Utility Warehouse

Other

I'm hoping someone can help me. I bought a flat as an investment and completed on it on 21st April 2011. The flat was a repossession and I became aware that there were water and electricity arrears on account of the last occupant. It took me 3 weeks to obtain an electricity meter reading as the meter is not accessible by occupants of the building - only the management company have access to the meter cupboard. Having obtained the meter reading it took me a further 3 weeks to discover who was supplying electricity at the property (I was waiting for letters which never arrived). As the property was vacant during this time I wasn't overly concerned aboutnotifying the supplier as early as I perhaps would have had I have been living there. On June 8th I notified Utility Warehouse of the reading acquired on 12th May. They told me I needed to supply prove of ownership since April 2011 to show I wasn't responsible for the arrears building up before this time, I sent them my completion statement. I heard nothing from Utility Warehouse until this week when they emailed me to advise that they will be sending me a bill out which will include a fee of £350 - the fee being their costs associated with attendance at court over the arrears. They say I should pay it as the court activity occurred during May 2011, a time when I owned the property even though the arrears relate to a previous occupant. Can they do this? Tenants moved into the property 3 weeks ago and I am concerned they may disconnect the supply as I do not intend to the pay the bill. Can they disconnect the supply for new occupants?