Company query

Mine both are too. I think that's because legally, the company owns the property. 

Presumably with the notarised document we need for the D visa/residency stating that the company gives us permission to live in the property we could get that changed, but I'm not sure if there's any benefit, like lower bills as a private customer rather than a business customer.

I've heard mixed information on that, so haven't bothered trying to change it.

Depending on your supplier, you may have an uphill struggle to get the bill put in your name. Some electricity companies have a policy that since a company owns the property but rents it out, then they're still supplying a commercial entity, ie a rental business.

On the other hand, you do have the right, as a commercial customer, to choose your supplier. However, the bureaucratic hassle to save a few pennies isn't worth the bother - a single house isn't going to attract a decent tariff and you'd be at the mercy of a volatile market unless you're going to change supplier every few months. BG still has very low electricity costs, so I'd let sleeping dogs lie..

That was pretty much my view, too. We have enough other hassles to deal with. Mostly four-legged -- we currently have ELEVEN kittens making their unauthorised homes in our house and garden!

If the bills seem excessive or I have clear evidence there'll be benefit from trying to change things I might try, but at this stage other things are higher up the list. Our water bills are tiny. Electricity over winter was higher than expected -- a lot of unexplained add-ons at the end of the bill as well as the actual electricity used. I'll see how that goes over future bills.

@janemulberry

Thats pretty much the same as ours. Our water bill is not a lot. I think it was €15 for 4cu and we have been using a lot more water than normal with concrete and mortar mixes. The weird collection for water payment is a monthly challenge. We pay him at his car and because we are a company our bills are a different day and he only turns up on pension day each month. That results in him not always having our facturata 😃  At least I know that I don’t need to change it.

Goodness, that is complicated! And I thought our VIK was antiquated! Getting it changed over from the previous owner's name was a challenge requiring two visits to the VIK office in Toshevo and every bit of paperwork I possessed. But she gave me the new account number in the end and it's possible to pay online on epay or at the post office. 

Our water biils are very straightforward -- x cubes used, x evro due. The electricity bills though are a complete mystery with a bunch of extra charges, not just VAT. I haven't had one yet I thought was excessively high, but it looks like though the water biils are far less than in the UK, the electricity will cost about the same.

My electricity bills were being paid easily by the bank automatically until last month then it stopped so I am assuming I have to restart it annually. Hey ho, getting used to things here is an experience 😂

How frustrating! Yes, it certainly is an experience!

You could alternatively set it up in epay.  Once it's all set up, it's very easy and they email immediately a bill is due.  I haven't had any issues with it in over three years.

I prefer knowing exactly what's happening with my bills  -- after the time British Gas direct debited us 1,100 GBP for a gas bill with no previous warning, in the middle of summer when we use no gas at all. The meter reader had just made up a number!