Electricity Problem, New Tenant Recieving Bill From Another Supplier

trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 18:11
Last edited 18/09/2017 - 19:19 by 1 other user

Hi guys, apologise for this, I've never rented a place where electricity wasn't included before and would love some help.

Essentially, I moved to a new unit on the 22/08/17 (is when the contract started). On the 21/08/17 I (technically my agent) applied for an account with Energy Australia for electricity for my unit. Energy Australia apparently obtained the billing rights for my electricity on the 25/8/17 (so 3 days after I started the contract).

The Problem: An AGL bill just came through for the 3/08/17 to the 8/9/17 which starts before I rented the place through to part of my time at this new unit for $42. The bill is addressed to "The Energy Consumer" at my address.

I did a live chat with Energy Australia and they told me, that AGL should NOT be giving me a bill because

  1. I'm not with AGL (which makes double sense since my name isn't on the bill)
  2. I'll be paying Energy Australia for the bill for the time of my contract not AGL for it
  3. Its up to AGL to deal with finding the last tenant and getting them to pay for it not me.

My problem is that

  1. I did start the lease halfway through the date of the AGL bill
  2. The day Energy Australia received billing rights is 3 days after my contract started (so even though I wasn't on site I probably would've been using AGL for those 3 days).
  3. Energy Australia telling me to just ignore the AGL bill worries me, I don't want to do anything illegal, and I don't want to screw anyone over but I'd like to keep my $42 especially if I'll be paying Energy Australia for part of that bill.

Please note unfortunately my agent isn't great and never replies back to you, so I'm hoping to have to deal with him as little as possible (but definitely happy to if I must). I have NOT contacted AGL as they currently don't have my name and I'd prefer to keep it that way if I can.

Thanks All, <3 Really appreciate it.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • John Kimble on 18/09/2017 - 18:21
    -2

    It's $42.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/09/2017 - 18:40
    +3

    Your names not on the bill so return it back to sender (agl), or if you feel like it send it to your estate agent.

    • trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 19:01

      Thanks mate, this is definitely the answer I was hoping for, happy it wasn't just hopeful thinking.

  • AlienC on 18/09/2017 - 18:44
    +1

    I think I got a bigger headache after reading this post.. anyone got any deals on some Panadol preferably delivered?

    • trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 19:02

      haha thats fair, apologies mate, wasn't too sure how to explain the timeline very well with all the dates. Hope you feel better soon!

  • oscargamer on 18/09/2017 - 18:45
    -1

    3/8 to 8/9 is 5 weeks

    you were present for 2 of those weeks

    pay AGL 2/5 x $42

    • trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 19:00

      What you say makes a lot of sense but the problem is that I also have to pay Energy Australia (who I actually have an account with) for the same 2 weeks (minus 3 days). So I would be paying AGL from 25/8 to 8/9 but ALSO Energy Australia from 25/8 to 8/9.

      More then happy to pay for those 3 days I was with AGL for though haha.

  • whooah1979 on 18/09/2017 - 18:46
    +2

    The bill is addressed to "The Energy Consumer" at my address.

    ignore unaddressed invoices.

    1. Energy Australia telling me to just ignore the AGL bill worries me,

    ea is right. ignore unaddressed invoices.

    I don't want to do anything illegal,

    you'll be fine.

    • trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 19:06

      Thanks so much mate, so happy to hear that the same as Energy Australia and the guy above, I can just ignore it. Makes things so much more simpler and I feel less worried now.

  • whooah1979 on 18/09/2017 - 18:48

    I have NOT contacted AGL as they currently don't have my name and I'd prefer to keep it that way if I can.

    there is no need for you to contract agl.

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 18/09/2017 - 19:24
    +1

    Addressed to "The Energy Consumer" would suggest they have no idea who is living there. Tear it up, chuck it away. It is $42, AGL will write it off.

    You did not sign up with AGL and as such have no contract with them.

    • trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 19:54

      Awesome, thanks mate, seeing quite a fair few people agree with just chucking it away makes me feel better, hearing AGL will probably write it off makes me feel good to know they won't try to come get me later.

      That makes a lot of sense though, I never made any contract or agreement to pay AGL for anything, so thats on them.

  • Euphemistic on 18/09/2017 - 21:01

    AGL is just trying it on to get you to pay, and join them. Plenty of people would just pay it.

    They did the same with my mother in law. She moved out of her unit and left it vacant. rang them and told them to disconnect as she was no longer living there and the following month a bill to "the energy consumer" turned up, and the same the following month for two months connection fees and usage (the usage was very small as there was no one there). They stopped after that I think. It took us a while to work out that it was unaddressed because she had been with AGL before asking them to disconnect.

    • trustnoone on 18/09/2017 - 22:04

      Thanks for the info, hopefully they will stop for me as well, and makes me feel better knowing it stopped for her.

      Thats actually what made me a bit worried, I got a letter from them earlier saying they may "cut off my electricity if I don't contact them soon", sent an email to Energy Australia then as well, for EA to tell me that they can NOT cut off my electricity as EA has the rights for the meter now not them.

  • altomic on 18/09/2017 - 21:43

    The bill is addressed to "The Energy Consumer" at my address.

    is payment only available through Western Union or wire transfer to the Bank of Nigeria?

    • John Kimble on 18/09/2017 - 21:46
      +1

      No, something more believable; iTunes gift cards, silly!

  • geek001 on 19/09/2017 - 09:14

    I think you shouldn't worry too much about it. The electricity line companies do not send people out to cut the power immediately when you cancel with your account with the electricity retailer, they leave the electricity on for about a week hoping that someone will move in during that time so that they don't need to send someone out to cut the power.

  • TheGMan on 22/09/2017 - 07:49

    It could be hot water. If it's building supplied hot water then there will be another bill that may not come from your chosen energy provider but rather one that has been set up by body corporate. Have been caught with no hot water previously since I ignored those bills for almost 12 months.

    Just food for thought

    • trustnoone on 22/09/2017 - 16:29

      Oh wait serious? I never thought about this, I have a feeling that the hot water is shared between everyone in the units, but since I was told they were paying for water, I figured it meant for hot as well.

      I had a check recently, there seems to be one big water heater (electric) and 2 gas things. I called up Energy Australia again, they confirmed that the NMI number and meter number from the AGL bill is the same as theres. I'm hoping since its the same NMI and meter number that they are talking about the same place.

      I don't have a body corporate but I might send through an email to my agent in the hopes he might reply, thanks for the heads up mate!

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join