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August 10, 2019
Solved

Moved into new property and I owe previous tenants bill, why?

  • August 10, 2019
  • 89 replies
  • 48298 views

I have previously moved into a new property supplied by OVO and as now the legal occupier I opened a letter to them sending debt collectors round because the previous tenants hadn’t paid their bill!

I was mortified that they are doing this! I tried calling and couldn’t get through to them at first. When I did the gentleman was very reassuring and told me he would rectify the bill and did the sale pitch to which I decided to stay with them.

Received the new statement and they are still trying to charge me!! I’ve had it with this company already! Painful is an understatement! Plus my new email as a new client states they are open Saturday they are not!

Not at all happy and want to go back to Bulb Energy even though they are slightly more expensive. Customer service was second to none.

Best answer by Amy_OVO

Updated on 29/04/26 by Ben_OVO

 

Sorry for any confusion caused by the debt notification letters you’ve received since moving home - you won’t be responsible for any energy used by a previous tenant.

 

Sounds like we’re currently supplying the energy to your new home and have sent letters addressed to ‘The Occupier’, as we don’t currently have an account set-up for you. You’ll need to set up an account with us, which you can do online here

 

Once you put in your new address details the website will recognise we already supply your new home and give you a quote based on the usage figures we have for the property. 

 

Even if you’re planning on switching suppliers we’ll need an account created to cover the period before your switch. When we create your account we’ll check the date you moved in and the opening meter readings. There’s more detailed advice on this process in the guide below:

 

 

Once you’ve created an account, any letters addressed to ‘The Occupier’ can be ignored - they may have been posted out before your account was created, or relate to a time that you’re not responsible for. The charges showing on these letters won’t have an impact on your account.

 

We’ll contact you with your first statement (via post or email depending on your chosen method) within 4 weeks of you creating an account. You’ll know it’s your statement as we’ll address it to your name, rather than to ‘The Occupier’. The easiest way to keep an eye on your new account is by logging in to your online account or downloading our app (available for iOS and Android). This tutorial collection contains all the info you’ll need to manage everything online:

 

 

There’s more tips on how to manage your energy account when you move home on this great guide, and other moving house advice on this handy checklist

 

Good luck with the unpacking. :thumbsup:

 

OVO customer but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO customer? - Check out our plans!

 

89 replies

Amy_OVO
Retired Moderator
Amy_OVOSolved
Retired Moderator
August 12, 2019

Updated on 29/04/26 by Ben_OVO

 

Sorry for any confusion caused by the debt notification letters you’ve received since moving home - you won’t be responsible for any energy used by a previous tenant.

 

Sounds like we’re currently supplying the energy to your new home and have sent letters addressed to ‘The Occupier’, as we don’t currently have an account set-up for you. You’ll need to set up an account with us, which you can do online here

 

Once you put in your new address details the website will recognise we already supply your new home and give you a quote based on the usage figures we have for the property. 

 

Even if you’re planning on switching suppliers we’ll need an account created to cover the period before your switch. When we create your account we’ll check the date you moved in and the opening meter readings. There’s more detailed advice on this process in the guide below:

 

 

Once you’ve created an account, any letters addressed to ‘The Occupier’ can be ignored - they may have been posted out before your account was created, or relate to a time that you’re not responsible for. The charges showing on these letters won’t have an impact on your account.

 

We’ll contact you with your first statement (via post or email depending on your chosen method) within 4 weeks of you creating an account. You’ll know it’s your statement as we’ll address it to your name, rather than to ‘The Occupier’. The easiest way to keep an eye on your new account is by logging in to your online account or downloading our app (available for iOS and Android). This tutorial collection contains all the info you’ll need to manage everything online:

 

 

There’s more tips on how to manage your energy account when you move home on this great guide, and other moving house advice on this handy checklist

 

Good luck with the unpacking. :thumbsup:

 

OVO customer but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO customer? - Check out our plans!

 

OVO-Joyed to help!
Newcomer
September 6, 2022

Dear OVO,

I’ve some question about the bill. And I tried to contact to you via email, chat and phone. but there is no response. How can I contact to you.

nealmurphy
Newcomer
Newcomer
September 7, 2022

Hi,

Sorry, only just saw my tag in this. Unfortunately I'm not really an expert in the way OVO sets out its bills so I think you are probably better off in @Blastoise186 's safe hands.

Newcomer
September 7, 2022

Hi @juliamc ,

 

Thanks for your information.

“PM” is “personal message”? Do you mean to chat with the OVO’s agent.

 

Thanks,
Thura

juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
September 7, 2022

Ah no - I meant our new Prime Minister ! Let’s hope !

juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
September 7, 2022

A further though Thura, can you ask the Property Management people to show you how to access the electricity meter, or explain how to get it from the NetThings screen?

Newcomer
September 7, 2022

:D :D I see :D :D

 

I’ll send an email to property management tomorrow morning. and explain to them. Yes, I think it is the only way to find out the error.

 

Thanks @juliamc.  

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
September 7, 2022

I'm afraid I'm struggling a bit here. Net Things appears to be a dead company. I'm attempting to trace their timeline to see if I can figure out what happened to them. 

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
September 8, 2022

Ok, finally got somewhere. NetThings as a company is dead. It collapsed into administration in December 2018 and was dissolved in February 2020, according to https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC313913 .

The assets were sold/transferred to J-Teq Energy Ltd https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC618189 . They are said to continue supporting the system to this day. The website also redirects to https://j-teq-energy.co.uk/ .

The system in question is a building management system, for use in what’s called intelligent buildings. Although NetThings is dead, J-teq Energy said that they’re going to continue supporting that system for the foreseeable future. Probably could do with some firmware updates though!

This system is not SMETS1 or SMETS2 compliant and cannot be used for metrology purposes. In other words, OVO can’t see it nor read anything from it remotely, and it cannot be used for meter readings because it won’t have gone through the certifications required to enable this.

There will be another electricity meter somewhere in the building. You’re looking for one that matches the Meter Serial Number on your bills. Your MSN has 19L at the start, so you’re looking for a SMETS2 Landis+Gyr E470.

Phew! Tracing that mess took longer than I expected!

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Newcomer
September 8, 2022

WOW
 

Amazing tracing. Thanks @Blastoise186