I called Washington Gas on 06 Aug 2011 when I moved into my new apartment. The meter reader showed up on 17 Aug 2011. I came home early from work and was there when he showed up (I had to ask my landlord where the meters were - in the front hall closet by the front door). Apparently, the meter reader made a notation that I wasn't home and my account was never opened.
When I moved out of this apt in early December 2011, I called Washington Gas to cancel my gas. They noted that I never had an account. I set one up retroactively to be billed from early August to 01 December 2011. I am now receiving bills from early August through the present. I am told I am responsible for all the charges because I never called to cancel my service. The thing is, Washington Gas would have no one to bill for this service unless I had called them and set up the service retroactively. I contacted the current tenant and he apparently called Washington Gas to set up his own service. However, Washington Gas is saying that I'm still responsible for gas at this place from early August to 03 Feb 2012, when the new tenant called to set up service.
How am I responsible for gas that I never used for Dec 2011 and Jan 2012? How am I responsible for another tenant's actions? How can I be expected to pay for something when I couldn't call to cancel the service before I had set it up retroactively? I set up this account retroactively on 05 December. I did not receive a bill from Washington Gas until late January. The bill included all gas usage from early August to the end of January. Now I just got another bill for over $300 for gas service going through early Feb.
I am furious but no one at Washington Gas will even listen to my story. They tell me I am responsible no matter what. Please advise.
