They are claiming from Wonky for the last tenants debt, not charging her over the top for what she’s using now. If you're in debt with them, they take an amount out of your DD to clear that previous debt.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Because if the debt isn't Wonky's then how do they claim from her.
As I understand it, Wonky and husband are on a pre-payment meter, despite never having owed the power companies money. The previous tenant was in debt and that's why the prepayment meter was installed ... they thought it would be a simple matter to have it changed back but apparently not. That address now has a record for debt so has to have a pre-payment meter despite the debtor tenant having moved on.
Because of the debt the rate charged by the Pre-payment meter was set to include a proportion for the previous tenant's debt with E.on ... it was after this that the debtor tenant moved.
When Wonky and her husband moved in they took their electricity from British Gas, but no one told them the rate on the meter was set too high so it was never changed back ... this went on for years ... now BG say they can't calculate what they've paid over and above what they used ... this is despite Wonky and husband having been BG customers previously in a similar apartment.
If I've misunderstood the situation I hope @WonkyWomble will correct me.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It would seem that the supply contract is tied to the property rather than the tenant/householder. I had a similar problem when moving to my current house a few years ago. The previous residents ( tenants ) had Bulb Energy as their supplier. They were also in debt to that company. As the new property owner, I wanted to change suppliers but I had quite a job to do so. I was surprised that the actual contract was still applicable despite change in ownership. Slightly different from @WonkyWomble 's problem - if a meter reading is taken and accepted by the supplier on the date of new occupation of a property, whether a tenant or owner, any debts are then down to the supplier to deal with. They aren't too smart about it tho - I still have letters threatening to send in the bailiffs for debts incurred by previous residents. I used to email/phone/write to them - some finally got the message, others didn't. Hope Wonky manages to get this sorted sooner rather than later.
Thank you all for your sympathy as to our situation, I am continuing to try and get it resolved but don't know whether it will be a favourable outcome of not....I can but try!
Companies assure you,that a debt is on an individual not a property. My oldest daughter did a housing association swap.....with a similar age lady,who appeared to be really nice. She told a lot of lies,my daughter had balliffs, countless threatening letters,but did manage to get the pre-payment electricity meter removed straight away. Mind you,it wasn't British Gas. I had trouble with them, sending me bills, which weren't my meter number,I kept ringing them. It was a 2 bed house,they claimed, firstly I had 2 meters,they sent someone out to check,then they told me the second meter,was my business I was running from the house. I've never had a business, the bill didn't have my name on it!
Wonky, have you reached the point where you can seek resolution through the energy ombudsman? Scottish Power screwed up our billing for about 18 months and getting them to sort the issue was akin to sweeping treacle. I complained to the ombudsman who, after about a 12 week hiatus, got Scottish Power to disentangle their mess and I was given £150 compensation,
Posts
And if they are would that not be easy to prove in an effort to be reimbursed.
Because if the debt isn't Wonky's then how do they claim from her.
Because of the debt the rate charged by the Pre-payment meter was set to include a proportion for the previous tenant's debt with E.on ... it was after this that the debtor tenant moved.
When Wonky and her husband moved in they took their electricity from British Gas, but no one told them the rate on the meter was set too high so it was never changed back ... this went on for years ... now BG say they can't calculate what they've paid over and above what they used ... this is despite Wonky and husband having been BG customers previously in a similar apartment.
If I've misunderstood the situation I hope @WonkyWomble will correct me.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Now I understand and I have to say that is a terrible situation to be in, Wonky...I hope you can get it sorted soon.
I had a similar problem when moving to my current house a few years ago. The previous residents ( tenants ) had Bulb Energy as their supplier. They were also in debt to that company. As the new property owner, I wanted to change suppliers but I had quite a job to do so. I was surprised that the actual contract was still applicable despite change in ownership.
Slightly different from @WonkyWomble 's problem - if a meter reading is taken and accepted by the supplier on the date of new occupation of a property, whether a tenant or owner, any debts are then down to the supplier to deal with. They aren't too smart about it tho - I still have letters threatening to send in the bailiffs for debts incurred by previous residents. I used to email/phone/write to them - some finally got the message, others didn't.
Hope Wonky manages to get this sorted sooner rather than later.