British Gas: Prepayment meter fitted. no permission

[andr0meda]

Hi, I've had a quick read through and I can't find anything that exactly matches this.

I got home today and found that British Gas had forced entry to my home and installed a pre-payment meter while I was not there (according to energywatch this is not allowed).

They say that whis was done "under the authority of a warrant granted by a justice of the peace as you were previously notified."

I was aware that my direct debit had been cancelled, but was not aware that they would be so heavy handed so quickly? As far as I am aware they have not tried to contact me via phone or visit previously. I am not at home a lot but I do open the post. I did get a "pay this now or else" letter from them end June... but no mention of court/justice of the peace etc etc...

Has this happened to anyone? They are wanting to charge me £335 for the installation of the meter they are - according to the monitoring body set up by the govt - not supposed to have installed in the first place.

I'm sooo livid and mortified that someone has been inside my home without making any effort to warn me

Thanks

Andro

[mree]

Unfortunately, yes they are allowed to enter your home and fit a prepayment meter without your permission as long as they have a warrant (I think you may have been reading the wrong part of the Energywatch advice). They won't have only sent one letter, they (talking about energy suppliers generally here, not specficially BG) usually send at least 6 letters over the course of several months and have a few goes at phoning you too, if they have the correct number. I'm not saying you're fibbing and have received more letters than you're letting on, just that the letters will have been sent. You're in a bit of a difficult situation, because as long as their records show they've taken the proper steps before executing a warrant of entry, you will be held responsible for the debt and any costs incurred by them in obtaining the warrant. Ask to see a record of all correspondence regarding the debt, and be sent copies of all letters, bills and notes on your account, this should give you a clearer picture of what you're up against.

Hope this helps, update your thread when you've spoken to them!

[andr0meda]

Hi - and thanks for your reply - I spoke to Energy watch. they've said the same...

I am terrible at reading my post on time but going back through what they've sent - very little - there are a few discrepancies. And nothing from which ever court/justice of the peace who authorised the warrant which I find unusual - there are no copies, no dates, no reference numbers. I think they have also added on a couple of charges which have not been detailed - I am at home perhaps 25% of the time so not entirely sure how I can have used £650 worth of gas since january...

I am happy to accept it's mostly my fault for being completely financially inept (I didn't realise the direct debit had been cancelled- according to their website BG cancelled quite a few when they changed something?) but I think that they haven't done everything they should have done - no phone calls for instance and I know that they have both my mobile and home numbers..

Ah well. the meter's a good incentive to reduce gas use

I'll write to them to get a breakdown of their costs charges etc and then see how it stands.

The only thing that *really* peed me off - I now can't close the door to the meter which is an irritating reminder.... d'oh!

[repoman]

Its usual not to get anything from the court per se. What will/should happen is that you get 14 days notice of the date upon which the application will be made, normally from the supplier or from the agency acting on their bechalf, and at whcih court it will be made. The warrant officer will attend court, and seek the warrants. The DJ or JP will normally sign them there and then, give the warrant to the warrant officer and keep the "information".