im sorry this is long
british gas are trying to charge me £10 a week on my meter.
i dont ever use that much as i live by myself in a 1bedroomed flat and i am not in most of the time.
i usually use 30p-40p electric a day maxium and suddenly the meter is going down by over £1 a day. i rang up and they said it was because my meter hadnt been changed for 3 years so i owe £113.
i explained that i am currently unemployed and i only get £80 a fortnight and that i cant afford to put that much credit on my meter with my other bills to pay. they said it was tough and i have to pay it back anyway. i havent even lived in that flat 3 years.
i want to change my supplier coz of this. if i did that would i still have to pay this money i shouldnt have to owe?
i really dont know what i should do. can you help?
To my mind if the meter hasn’t been charged for three years that is commercial negligence on the part of the supplier. You need to get hold of a good lawyer and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau is your best bet so get round to them without delay.
You should actually pay for what you have used, so you need to have documented proof of when you moved in to the flat, like a rent agreement, and probably proof that you were living elsewhere before that.
The chances are the previous occupants avoided payment on anticipation of leaving the country, but for the moment set aside all payment in a special account and pay nothing until the matter is sorted out because British Gas are looking for an acknowledgement expressed or tacit that the liability is yours and that is certainly what you don’t want to give them.
It is highly unlikely you will be able to change supplier until this matter is resolved. Of course the big weapon they have is the ability to cut you off, if they as much as hint at it get the media involved, and make sure the Office of Fair Trade is championing your cause.
