gas meter

[han7681]

hi
we dont use gas. but the suppiler start to charge . so ended the contract

do i need to find other supplier even if no gas is used at the premises?

becuase the meter is here, do i need to engage in any supplier?

thanks

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Why did they charge you for something you do not have?

If you do not have a contract, they can't charge you!

 

[MRQ]

Why did they charge you for something you do not have?

If you do not have a contract, they can't charge you!

I've seen this myself in premises where the last occupier had gas kilns of some sort; the meter was outside and capped... all photographed and noted in exchanges with the landlord when taking the unit on. We never had/needed/wanted gas. Scottish Gas attempted to hold us responsible for a standing charge. - All attempts to communicate were basically ignored. They eventually raised an action at the Sheriff court which I simply passed to the lawyers to handle; the Sheriff threw it out and gave us costs.

...Of course; that's a different thing from having a contract then ending it. AFAIK there is no obligation to have a contract even if they leave a meter there; I believe you can ask them to remove it.

 

[kulture]

Before you do anything, who owns the building. Are you leasing it? If so you should check with the landlord before requesting the removal of a utility supply.

 

[BristolBiz]

We went through this ourselves.

You might assume (wrongly) that you can't be charged for something you can't use. It's the standing charge that mounts up - over £1,000 in our case.

Despite call centre assurances that we wouldn't be charged the debt was handed over to a debt agency.

Some one has to remove the gas meter & return it to British Gas, if it's them, of course.

I managed to get on the ofgas website & quote a relevent paragraph to them & start billing them for my time. They went away eventually, but whatever happens, get all correspondence in writing, verbal promises - pah!

 

[han7681]

hi thanks for all replying

I'm currently leasing this premises.

Shall we contact previous gas supplier?

if any gas supplier is not with this gas meter, who would send the standing charge bill to us and what would the rate be?

thanks

 

[MRQ]

hi thanks for all replying

I'm currently leasing this premises.

Shall we contact previous gas supplier?

if any gas supplier is not with this gas meter, who would send the standing charge bill to us and what would the rate be?

thanks

Presumably the supply is turned off and there is nothing connected to it? - i.e. the meter is properly 'capped off'? ...In which case there is no supply and you should never have been charged (or had a contract for gas) in the first place!

Probably best (as has been suggested) to talk to the landlord first; but the meter is often removed upon termination of supply. - This doesn't remove the utility from the building as the incoming pipe gets capped and the supply turned off in the road. - Ready for the next tenant to do as they wish.

As far as I know, the last supplier should have arranged for the supply to be capped and/or the meter removed.

 

[Jass T]

hi thanks for all replying

I'm currently leasing this premises.

Shall we contact previous gas supplier?

if any gas supplier is not with this gas meter, who would send the standing charge bill to us and what would the rate be?

thanks

Has Bristolbiz has said keep all communication to email. That way you have a record of what your told.

 

[RandyMarsh]

I had this problem when I moved into a premises with a gas supply that I no longer needed. Someone (a gas company) has to take responsibility for the gas supply pipes and meter to your property, even if you don't have any appliances, so you can't just not have an account. The only way to avoid the standing charge is to contract the gas infrastructure company to remove the meter. This is a fair bit of paperwork and cost (about £500 I think) and takes a few months. You will need the permission of the landlord because if they ever want to reconnect the gas it will be another (larger) expense to connect the premises to the network.