BES Utilities

[OXO GIRL]

Could anyone give me pointers on this one please, about to lease commercial property.
The Electricity meter has been removed,
I seems the last occupant may have had issues with paying the bills (think thats why the meter is missing) I dont want to use Bes Utilities but they seem to be holding the supply to ransom, they say no-one else can put a meter in the property except for them.
So far they want £100 for admin to go forward with the meter, then six months usage paid up front.
sounds like they are holding the meter to ransom till I give them a shed load of money, trustpilot has lots of negative reviews about BES so I dont want to get tied to someone with poor customer services.
Anyone help with this one ? pleeeeaaassse!!!

 

[fisicx]

What does it say on the lease about utilities?

 

[OXO GIRL]

Nothing specific, there is a clause " The Tenant Accepts: The premises at date of entry be in a good, substantial and tenantable condition and state of repair, and wind and watertight, and also to be fit for the purposes which they are let."
This is a full insuring and repairing lease.

 

[EntrepreneurAJ]

Have you signed anything that states BES is to be your energy supplier?

 

[OXO GIRL]

Have you signed anything that states BES is to be your energy supplier?

No, they (BES) have sent a form for me to sign to say that i will be the new tennant, it also has boxes where the number of the meter should go, and the reading, obviously I am unable to answer these questions as there is no meter and therefore no proof of number or readings, they also want £100 Admin Fee, 6 months energy payment in advance and god only knows what they want to charge for putting the meter back in.
I have not signed or filled in this form as it is not clear what position I would be in after signing, i said that it's like they are holding the meter to ransom, obviously they deny this, but when challenged the answers became very sketchy, Is this at all legal ?
They are insisting that it is, and that they are the only people who can reinstate the meter.

 

[simon field]

You don’t have to use them. Phone an alternative supplier in the morning and they’ll sort it out.

 

[EntrepreneurAJ]

I know a few people who have been conned by BES in the past how they get away with it I don't know but as @simon field said just call an alternative supplier in the morning if you haven't signed anything to accept them as your supplier they don't have a leg to stand upon Ofgem has already been on their backs over the years I don't have enough rep to post links but search BES on Ofgem and there's several matters regarding them on it. It's possible that you may need your mpan number to change suppliers if so you can find out this information online depending on where yours based depends who you would approach for this information.

 

[OXO GIRL]

I know a few people who have been conned by BES in the past how they get away with it I don't know but as @simon field said just call an alternative supplier in the morning if you haven't signed anything to accept them as your supplier they don't have a leg to stand upon Ofgem has already been on their backs over the years I don't have enough rep to post links but search BES on Ofgem and there's several matters regarding them on it. It's possible that you may need your mpan number to change suppliers if so you can find out this information online depending on where yours based depends who you would approach for this information.

Thanks, have checked Trust pilot and it seems they (BES) are a bit shifty will try and find out mpan, not sure how.
I think the problem with BES is possibly last tennant owed them and they're not choosy who they get the money from so long as they get it.
If anyone has tips how to get the MPAN without dealing with BES would be grateful.

 

[EntrepreneurAJ]

What city are you in

 

[OXO GIRL]

Thanks for the help so far peeps, I have the MPAN, now to find someone who can do the job soonest.

 

[OXO GIRL]

HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH BES, THEY ARE NOW HASSLING ME TO SIGN A 'BUSINESS MOVE FORM' ?

 

[kulture]

Tell them to go away. Be less polite than that.

 

[obscure]

HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH BES, THEY ARE NOW HASSLING ME TO SIGN A 'BUSINESS MOVE FORM' ?

Don't sign anything they give you. Just ignore them and choose your own supplier.

 

[OXO GIRL]

okay, here's another question, not sure if this is the right place to post it.
can anyone recommend a good security camera system that I can install, must work without internet connection.?

 

[fisicx]

Would the monitor be in the office? If so there are plenty of systems you can buy. Your local installer can do this for you.

If want remote viewing (eg from home) then you need an internet connection.

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

Hikvision cameras are good and I’ve had good advice and service from broadbandbuyer.com

so.....you went ahead and signed the full repair lease without a schedule of condition then?

 

[Bob Morgan]

How odd that we never needed Security Cameras! To me they represent POOR MANAGEMENT!

 

[NickGrogan]

about to lease commercial property.
The Electricity meter has been removed,

Don't lease the property until the landlord has sorted out the electricity.

If you've already signed the lease, then you will need to speak to BES if they are the current supplier. You can't just ignore them and switch, they will keep blocking the switch. This is the business movers form that they've mentioned.

BES is one of the worst energy companies to deal with and will take as long as possible to do anything and will hassle you to sign a contract with them, for a long term at very high rates. But you will need to deal with them. Do not agree to anything over the phone and do not let anyone expect the directors speak to them on the phone.

Firstly you need to convince them that you've taken over the unit and your business is not related to the one that was before, no common directors, shareholders, etc. This could take a while, depending on the type of business.

Once you've done this, then you need them to get them to fit a meter and let you change suppliers. They can and will charge you for the meter, a deposit, etc. They will supply you until the new supplier takes over, but again they will make this take as long as possible and charge you about 30p per kWh whilst they do it.

If you wait long enough, then another supplier can take over and fit the meter, but from memory, this takes around 6 months.

 

[OXO GIRL]

Hikvision cameras are good and I’ve had good advice and service from broadbandbuyer.com

so.....you went ahead and signed the full repair lease without a schedule of condition then?

JUST FEEL BETTER WITH CAMERAS, KEEPS THE INSURERS RIGHT AND WORK AS A DETERRENT TOO.

 

[OXO GIRL]

How odd that we never needed Security Cameras! To me they represent POOR MANAGEMENT!

NOT POOR MANAGEMENT, SERVES ALSO AS A DETERRENT.

 

[OXO GIRL]

Don't lease the property until the landlord has sorted out the electricity.

If you've already signed the lease, then you will need to speak to BES if they are the current supplier. You can't just ignore them and switch, they will keep blocking the switch. This is the business movers form that they've mentioned.

BES is one of the worst energy companies to deal with and will take as long as possible to do anything and will hassle you to sign a contract with them, for a long term at very high rates. But you will need to deal with them. Do not agree to anything over the phone and do not let anyone expect the directors speak to them on the phone.

Firstly you need to convince them that you've taken over the unit and your business is not related to the one that was before, no common directors, shareholders, etc. This could take a while, depending on the type of business.

Once you've done this, then you need them to get them to fit a meter and let you change suppliers. They can and will charge you for the meter, a deposit, etc. They will supply you until the new supplier takes over, but again they will make this take as long as possible and charge you about 30p per kWh whilst they do it.

If you wait long enough, then another supplier can take over and fit the meter, but from memory, this takes around 6 months.

So your answer sounds like they are holding the supply to ransom !!!
There is no way I would take a contract with them after all the horror stories I have come accross.
Do they have to put a new meter in, can't they just release the supply for someone else to take over and install a meter ?.
No-one knows how they managed to disconnect the meter in the first place, it was more than 6 months ago as far as I can tell from the info I have regarding when the last tenant was in the premises.

 

[OXO GIRL]

Don't lease the property until the landlord has sorted out the electricity.

If you've already signed the lease, then you will need to speak to BES if they are the current supplier. You can't just ignore them and switch, they will keep blocking the switch. This is the business movers form that they've mentioned.

BES is one of the worst energy companies to deal with and will take as long as possible to do anything and will hassle you to sign a contract with them, for a long term at very high rates. But you will need to deal with them. Do not agree to anything over the phone and do not let anyone expect the directors speak to them on the phone.

Firstly you need to convince them that you've taken over the unit and your business is not related to the one that was before, no common directors, shareholders, etc. This could take a while, depending on the type of business.

Once you've done this, then you need them to get them to fit a meter and let you change suppliers. They can and will charge you for the meter, a deposit, etc. They will supply you until the new supplier takes over, but again they will make this take as long as possible and charge you about 30p per kWh whilst they do it.

If you wait long enough, then another supplier can take over and fit the meter, but from memory, this takes around 6 months.

BES claimed during a phone conversation that the property was de-energised in 2018.
Does this make any difference to someone else taking over the supply ?

 

[OXO GIRL]

BES still insisting that they are in control of the supply, they mentioned in a recent telephone conversation that the premises were de-energised in 2018, does the length of time between then and the present make a difference or is there no statute of limitation so to speak ?.

 

[NickGrogan]

BES still insisting that they are in control of the supply, they mentioned in a recent telephone conversation that the premises were de-energised in 2018, does the length of time between then and the present make a difference or is there no statute of limitation so to speak ?.

It depends. Is the meter still there?

If it's been de-energised, then the main fuse should have been removed.

As it is from 2018, you should be able to get another supplier to take it over, and install fuse/meter again - there will be charges for this.

BES can still object to the transfer and it may take a while to sort out.

 

[OXO GIRL]

It depends. Is the meter still there?

If it's been de-energised, then the main fuse should have been removed.

As it is from 2018, you should be able to get another supplier to take it over, and install fuse/meter again - there will be charges for this.

BES can still object to the transfer and it may take a while to sort out.

Thanks, got somebody on the case now, although once they heard it was BES they knew that they were dealing with absolute A@**es