It is quite common for a supplier to use tools such as electoral register etc to find who is occupant for a given period at a property and deem them as responsible.

A letter will not normally be enough to disassociate yourself from responsibility for energy use - only something formal/ legally binding e.g. as part of your tenancy agreement would usually satisfy the supplier that you are not the responsible bill payer.

Moreover even if there were multiple occupants found for a property each is 100% responsible not just partially and whoever the supplier chooses to pursue can be made wholly responsible for energy use at the property.

many thanks for your advice.

I certainly will try to get some answers how and why was my account open...

I should be seeing letting agent next week and I am very curious to know who is supposed to be responsible for bills as all is getting very dodgy at the moment...

I sent my questions to consumer advice regarding the way my account was open but no answer as yet.

Yes, there is consumer protection but my feeling is that your disatisfaction should be directed towards the letting agent. Have they been taking money for electricity (as part of the all-inclusive rent) and not been paying the bills?

You certainly should not pay the nPower bills and you should reply to correspondence in writing stating who is responsible for paying (the letting agent). If you expect nPower to take things further, you should keep copies and posting receipts.

MichaelaZuzka:

Just yesterday Npower agent told me that account was open by Npower themselves as they did credit check on the property and only my name came up.

I am not convinced that NPower had any authority to do a "credit check". You should find out from NPower what authority they think they had.

maxsteam:

It's the responsibility of a tenant who uses the electricity to ensure that bills get paid to the electricity supplier.

This is not a 100% authoritative answer but I hope your answer is also and a simplification. For the sake of argument I would say the default position in the absence of formal agreement is that the property owner is responsible.

In the absence of a responsibility trail I would say NPower's behaviour is tantamount to fraud. Certainly their "credit reference" argument is incompetent.

thanks maxsteam

is it for real?? there is like another 10 tenants living in this property and we were all paying to tenant agent monthly fee inclusive of all bills...

I still find it rather dodgy that Npower can just pick any house and any name and start sending them bills just based on credit check...

Is there really no protection for consumers at all?

what if there is another electricity account with different supplier? would you know if that would be possible to spot for NPower?

thanks

It's the responsibility of a tenant who uses the electricity to ensure that bills get paid to the electricity supplier. You need to contact the letting agent to find out if/why the bills were not paid. The letter that you have states that you are not responsible for paying the bills but does it state that the letting agent is responsible? You can also contact ConsumerFocus for support and advice.

nPower can open and close accounts as they wish. They cannot phone or visit you if you tell them that this is not convenient.

Hello,

Can anybody help please?

I rented a room in shared house last year, I payed letting agent (who managed other 6 rooms in the house)monthly fee inclusive off all bills.

After I left this house letters started to appear in my name from Npower claiming I am responsible for electricity bills and Npower is herrasing me ever since. I tried to contact them on several occassions try to find out who and how this account. I even provided a letter from letting agent clearly stating that I am not resposible person for utilities...

Just yesterday Npower agent told me that account was open by Npower themselves as they did credit check on the property and only my name came up. (as I lived there for 6 months I changed my bank account address as most of us would do.....)

Does anybody know if this is legal?? please help if anybody come accross simillar situation as I am getting a bit clue less...

thanks

Michaela