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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Worried I will end up in prison!

298 replies

isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:17

I bought a house 3 years ago and did not receive an electric bill so after 5 months I got in touch with the company the previous owners said they had, turned out no electric company had ever had anyone with an account at my address. It is a private new build and has never been registered as receiving an electric supply. I then found out the council did not know the house existed and no council tax had been paid in the previous 10 years that the original owners had it!
I have managed to register with the council now and the person who rates the properties came out to value it for council tax. HOWEVER I can not get any electricity company to register us for an account.
The electric is coming from somewhere but no bill has been paid for 13 years!!! I even phoned the national grid and was told "oh dear, the previous owners have really dropped you in it" What the hell do I do?

OP posts:
Meadowblossom · 29/12/2021 21:21

You just need to pay your bill when it finally turns up. You won’t go to prison for not paying a bill that didn’t exist.

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:22

@Meadowblossom

You just need to pay your bill when it finally turns up. You won’t go to prison for not paying a bill that didn’t exist.
A bill will never turn up, we have been here 3 years and I have been trying for 3 years to get someone to say they are supplying us. No one says they are!
OP posts:
AperolWhore · 29/12/2021 21:22

You just need to keep a log of all the calls you’ve made and send an email to national grid following up the phone call. This is not your mess so you won’t go to prison.

NothingIsWrong · 29/12/2021 21:23

Have you got a meter? I'd just keep a set of meter readings every month.

As far as I know they can only bill you for 2 years back once they notice, so maybe put £100 a month into a savings account against the time that they notice?

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:24

@AperolWhore

You just need to keep a log of all the calls you’ve made and send an email to national grid following up the phone call. This is not your mess so you won’t go to prison.
I have phoned every electric company I can find. plus the national grid, plus the council and the police, they say it no one says they are supplying me then no bill can come. So 13 years on not one penny has been paid.
OP posts:
Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:25

@NothingIsWrong

Have you got a meter? I'd just keep a set of meter readings every month.

As far as I know they can only bill you for 2 years back once they notice, so maybe put £100 a month into a savings account against the time that they notice?

Yes we have a meter. I have given the codes and anything written on it to everyone I phoned but they all say its not them!
OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 29/12/2021 21:25

Keep a log and all emails and when you
Made calls re the electricity.
Does your metre give no clue as to who owns it ?

LondonSouth28 · 29/12/2021 21:25

I had this years ago in a rental and no bill ever came and I've not served any prison time! Enjoy ...

HeronLanyon · 29/12/2021 21:26

Oops cross post.

YorkshireIndie · 29/12/2021 21:26

Can you set up an account with a company?

Lazypuppy · 29/12/2021 21:26

You will have done a meter reading when you moved in so when it gets sorted you pay for the electricity from that meter reading. Before that isn't your problem. Ssme with council tax, you pay from your completion date

Anordinarymum · 29/12/2021 21:26

Open an account just for the electric and pay what you think you owe into it. Wait for something to happen and then pay the bill. You will not be charged for power someone else used.

FOJN · 29/12/2021 21:27

Is there a meter? Did you take a reading when you moved in? If you've kept a record of your calls and have tried to sort the situation out then I don't think they can hold you responsible for not paying a bill you have not received. Just make sure you don't end u paying for the previous owners. I would also contact the Solicitor who handle the purchase, I seem to recall completing documentation with details of utility suppliers when I've sold a house and received similar documentation when I've bought a house. The estate agent would usually require info about council tax banding too so I think you have been let down by a few people who have not done their jobs very well.

HeronLanyon · 29/12/2021 21:28

Assume you took mètre reading when you moved in so can see how much you’ve used in 3 years ?
You been in touch with old owners ?

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:28

@YorkshireIndie

Can you set up an account with a company?
No this is the whole point! No one wants to say it is them supplying my house.
OP posts:
BrightYellowDaffodil · 29/12/2021 21:28

I would carry on making a note of the meter codes, as well as setting aside some money to cover any bill that does eventually turn up.

Have you tried contacting your MP? Or the company that built the houses?

CornishTiger · 29/12/2021 21:28

Have you been on your local network operators page and contacted the new connections team.

www.energynetworks.org/operating-the-networks/whos-my-network-operator

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:29

@HeronLanyon

Assume you took mètre reading when you moved in so can see how much you’ve used in 3 years ? You been in touch with old owners ?
No the old owners had disappeared into the ether.
OP posts:
NothingIsWrong · 29/12/2021 21:29

Honestly I would stop worrying then. Take the reading every month, stick £100/month away in a 90 day notice account so you aren't tempted and then when/if they come calling give them the last 2 years readings and tell them they can wait 3 months for the payment

Stichintime · 29/12/2021 21:29

I moved somewhere where I couldn't find out who the previous supplier was. I approached a supply company, they switched so they were now my supplier and then started getting bills from them. Any debt left over from the last tenants was not included

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/12/2021 21:29

Do you have any close neighbours? Maybe they have a higher than average bill.

Redglitter · 29/12/2021 21:29

This happened to someone I know. He finally gave up chasing the gas companies, and hasn't paid a bill in about 15 years. He's kept all correspondence just incase

He was advised though that he wouldn't be pursued for previous usage if it did ever get sorted, he'd just be charged from that point on.

CornishTiger · 29/12/2021 21:30

They have an unregistered meters team. It’s not that uncommon.

ToInverness · 29/12/2021 21:30

I agree with PP, keep records of everything you've done to try to get an electricity company to register you and send you a bill. Thats so you can show you've made reasonable efforts. I'd write letters or emails and keep copies as it's easier to prove than a phone call. Can you request replies in writing? Maybe you could take advice from a solicitor too?

Original poster
isitfree · 29/12/2021 21:30

@BrightYellowDaffodil

I would carry on making a note of the meter codes, as well as setting aside some money to cover any bill that does eventually turn up.

Have you tried contacting your MP? Or the company that built the houses?

It was a self build (literally) yes been on to MP and new connections but they can not help as we are being supplied but by who?
OP posts: