Invented gas and electricity charges?

Is supply not used then why wasn’t the meter disconnected? The standing charge will need to be paid. Usage would be determined by last meter reading, when your tenant gave it for “final reading “, they did do this? and the reading now.

Same as your friend’s derelict building. If bought as derelict then on purchase meter readings would have been done when the supply put into their name. If derelict why would you want a live supply of gas to the building?

The invoices/bills can’t be enforced without meter readings. Call up the suppliers, who may not be aware of the relevant facts (invoices are often auto-generated). Ask them to confirm any meter readings, and take it from there… In my experience such bills have been cancelled once an explanation is given.

p.s. I have also had standing charges cancelled where I could show that there was zero use. However if there is even a slight use the standing charges would usually apply.

I am willing to believe that fictional utility bills are mostly automatically generated rather than the result of human input.
Simply tell the supplier what the readings were for the period and tell them to produce a bill reflecting that usage.
Note that Utilita still has a no standing charge tariff, which I use for LL supplies and for vacant properties.

I had to go to the ombudsman a few years ago after we got bills for a meter that had been removed.

Their attitude changed remarkably once the ombudsman got involved but before that they were just rude and threatening.

If you’re being billed for gas or electricity you didn’t use, start by asking the suppliers for a detailed breakdown of the charges. Dispute the invoices in writing, and if you’re not getting anywhere, think about consulting a legal expert or a consumer rights organization. You can also reach out to a regulatory body for help.

When you threaten with the ombudsman and place a official complaint the gas supply company are immediately hit with a £500 charge that threat usually wakes them up l had a very similar problem with bg it went on for a year trying to charge me for utilities l hadn’t used it was a previous tenant fiddling the utilities it went on for 12 months finally threat to get ombudsman ended it immediately in my favour.

Maybe I should proceed with the Ombudsman. I’ve been in disagreement with VirginMedia Business since April 2023. Its not the first dispute I’ve had with them, the first went on for similar amount of time and was never fully resolved. In April 2023 I contacted Mango who suppy Virgin as Virgin had hiked by rate despite me having a 2y contract. It turns out they randomly started a paper billing which I never received as its a rental property. Mango its not clear if they cancelled Virgin or didnt but I was billed for both for over a year. Both are pointing fingers at each other – Mango just washed their hands of it – I cancelled yet they kept billing Me so I got HSBC on them and got some money back but had to cancel my card. I’ve been speaking with UK, India, Philippines, South Africa! and now taken to Twitter – all statements they have told me are false. And to boot if you happen to try to login from Hong Kong / China you are blocked just as you are blocked by TV Licensing or the Councils in UK.