Help! Paying Gas+Elec at 2 properties at once

Kavanne

Hello!

On 06/05/08 we completed on our new flat which we are buying. Now we are FTBs and we are still renting our previous flat.
The tenancy finished on 01/09/08. SO we need to be paying the utilities on both up until then.

Now although in the property we own we've not moved in yet we are using some power as we are doing building work and things so we are using heating + lights. So obviously I need to be paying the bill right?

WRONG apparently. I phoned Southern Electric and they said to call them when we moved in :huh:

I said but we'll be using the facilities before we actually move in.. I tried to give them my meter readings but they said to call back when we move in... I am really worried that I will be faced with a big lump sum bill covered May-Dec when we move in as we won't be moving in until our tenancy ends at our current property....

Has anyone else been in this situation before? Did I just talk to someone incompetent at SE? He left me on hold for 10 mins before coming back and saying he couldn't do it and to call back when we moved in.. Should I call them again?

Premier_2

Kavanne wrote: »

...Did I just talk to someone incompetent at SE? ...

It certainly sounds like it.

Call them back on Monday and state that you have just purchased the property and wish the account to be put in your name. Don't even mention that you are not living there.

If you want the bills and any other correspondence sent to your current rented address, just ask them to add a mailing address for all correspondence.

Cardew

It depends what you mean by 'paying'.

There is no question of you getting 'free' gas and electricity I would have thought; just that they consider that it is probably not worth setting up accounts yet.

Loads of people have 2 properties with the same company(myself for one) and pay for both.

If you want to set the account up now, just tell them.

Kavanne

OK I will call again tomorrow, Cardew, I know there is no such thing as free gas + lec but like I said, I don't want to be faced with a huge bill for both quarters because I can't register til i move. I have meter readings from the day of completion so I know where our 0 point was.

Will let you know how I get on on Monday.