Literally gassing. How to find a provider
Discussion
Hi folks,
Long and short, Mum died weekend before last. I’ve been spending this week going through things and transferring accounts over to me. BT, fine. Thames Water, fine. Southern Electricity, fine. TV licence and all others, fine.
Gas supply is a problem. I spoke with BG today. They’ve no record of an account from 2019, for some reason the account was closed.. Searching the national database, there seems to be no transfer to another supplier. Mums gas supply was terminated by BG in 2019. I can see no direct debits or letters or anything for payment, anywhere. The advisor even said there’s no gas supply.
Well there is, I said. I’m looking at a gas fire and I’m cooking in a gas oven just now. Even the gas meter serial number doesn’t come up.
BG advisor did say that best thing to do is wait and see if a letter drops through the door for non payment and then deal with it.
She also mentioned that there was a ‘system update’ a couple of years ago and that some customers simply dropped off the system. Ghost supply basically but then said if you want to come back to us, let us know.
We have a maintenance contract with BG so inspection last year but there’s no data, anywhere.
It’s nice to think I’ve a ghost meter but other than you must pay what you owe, there’s safety implications. I don’t know about gas supply but I assume ‘they’ keep track of every installation etc.
Not often I’m trying to chase something up to pay for.
Any suggestions/who else to contact much appreciated.
Long and short, Mum died weekend before last. I’ve been spending this week going through things and transferring accounts over to me. BT, fine. Thames Water, fine. Southern Electricity, fine. TV licence and all others, fine.
Gas supply is a problem. I spoke with BG today. They’ve no record of an account from 2019, for some reason the account was closed.. Searching the national database, there seems to be no transfer to another supplier. Mums gas supply was terminated by BG in 2019. I can see no direct debits or letters or anything for payment, anywhere. The advisor even said there’s no gas supply.
Well there is, I said. I’m looking at a gas fire and I’m cooking in a gas oven just now. Even the gas meter serial number doesn’t come up.
BG advisor did say that best thing to do is wait and see if a letter drops through the door for non payment and then deal with it.
She also mentioned that there was a ‘system update’ a couple of years ago and that some customers simply dropped off the system. Ghost supply basically but then said if you want to come back to us, let us know.
We have a maintenance contract with BG so inspection last year but there’s no data, anywhere.
It’s nice to think I’ve a ghost meter but other than you must pay what you owe, there’s safety implications. I don’t know about gas supply but I assume ‘they’ keep track of every installation etc.
Not often I’m trying to chase something up to pay for.
Any suggestions/who else to contact much appreciated.
There is a national database of meters but BG should/will have access to that and they should be able to see if it's looked after by someone else.
The other company you could try is your local gas network (Cadent, or whoever.) Search "local gas distribution company" or something like that. They maybe able to help. Otherwise see if you get a bill, and if not just ask BG to set up an account again.
The supply to the property is the responsibility of the local network operator, but the meter is then usually the responsibility of your energy company - although I get you may not know who that is. There is nobody else involved except those 2.
The other company you could try is your local gas network (Cadent, or whoever.) Search "local gas distribution company" or something like that. They maybe able to help. Otherwise see if you get a bill, and if not just ask BG to set up an account again.
The supply to the property is the responsibility of the local network operator, but the meter is then usually the responsibility of your energy company - although I get you may not know who that is. There is nobody else involved except those 2.
Sorry to hear of your loss.
Have a look at the links on here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-a...
If there really is nobody showing then I’d be tempted to try setting up an account with a new supplier to see if that triggers any bills (or if you simply end up starting from fresh with the old usage gone).
Have a look at the links on here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-a...
If there really is nobody showing then I’d be tempted to try setting up an account with a new supplier to see if that triggers any bills (or if you simply end up starting from fresh with the old usage gone).
I'm sorry for your loss.
In my experience, the gas industry is utterly utterly incompetent at a company level.
When we bought our first flat back in 2006 it wasn't registered on any database (flat built in 1957), even though it had had a gas meter for years, and had had a new meter fitted in the early 2000's. Being a dutiful citizen, I got it registered after around 8 months of free gas. In hindsight, I shouldn't have bothered.
We've also had other issues with meter swaps at our current house (old meter was leaking, new one fitted and counter re-set to zero), but the system won't accept the new readings and continues to insist that we are still on our higher, old estimated readings from the old meter (even after independent meter readings). There's the potential to defraud them with meter readings if I was so minded.
When our old supplier went bust and British Gas took over the account, they financially messed up the transfer (to my benefit).
So in short, I wouldn't worry. In my experience, their system of controlling the finance side of the gas supply appears to be very lax, which must mean that they've got plenty of cash flowing in and aren't really bothered about it. You've called them and raised the issue, they don't want to know, that's their problem. Enjoy your free gas! If you're worried about the safety side, get a Corgi gas engineer around to give everything a once over.
In my experience, the gas industry is utterly utterly incompetent at a company level.
When we bought our first flat back in 2006 it wasn't registered on any database (flat built in 1957), even though it had had a gas meter for years, and had had a new meter fitted in the early 2000's. Being a dutiful citizen, I got it registered after around 8 months of free gas. In hindsight, I shouldn't have bothered.
We've also had other issues with meter swaps at our current house (old meter was leaking, new one fitted and counter re-set to zero), but the system won't accept the new readings and continues to insist that we are still on our higher, old estimated readings from the old meter (even after independent meter readings). There's the potential to defraud them with meter readings if I was so minded.
When our old supplier went bust and British Gas took over the account, they financially messed up the transfer (to my benefit).
So in short, I wouldn't worry. In my experience, their system of controlling the finance side of the gas supply appears to be very lax, which must mean that they've got plenty of cash flowing in and aren't really bothered about it. You've called them and raised the issue, they don't want to know, that's their problem. Enjoy your free gas! If you're worried about the safety side, get a Corgi gas engineer around to give everything a once over.
Edited by Welsh Pirate on Thursday 27th May 08:08
Baldchap said:
You will need a 'dead or alive' check by Cadent to progress this, I suspect.
Is this a thing that they'll just do, or is there a cost?I have an old workshop, it has a gas supply, well two actually. I discovered recently that it was used by British Gas as a workshop when they were plumbing up the village way back. The supply to the house was upgraded at some point, but I don't know where pipes run to know whether that would have lead to the workshop being cut off.
I'd quite like to know if it's live or not, but not enough to pay hundreds to have someone test it. It's quite rusty, so may not be serviceable at all, but I certainly don't dare open it myself as I wouldn't be sure I could close it again.
Would be nice to know if I ever rebuild the workshop properly that I could heat it fairly easily.
Firstly, sorry for your loss.
Have you looked at her bank account? Are there any direct debits/payments to anyone that could be a gas supplier? Nothing like utilities warehouse etc where the electricity and gas could be linked?
I did a spot of work for a utilities companies last year working specifically on their billing platform and to say it was shocking with millions of pounds unbilled for years, so it doesn't surprise me that BG have no record to be honest.
Have you looked at her bank account? Are there any direct debits/payments to anyone that could be a gas supplier? Nothing like utilities warehouse etc where the electricity and gas could be linked?
I did a spot of work for a utilities companies last year working specifically on their billing platform and to say it was shocking with millions of pounds unbilled for years, so it doesn't surprise me that BG have no record to be honest.
Simpo Two said:
I'd leave it there and turn your mind to more useful things. You're not BG's credit control dept.
This is true. Suppliers/National Grid even make an allowance for "Unidentified Gas" which is gas recorded as entering the system but never leaving via a meter! For the few pence a day the OP is using I really wouldn't worry.
I moved into a nice apartment about 8 years ago. 2005 completion so was about 8 years old at that point. No gas so electric only for everything and it was a 2 storey place with expanses of glass so took a LOT to heat in winter.
Nowhere could we work out the electricity was being supplied from. There was simply no meter for the property in the communal electricity supplies cupboard in that block. Enquiries led nowhere until one day a man knocked at the door from SSE with a bill for £13000 in electric. Turns out the meter was in an adjacent building and had been running years with no one knowing which apartment it supplied.
Nowhere could we work out the electricity was being supplied from. There was simply no meter for the property in the communal electricity supplies cupboard in that block. Enquiries led nowhere until one day a man knocked at the door from SSE with a bill for £13000 in electric. Turns out the meter was in an adjacent building and had been running years with no one knowing which apartment it supplied.
Public utilities can be a nightmare to deal with. Too often its "the computer is always right". An example. About 5 years ago my then employers were renovating an old building into new office premises for the local authority. There was a piped metered water connection into the building so I contacted Business Stream (the non-domestic branch of Scottish Water) to arrange for the supply to be changed over to the new occupant.
No chance. "We do not have any record of a supply at these premises". This attitude continued even after:
I sent them details of the water meter serial number.
Then I sent them a photo of the supply pipe and (operating) water meter.
Then their own inspector came along, looked into the hole in the street and said "yes, that's one of our meters".
Eventually I applied for a brand new supply - which they happily connected to the "non-existent" supply pipe and meter!
My last battle with utilities was ongoing when I retired last year. Arranging with Scottish Power for gas and electricity supplies to 150 flats and housing association offices. With smart meters...and a 3-phase supply for a lift.
The same flats and offices had also to get water and sewage connections for each. From Scottish Water. Apart from the offices, which being non-residential had to get these connections from Business Stream
When I got the chance of taking early retirement I took it!
No chance. "We do not have any record of a supply at these premises". This attitude continued even after:
I sent them details of the water meter serial number.
Then I sent them a photo of the supply pipe and (operating) water meter.
Then their own inspector came along, looked into the hole in the street and said "yes, that's one of our meters".
Eventually I applied for a brand new supply - which they happily connected to the "non-existent" supply pipe and meter!
My last battle with utilities was ongoing when I retired last year. Arranging with Scottish Power for gas and electricity supplies to 150 flats and housing association offices. With smart meters...and a 3-phase supply for a lift.
The same flats and offices had also to get water and sewage connections for each. From Scottish Water. Apart from the offices, which being non-residential had to get these connections from Business Stream
When I got the chance of taking early retirement I took it!
Thanks folks. Yes, I’m now unconcerned. I’ll just wait and see if a letter drops through the door. To answer others, I’m swapping as I live here. Thankfully, I signed Her up to online banking a few months back and absolutely no direct debits for gas supply.
She had a lovely filing system for bills. There’s everything from everyone going back 5 or so years. Not a squeak of a gas supplier.
I gave the meter number to BG and possibly the only other supplier BG suggested. Meter doesn’t exist on any system.
She had a lovely filing system for bills. There’s everything from everyone going back 5 or so years. Not a squeak of a gas supplier.
I gave the meter number to BG and possibly the only other supplier BG suggested. Meter doesn’t exist on any system.
TVR1 said:
Thanks folks. Yes, I’m now unconcerned. I’ll just wait and see if a letter drops through the door. To answer others, I’m swapping as I live here. Thankfully, I signed Her up to online banking a few months back and absolutely no direct debits for gas supply.
She had a lovely filing system for bills. There’s everything from everyone going back 5 or so years. Not a squeak of a gas supplier.
I gave the meter number to BG and possibly the only other supplier BG suggested. Meter doesn’t exist on any system.
Try calling your local gas distribution company and give them the Meter number. They may have a record.She had a lovely filing system for bills. There’s everything from everyone going back 5 or so years. Not a squeak of a gas supplier.
I gave the meter number to BG and possibly the only other supplier BG suggested. Meter doesn’t exist on any system.
Sorry for your loss...
but nicely done on your gain!
One of my previous houses had a ghost supply of electricity to the garage. I had a spark connect up an outside socket and switch to our garage and after all our juice was isolated it was still live so he had to work live. I ran our pond pump and filter system off that for a couple of years until we moved. I suspect the current owners still get the benefit
but nicely done on your gain!
One of my previous houses had a ghost supply of electricity to the garage. I had a spark connect up an outside socket and switch to our garage and after all our juice was isolated it was still live so he had to work live. I ran our pond pump and filter system off that for a couple of years until we moved. I suspect the current owners still get the benefit
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