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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think its UR to be able to do this without my consent?

33 replies

mileend2bermondsey · 03/06/2015 14:11

Long and short. ExDP, 'A', and I living together until we break our lease. A pays the gas and electric. When we get the bills they are adressed to both of us. I never once spoke with this company nor have I had anything to do with them. When A set up the account/payments he just decided to put my name on the account too. How can they do this without my knowledge or consent? For all they know I could be anyone, how do they know I even live in the property and use the ultilities?

If A was for whatever reason to decide not to pay the bill I assume they would come after me as I am named on the account? But I never gave my permission for this. Is it just me or is it UR that this is possible? Confused

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 03/06/2015 14:16

YABU - you live there so utility bills should be in joint names.

FlaviaAlbia · 03/06/2015 14:16

YANBU - no idea if it's possible but you are definitely NBU.

I set up the electric account for our house and I had to pass the phone to DH before they'd put him on it too. How that convinced them he was who he said he was and not some random I'd pulled in off the street I'm not sure, but they insisted on it.

midnightvelvet01 · 03/06/2015 14:17

Phone the company & tell them you are not liable for any arrears, although when I did this with the water company they insisted on having a letter signed by both me & my exH which obviously he refused to do.

I moved away in the end & haven't heard from them.

FlaviaAlbia · 03/06/2015 14:17

But RedHelen, isn't that the point? For all the company knew, the OP didn't live there.

Original poster
mileend2bermondsey · 03/06/2015 14:19

Red the subject isnt should I be on the account, its should I be able to be named on the account without my consent

OP posts:
hedgehogsdontbite · 03/06/2015 14:19

YANBU - How dare they supply you with gas and electric without your consent. I do wonder though how did you manage to live there without using any of the gas or electric which you didn't consent to them providing.

DoJo · 03/06/2015 14:20

For all the company knew, the OP didn't live there.

But if she didn't, then they would not be able to pursue her with just a name and no genuine address, so it wouldn't be a problem.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 03/06/2015 14:25

I think some people are missing the point.

Original poster
mileend2bermondsey · 03/06/2015 14:26

When we move out how do I make sure the account is closed and paid off? Just ring up and ask? Sorry before I have always lived in properties where the bills are included in the rent so neer have had to deal with this before. And how do you cancel it? Do you need to cancel in advance or just ring up and say I moved out of the proprty on 'X' date so I want to pay off up until then? Sorry a bit clueless with all this.

hedgehog I don't know what the hell your post is supposed to mean?

OP posts:
TwinkieTwinkle · 03/06/2015 14:29

Why did this only become an issue now you're split up?

AuntyMag10 · 03/06/2015 14:31

Why did you not question this while you were still together?

LaLyra · 03/06/2015 14:36

They shouldn't be able to put you on without speaking to you.

You need to ring them and find out their cancellation policy as it'll depend on the tariff you are on sometimes if they need notice. If you are just on a standard tariff with no notice required you'd just phone them up on your last day with final readings.

Original poster
mileend2bermondsey · 03/06/2015 14:37

It isn't an issue now it's just the fact that when we move out I want to make sure the account is properly paid off and closed down as A is not great with things like that. If we were still together it would be easier for me to control, rather than the situation as it is now.

OP posts:
Original poster
mileend2bermondsey · 03/06/2015 14:38

ah thanks lalyra yes I have read one of the bills which says no notice required. Thanks for the help!

OP posts:
midnightvelvet01 · 03/06/2015 14:39

Usually on the day you are leaving, you would ring the company up & give them meter readings that you took that morning, so they have a final meter reading from you. (Keep a note of the figures in case of problems later). They should send you a final bill then once that's paid you're done.

It wouldn't hurt to let them know in writing (letter or email) in advance once you know your moving date, just in case they try to charge you a month's notice period.

midnightvelvet01 · 03/06/2015 14:39

ah x post :)

pressanykeytobegin · 03/06/2015 14:40

When I tented it was the letting agents who told the utility company. Could that be the case here?

Original poster
mileend2bermondsey · 03/06/2015 14:44

Thank you too midnight Grin

I don't think so press we set up all the ultilities so I assume it is our responsibility to close them too.

OP posts:
WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 03/06/2015 14:45

Ring the company and ask why you are on the bill when you have never spoken to them or given consent? It's possible he signed your name on the original forms.

Theycallmemellowjello · 03/06/2015 14:57

I would feel weird about this as well - but I think that if the bill were unpaid the gas/electric can chase any adult with title to the property so presuming that you do live there and have your name on the lease I think it probably doesn't affect your legal position (though obviously does make it easier for them to identify you).

OrangeVase · 03/06/2015 15:09

Theycallmemellowjello - that's what I understand by having title to the property.

If you are on the lease and it can be proved that you live there you are liable for the bill.

Usually it is jointly and severally -the utilities companies are not going to get into arguments over which of three people sharing a house owes how much of every bill are they?

No-one can put your name on a utilities account without your consent if you do not live there/ do not own it/do not have title to it - or we'd all be putting Joe Bloggs on ours wouldn't we!

If you do own it/rent it then they can. (The company may well ask who lives there/ whose names are on the lease when the account is opened)

When you leave one of you must pay and get the money from the other. Your Ex might not pay you, or you could be difficult and not pay him - but assuming that you are adults and resonable people and you owe the money I am sure you will sort it out.

Original poster
mileend2bermondsey · 03/06/2015 15:14

mellowjellow good point.

orange it isn't really the not paying thing - A pays everything on time and always has plenty of money in the bank - it's that he won't organise for it to be closed and paid off properly as he's crap with things like that. I fear that we will both move on and then a year later they will contact me saying 'you didn't pay, now youll bill is 'X' amount'

I pay the council tax which he is not associated with, but by jellows logic, if I was to not pay the council could find out who else was on the lease and go after them?

OP posts:
Griphook · 03/06/2015 15:48

If it helps I added my dp's name to our BT bill, I was told that I was the account holder and whilst they would add his name he was not responsible for payment I'm any way

DoJo · 03/06/2015 16:05

orange it isn't really the not paying thing - A pays everything on time and always has plenty of money in the bank - it's that he won't organise for it to be closed and paid off properly as he's crap with things like that. I fear that we will both move on and then a year later they will contact me saying 'you didn't pay, now youll bill is 'X' amount'

In which case, the fact that the bills are in your name works in your favour as you will have just as much right to call them up, give them final meter readings and deal with the closure of the accounts as he does. If you weren't on the bill, the issue would presumably get passed to the letting agents who would pursue both of your for any outstanding payments, and you might find it harder to get it dealt with.

redskybynight · 03/06/2015 16:12

Are you sure you are liable? I had the opposite issue with utilities - I wanted them to go in my and DH's joint names, but was told that although they could post them in our joint names, they could only make a single person responsible unless we both signed the agreement (which wasn't even an option everywhere!). So DH and I have all our bills addressed to both of us, but DH is liable for some and I for others ...