Three times this has happened now. Out of the blue he gets a letter from British Gas saying they're sorry hes leaving.

Every time he phones them up and says hes not and has never signed with anyone else. Each time they tell him hes moving to Southern Electric.

They then send him a letter saying welcome to British Gas and theres usually a week or two delay until BG starts again. In the meantime, hes paid the final bill from before with BG, so, in effect, hes paying no-one for a few weeks. Tried to explain this to BG but no joy.

Also, never heard anything from Southern Electric or anyone else. If it was another company trying to sign over his gas, they would have contacted him surely?

Now, my Dads 75 and gets stressed about this. Personally, if it was me I'd say, your fault, keep doing it while I get free gas !!!

Tried writing to them last time but no joy... Any ideas? I did tell my Dad to stuff them and move to someone else but he said he didnt want the hassle (even though this is causing him hassle!)

Hi,

it's very possible that National Grid Transco etc have your father's MPAN or Meter Serial Number associated with a different address. This means that if someone at that other address applies for a different supply, British Gas would think your father is leaving.

Contact Consumer Focus (Formerly Energywatch, they may still be listed as this). They will take the complaint forward for you to BG and hopefully get to the bottom of it. Of course you'll need your father present when you make contact so he can give his consent for you to deal with the complaint.

As for moving supply, it's incredibly easy these days, and you may well find that your father can get a better deal elsewhere. As i said earlier, as long as your father is present to give consent during the phone call, you are allowed to change suppliers for him.

psychocandy1:

keep doing it while I get free gas !!!

Don'y be too hopeful of that. The closing reading of one supply should become the opening reading of the new supply. Even if it's the same company and even its not an accurate meter reading on the day because none was taken.

Yes, thats whats been happening. BG have been sending him a final bill with their final reading. Then he complains and they say they'll sort it out. Then a few weeks later, BG take a meter reading and start billing him again from there.

For those in between weeks, hes paying no-one for any gas used.

psychocandy1:

Not sure what's happenning. Possibly one approach is to switch to a supplier with a better customer satisfaction rating. No idea how good they are but as a fact Scottish Hydro Electric/ Southern Electric has the lowest complaints ratio in the industry (BG has amongst the highest)

Take the meter serial number and upto date reading then call your current supplier, they should be able to confirm that the details you provide match what they have on their accounts and also the national database. Then the possibility of a crossed metering query can be confirmed, its not unknown to be billed on a meter for another property for yourself for a long period of time, and this often only comes to light when somebody (being yourself or the other property owners in question) decides to change suppliers.

If the above is all ok, so your readings correspond with previous ones, and meter serial number matches both what they hold on their records and the national database then the other possibility could be regarding your MPRN (meter point reference number) These numbers are unique to each property and is what a supplier will need to obtain in order to start a contract to supply a property. It could be that you have a crossed mprn with another property, could be local or nationwide, and when they decide to change suppliers because they are crossed Southern notify BGT that they have consent to take over and then the onslaught of letters begin. You should be able to confirm your MPRN is correct by phoning the national grid (formally Transco) or IGT (independant gas transporter) if the house is a new build.

I believe this is the number to confirm your mprn for your address : 0870 608 1524

Hope this helps

Presumed it was gas, if elec or both similar applies just is a MPAN (meter point access number) for elec, and if is, no need to contact national grid, your current supplier should have full access to ecoes (electricity central online enquiry service) in order to check all details