Eon - removing my name from account for landlord's liability

Jason122

Hi!

So... basically I moved into one of x4 'all bills included' studio rooms in 2016 with a shared electric meter in the communal area supplying all 4, then found a letter addressed to 'The Occupier' in September 2024 from Eon's field debt agency requesting £4.6k. I thought this was a debt from the previous tenant as we'd had a number of letters addressed to someone we didn't know so I provided my details to show he was no longer there. I then got an email from Eon to say 'my account is currently £0 in debt' which I thought was odd as I didn't have one, but it said £0 in debt so I took that as whatever the debt was for was cleared. No further contact from debtors, and thought it was over. In Feb this year I got an email saying I owed £4.4k so I called Eon - they said my details were on the account and that I was therefor liable as I had been in since then and they they had in fact never received payment for electricity in eight years! It seems the previous tenant never said he left so was billed onoing, the new landlord I guess forgot to create an account at the start and the ongoing supply gave me reason to believe everything was going according to the TA. The landlord has been in touch with them and accepted liability and tried to take possession of the account saying I'm not responsible for bills at the property, but they want the tenancy agreement from 2016 which I don't have. Further, the tenancy agreement was updated in 2023 to say tenants are responsible for bills but he then emailed me separately to say that this will only be the case if individual meters are put in.

Additionally I have submitted a complaint to Eon due to a fluctuating total + the fact they said it was clear in September then put debt on, and a previous call-handler saying they'd submit a complaint about the situation on my behalf - but according to the CH I had today during a 38min discussion she confirmed no complaint had ever been raised by her colleagues!

Any ideas please?

Jason

Jason122

PS debit now due is £8.5k...

Scot_39

This might be better in the debt free wannabe section - for real dare I say it professional advice.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/debt-free-wannabe

Or you might want to discuss this with a debt charity one has a thread there  - or say a visit to local citizens advice.

As given the sums - and lengths of time - this could escalate quickly.

I take it none of the other tenants, if not for you specifically the letting agent or landlord can furnish a copy of the TA showing the inclusive terms ?

If not, do you still have the landlords email exchange re the change in terms - as if dated after the new contract -  likely to be valid enough proof of no change.

(Letting agents have a habit of using templates - mistakes are common - but normally best amended properly at the time of issue)

If so try sending those email(s) to EOn - with the new terms - as the emails arguably negate the change in the contract.

Edit

Or maybe a simple signed letter from the landlord - confirming the date you moved in - and TA was on a bills included in rent basis - and he was responsible for meter billing and not you or the other 3 studio flat tennants.

Re Complaint - you often have to be very specific when asking for a chat with customer services about a problem to turn into a formal complaint - you have to normally specifically request if the person on the other end doesn't offer - and its a good idea to follow the voice request in writing / email in any case to confirm - in fact everything non verbal so have a paper trail - regarding it.