Being charged by British Gas 4 yrs after moving house

MeteredOut

outtatune said:

1. Sell your property
2. Agree with new owners that you won't notify the energy provider
3. Agree that the new owners will repay you their energy costs minus a 35% discount
4. Pay for the new owners energy for a few years
5. Demand a full refund from the energy company because you were paying for somebody else's energy
6. (Almost) everyone profits!

I'm not sure if that's a joke or not, but the energy company isn't just going to give up on the money they are owed. Either the OP or the new owners will have to pay for it.

Strugglingwithexecutivefunction

Am update for anyone interested:

I've been through my bank accounts today, and the first direct debits were taken in November '23, so long after I moved house. I'm even more confused now.

I wondered if it could be a scam, but it seems unlikely, being it clearly says "British Gas" on the statement. And one year after the first payment, they've given me £55 back, like it's an account in credit. So I have no idea what's going on. Unless somehow, someone has used my bank details to pay for their gas? This also seems unlikely though...

Despite getting the payment refs from the bank, Customer Service say they can't help me as I don't have an account (they did check my old address and apparently have never supplied there, so I've probably never had one). Anyway, I have made an official complaint to BG with payment ref and details of all the DDs. 

MeteredOut

Did you ask your bank for the recipient account details of the DD? Or can you see that online? If you can show you've been paying BG, and its not for your current home, that's strengthens your claim. As of now, all you know is there is a DD that says British Gas.

Is it the same amount each month, or does it change.

Could you have taken out a boiler service policy with BG?

Did you check who was still supplying your old house, and that who you're paying now is who is providing your energy now?

born_again

Strugglingwithexecutivefunction said:

Am update for anyone interested:

I've been through my bank accounts today, and the first direct debits were taken in November '23, so long after I moved house. I'm even more confused now.

I wondered if it could be a scam, but it seems unlikely, being it clearly says "British Gas" on the statement. And one year after the first payment, they've given me £55 back, like it's an account in credit. So I have no idea what's going on. Unless somehow, someone has used my bank details to pay for their gas? This also seems unlikely though...

Despite getting the payment refs from the bank, Customer Service say they can't help me as I don't have an account (they did check my old address and apparently have never supplied there, so I've probably never had one). Anyway, I have made an official complaint to BG with payment ref and details of all the DDs. 

Assuming that as you did not notice the payments for 2 years, then fair to take it that you were never advised of any payments or amounts/dates.
Thus this falls under the dd guarantee
So ring you banks & claim the payments back. No time limit on DD guarantee, so you will get all back. If bank do not want to, you can tell them that you have no dealings with BG & they BG not link the payments to you & you never recieved any notification about them. That will for BG into action.

Just put that in a savings acc till it is all sorted. As BG may chase you. But it force them to provide information on the payments.

Here’s the formal bit:

The Guarantee

• The Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits

• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit the organisation will notify you (normally 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request the organisation to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request

• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society

• • If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when the organisation asks you to

• You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify the organisation.

Just to check, you don't have BG boiler/electric cover do you?