Cadent invoiced us for 6 Years of gas
Options
:(Hi
Just wondered if anybody can please assist on this urgent matter . We moved into our house in 1999 as second owners . The house was built in 1996. We tried to register with a gas supplier Bristish gas and not received any bills . We had no gas meter visible but on the property deeds it stated British Gas as our supplier . They denied this and after spending many hours contacting property developers , energy suppliers , gas transporters and distributors to resolve this in 2000 no one could solve the problem and it was clear a MPRN was never tagged to our property.
After starting building work in March this year a meter was found buried about 1 metre in the ground covered in bristish gas stickers . After telephoning National grid they denied a gas supply at our property . After many phone calls and stress we now have a gas supply in place with a registered MPRN number as from May 2017 . The question is we have now been invoiced from Cadent ( formally national grid ) with an invoice for £3200 back dated for 6 years . They have quoted the Gas Act 1986 which states a gas transporter to the premises is entitled to recover the value of gas used prior to a consumer arranging a gas supply contract, in this case with British Gas. However our argument is we sourced a supplier as soon as the meter had a registered MPRN tagged to it . There is no written process how to source a MPRN on energy documentation on how to obtain a number and register a meter . We believe whoever fitted the meter/ pipework shoukd have tagged this with a MPRN. It is not our job to do this . We have tried to resolve this but no one seemed to want our money . We have saved the money over the years so this isn’t in question. Of course we have the money to pay for gas and don’t expect it to be free . We never agreed to sign up to a property with no registered meter. The system has failed us. We have lived in a danger zone for years and it has caused a lot of stress to the point it exhausted us so just continued to put money aside . We believe Cadent have failed us and do not accept their invoice . We tried to resolve this years ago . We would rather give the money to charity . Any help appreciated . Thanks
Just wondered if anybody can please assist on this urgent matter . We moved into our house in 1999 as second owners . The house was built in 1996. We tried to register with a gas supplier Bristish gas and not received any bills . We had no gas meter visible but on the property deeds it stated British Gas as our supplier . They denied this and after spending many hours contacting property developers , energy suppliers , gas transporters and distributors to resolve this in 2000 no one could solve the problem and it was clear a MPRN was never tagged to our property.
After starting building work in March this year a meter was found buried about 1 metre in the ground covered in bristish gas stickers . After telephoning National grid they denied a gas supply at our property . After many phone calls and stress we now have a gas supply in place with a registered MPRN number as from May 2017 . The question is we have now been invoiced from Cadent ( formally national grid ) with an invoice for £3200 back dated for 6 years . They have quoted the Gas Act 1986 which states a gas transporter to the premises is entitled to recover the value of gas used prior to a consumer arranging a gas supply contract, in this case with British Gas. However our argument is we sourced a supplier as soon as the meter had a registered MPRN tagged to it . There is no written process how to source a MPRN on energy documentation on how to obtain a number and register a meter . We believe whoever fitted the meter/ pipework shoukd have tagged this with a MPRN. It is not our job to do this . We have tried to resolve this but no one seemed to want our money . We have saved the money over the years so this isn’t in question. Of course we have the money to pay for gas and don’t expect it to be free . We never agreed to sign up to a property with no registered meter. The system has failed us. We have lived in a danger zone for years and it has caused a lot of stress to the point it exhausted us so just continued to put money aside . We believe Cadent have failed us and do not accept their invoice . We tried to resolve this years ago . We would rather give the money to charity . Any help appreciated . Thanks
0
Comments
-
Given the complexity of your situation, you need proper legal advice. In English Law, debts are Statute Barred after a certain period (usually 6 years); hence, the bill for 6 years of gas usage. Given that you will end up with 12 years of free gas, I would have thought that paying for just 6 years is a satisfactory outcome provided that it is in full and final settlement. New builds are often a problem as it involves developers, suppliers and transporters. I guess what is happening here is that as there was no registered supplier, Cadent - the gas transporter - is claiming back some of what it would had been paid had you had a properly registered meter and a supplier. This is not a Back Billing situation as the Code only applies to energy suppliers.0
-
Welcome to the forum.
You can take the matter to the Ombudsman, but the experience of many posters here is that it is usually a waste of time; and once you have gone down that road future action can be compromised.
I cannot think of any other course but go to the small claims court.
However it appears that you have not paid for any gas for 18 years and the invoice is 'only' for a statute limited 6 years.
Unless you have documentary evidence of correspondence between yourself British Gas and National Grid IMO your court claim chances will be slim.
A couple of points:
1. 'we have the money to pay for gas and don’t expect it to be free' But that is exactly what you appear to wanting? Are you arguing that £3,200 is too much? If the gas is not to be free, how much do you feel is reasonable?
2. 'We have lived in a danger zone for years' Had you written to National Grid, or the local council expressing safety concerns, IMO it is inconceivable that they wouldn't have investigated.
3. As 2 above, how would/have you shut off the gas supply to your house if there was a leak?0 -
:(Hi
Just wondered if anybody can please assist on this urgent matter . We moved into our house in 1999 as second owners . The house was built in 1996. We tried to register with a gas supplier Bristish gas and not received any bills . We had no gas meter visible but on the property deeds it stated British Gas as our supplier . They denied this and after spending many hours contacting property developers , energy suppliers , gas transporters and distributors to resolve this in 2000 no one could solve the problem and it was clear a MPRN was never tagged to our property.
After starting building work in March this year a meter was found buried about 1 metre in the ground covered in bristish gas stickers . After telephoning National grid they denied a gas supply at our property . After many phone calls and stress we now have a gas supply in place with a registered MPRN number as from May 2017 . The question is we have now been invoiced from Cadent ( formally national grid ) with an invoice for £3200 back dated for 6 years . They have quoted the Gas Act 1986 which states a gas transporter to the premises is entitled to recover the value of gas used prior to a consumer arranging a gas supply contract, in this case with British Gas. However our argument is we sourced a supplier as soon as the meter had a registered MPRN tagged to it . There is no written process how to source a MPRN on energy documentation on how to obtain a number and register a meter . We believe whoever fitted the meter/ pipework shoukd have tagged this with a MPRN. It is not our job to do this . We have tried to resolve this but no one seemed to want our money . We have saved the money over the years so this isn’t in question. Of course we have the money to pay for gas and don’t expect it to be free . We never agreed to sign up to a property with no registered meter. The system has failed us. We have lived in a danger zone for years and it has caused a lot of stress to the point it exhausted us so just continued to put money aside . We believe Cadent have failed us and do not accept their invoice . We tried to resolve this years ago . We would rather give the money to charity . Any help appreciated . Thanks
Please post a legible image of the invoice you have received, and a full explanation as to why you do not accept it.0 -
Yes 12 years of free gas is not what it’s about . We just would like things done legally correct and fairly . It has caused a lot of stress over the years and at no point did we sign up for free gas at our property . We managed to register our electric , water and council tax when we moved into the property . We are not the first owners of this property either. There are arguments either way .We tried relentlessly to source a supply contract but with no MPRN this proved difficult . Cadent have a duty to investigate and maintain their Pipework . They never responded to any of our requests.0
-
Yes 12 years of free gas is not what it’s about . We just would like things done legally correct and fairly . It has caused a lot of stress over the years and at no point did we sign up for free gas at our property . We managed to register our electric , water and council tax when we moved into the property . We are not the first owners of this property either. There are arguments either way .We tried relentlessly to source a supply contract but with no MPRN this proved difficult . Cadent have a duty to investigate and maintain their Pipework . They never responded to any of our requests. Apparently the money we are invoiced for would not be retained by Cadent, as this is then distributed to the suppliers that have already paid for the gas consumed for unregistered supplies. The revenue collected in these circumstances, would not be retained by Cadent, as this is distributed to the suppliers that have already paid for the gas consumed for unregistered supplies. Ombudsman Energy have recently investigated and have come to the conclusion that Cadent have invoiced us correctly . It’s a very complex case but we feel let down by the whole process . Cadent or formally national grid / Transco were never interested in our dilemma . With regards to Gas . Electric was and still is our main energy source .0
-
We don’t accept it as it’s not our role to tag/ register a meter with a MPRN . I believe that’s up to the transporter or supplier when pipes are first put in place . We have carried out our duty to request a supply contract . We never entered into a contract with Cadent . We have written confirmation from British Gas they are working on setting a new supply up with Cadent in March 2017 . The GT also have duty to send out lettered staying a supply contract is not in place and I believe if within fourteens days you fail they would disconnect you . The reason this never happened as there was no supply in the first place . We don’t feel we should pay them it should be paid to a charity .0
-
We don’t accept it as it’s not our role to tag/ register a meter with a MPRN . I believe that’s up to the transporter or supplier when pipes are first put in place . We have carried out our duty to request a supply contract . We never entered into a contract with Cadent . We have written confirmation from British Gas they are working on setting a new supply up with Cadent in March 2017 . The GT also have duty to send out lettered staying a supply contract is not in place and I believe if within fourteens days you fail they would disconnect you . The reason this never happened as there was no supply in the first place . We don’t feel we should pay them it should be paid to a charity .
Cadent believes that it has a claim against you for payment based on its understanding of the Law. If you refuse to pay, then no doubt Cadent will consider whether the claim against you should be pursued via the Courts. If you feel that the Law is your side, then get proper legal advice on how best you should counter the claim. Offering to play the money to charity just because you are miffed with Cadent is unlikely to make them rescind their claim against you.0 -
We just would like things done legally correct and fairly .
We tried relentlessly to source a supply contract but with no MPRN this proved difficult . Cadent have a duty to investigate and maintain their Pipework . They never responded to any of our requests.
As stated in post #3 going to the Energy Ombudsman, and getting an unsatisfactory result, will weaken your case in any court action.
Obviously there has been an error in your case regarding the meter MPRN. However with regard to fairness, I suspect the majority of people would feel that getting 12 years of free gas is adequate compensation for that error.
Do you have written correspondence from BGas/Cadent/National Grid to support your relentless efforts to get a supply contract?0 -
We have written evidence with British Gas that we tried to register a supply with them back in 2000. We have evidence on our title deeds British Gas is our supplier plus there is photographic evidence of British Gas stickers installation on the gas meter buried underground . The reading is 8792.
I have found this on exoserve documents
Title ... gas governance ... shippless and unregistered sites
A possible scenario ...
Unregistered Site – ‘Express’ Supply Contract in Place (Shipper/Supplier failure to register Supply Point)
6.3.1 In this scenario, we do not believe that it is appropriate for the Transporter to disconnect the premises or seek to recover the value of the gas consumed. This is on the basis that the consumer has entered into a supply contract in good faith and should not be inconvenienced by omissions elsewhere in the market arrangements.
6.3.2 More importantly, we do not believe that the Transporter would have the right to recover the value of the gas taken as conferred by paragraph 9 of the Gas Code. The supply in this case has not been illegally reconnected (Gas Code Paragraph 9(2)) and we do not believe that gas has been taken in the course of conveyance (Gas Code Paragraph 9(1))22.0 -
This is on the basis that the consumer has entered into a supply contract in good faith and should not be inconvenienced by omissions elsewhere in the market arrangements.
This covers if you were paying someone for your gas, but they weren't paying Cadent. Cadent can't then come after you. However you don't appear to have entered into a supply contract, you say that British Gas refused to enter a contract with you.
Cadent seem to be acting in good faith. They have just realised that you've been taking their gas without paying for it and are trying to recover some of the cost. If you knew you weren't being billed then you could have just not used the gas.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 343.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 250.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 449.7K Spending & Discounts
- 235.3K Work, Benefits & Business
- 608K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 173.1K Life & Family
- 247.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards