name, and you used the energy, the bill is due.

zahidf wrote: »

Question is, are they right? and how can i pursue the complaint through energy watch? Would it be worth writing to the British Gas MD?

If British Gas were send bills to the previous tenant, they may not have known you were living there, and so billing who they thought was there in good faith.

How would they have the previous tenant's details if you transferred from PG?

zahidf

SwanJon wrote: »

I take it you mean you asked BG to take over, as PG won't give custom away.

This only counts if they have not billed for more than 12 months.
If they billed , but not in your name, and you used the energy, the bill is due.


If British Gas were send bills to the previous tenant, they may not have known you were living there, and so billing who they thought was there in good faith.

How would they have the previous tenant's details if you transferred from PG?

Yeah, it was us who asked Power Gen.

They billed, but we never recieved the letters. Even if we did, we don't go round opening other people's mail...

Not sure who's they've been sending the bills to. They won't tell us? i can only assume the previous tenant.

If we gave our details to Power Gen to transfer, then its not our fault if British gas screwed up. We told them in 2005 as well about us being in teh propoerty, when they sent a representative to cut of the gas. They are telling us that it was an idnepnendent contractor who did it, but as far as i'm concerened, if they can;t keep the lines of communication, its there fault, not ours...

SwanJon

I think there may have been some confusion down the line, on all sides.

In the energy industry you don't ask your current supplier to transfer you to someone else, you go to your choice and they take you away from your current supplier. As such, asking Powergen to transfer you to British Gas would not achieve anything.

If you suspect that British Gas were sending bills to the previous tenant, how would they have had the details if they did not supply him/her?

Is this for gas, electricity or both? That may be adding to the confusion.

Generally, yes it is your responsibility to tell the supplier you are now using their product. You have been using the gas/electricity for 4 years - have you been paying anyone?

I would expect you to be offered a generous repayment scheme, but still to pay the majority of the balance.