UK Landlord Forum / Life

2012 - We inherited a shop with an independent 1 bed flat above. We rent both out. Last week, we received an email from eOn business addressed to "the occupant " relating to the supply of ( business) gas to the shop. In the 12+ years we've had the shop we've received no communications from anyone about the gas supply. The gas meter is still in place although it has been claimped off with a padlock.  We know that gas has not been used for over 15 years at least.  Our current shop tenants have been in the shop for over 8 years. Our understanding is that gas was cut off when the property was owned by the previous owner.

We tried to discuss with eOn but they won't divulge in whose name the current contract is with.


We are not prepared to sign up to a contract with eon. If they want their meter, they can arrange to come collect it.

Ps..the standing charge owing  is £1500! ( £3 per day)...

OK

But what is your question?

I'm concerned that eOn are trying to force us to sign up to a contract and to take ownership of the outstanding standing charges that have accumulated. 

As far as we were concerned,  the gas was cut off before we took possession and we have genuinely had no comms with any supplier  about this gas supply.

(What might have kicked this off was our tenant left the flat and we took on the electric contract with eon. The flat gets its gas supply from BG so they wrote to The Occupant at the flat and we picked up the post).

So, tbe question is...can we simply refuse to accept taking the contract with them and tell them to come collect their meter?

Quote from: monabri on March 18, 2023, 01:42:52 PM
I'm concerned that eOn are trying to force us to sign up to a contract and to take ownership of the outstanding standing charges that have accumulated.

Your tenants in the flat and in the shop, are responsible for signing up with utility companies if they wish to make use of the gas supply.

You have no contract with eon. They cannot bill you.


For info, although does not seem relevant in your case, a utility company can only chase for unbilled energy that you have used during a limited time:

"Under 'back billing' rules, your supplier cannot send you a bill for energy you used more than 12 months ago."

See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-bill/check-if-youre-responsible-for-paying-an-energy-bill/
and https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-bill/you-havent-received-a-gas-or-electricity-bill-in-a-while/

Energy contracts arise through a concept called deemed usage.
So normally, you don't need to have a contract with the energy supplier because your use of the energy is sufficient to create a contract.

In this case, there can't be any usage, because there's no actual supply available, so there shouldn't be a contract for the standing charge to apply.
Is where I'd start.

Positive Outcome after several months of argument with Eon Next!

30 emails back and forth to Eon Next's " Energy Specialist "  (they are just interested in getting you to pay to the extent they make up bills,  ignoring the 12m carry back rules, repeatedly requested we break GDPR regulations and thus risk a possible hefty fine despite being advised of this ).

4  calls to the CAB eventually lead to their extra help unit getting involved. They requested Eon investigate which they did.  The matter would not have been resolved without the CAB's involvement,  eon were determined to bill us!

I compiled a 10 page typewritten dossier of the whole shenanigans, complete with photos and other supporting data. This was sent to the CAB and they passed it on to eon next. This summary was only a compilation of all the stuff I'd already sent them. 

Result of the investigation,  if was an Eon admin error when they changed branding from eon to eon next ( yeah, it was the computers fault.) The meter was brought back on to their database...

We did receive a full £30 compensation for the stress and hassle...

Good to hear that you got this resolved.

£30 compensation for Eon's error and the hassle they caused you is derisory, although probably not worth the expenditure of yet more energy in an attempt to get more.