Oil Tanks - Landlady fights 10000 pound heating bill

26/10/2007

Gloucestershire woman has told of her war with British Gas over an electricity bill of more than £10,000.

Vicki Atherton, who runs the Old New Inn in Bourton-on-the-Water, received the £10,676 demand earlier this month, having not been billed by the company for the preceding six months.

Her unexpected charge came about because the company had changed the terms of her contract, meaning that she paid much more than she had been used to.

Ms Atherton is now fighting the company on the grounds that had she been told of the amendments to her contract in her bill for the first quarter of the year, she would not have used as much in the subsequent period.

She told the Gloucestershire Echo: "I should have realised I hadn't had a bill since March but we get so many invoices every day I honestly hadn't noticed.

"This bill is £7,000 more than I'd expected it to be. It's heart attack material. What if it happened to someone much more vulnerable?

"I'm fighting this on principle. I can't believe they can completely change your terms and conditions without letting you know."

Landlords or homeowners looking to avoid a heart attack-inducing utility bill might like to consider an energy-efficient boiler or oil tank.

Heat and Plumb offers a wide range of heating solutions form leading brands including Vokera, Trianco and Ariston.