ex partner refusing to pay bill?

[ConfusedMum]

asking on behlaf of my partner.
he received a (british) gas bill around 2months ago from a property he rented with his ex partner around 8months before the bill was received - partner said at the time of living in the property he phoned several times to ask how much was owing and was told on several occasions that there was no amount due. suppose it doesn't help when serial numbers on meters don't match up and different numbers from different 'customer service advisors' are given etc, but *sigh* that is the joys of british gas, i'm sure.
the bill is only in his name, although when him and his ex partner rented (privately) her name was was on the tenancy agreement etc etc and obviously she lived there fulltime/permanently.
the bill was for �600 and odd just for gas - for only 6months and for a 1bedroom apartment, pretty huge but british gas have said although it's way too high for just a 1bedroom apartment they can't do anything, and of course he had a 'dispute' as they call it with them over it and they were still adamant he had to pay it.

obviously he got back in touch with his ex to try sort it out,she agreed to pay half.my partner paid his half and thought she had paid hers(a text saying her dad had done it was received),checked with british gas and they have said no payments from her have been received.he texted asking her what was happening and if everything was ok and she said she wasn't paying it,that it's just his name on the bill and she is seeking legal advice.she then sent another text saying she will pay it she just wanted to make him sweat (yes,i don't udnerstand the point in that either?!)after that she phoned him up and they talked about it and to quote 'of course i'll pay i'm not a c*nt' after the phone call she sent another text again saying she wasn't going to pay it - again,idon't see the point? but yeah, as you can probally tell she's just messing everyone around.

[ConfusedMum]

*continued*
partner told british gas about his exgirlfriend living with him at the time, but as bill only in his name they said they can't add her to that bill but a note has been made to the account and they are awaiting her payment.
clearly we all need this bill sorting out, is there any laws etc in place that say she has to pay her share of the bill, as she was living with him at the time and the tenacy agreement is proof of that surly?

any help at all would be great. obviously we don't have an extra �300 and odd lying around.
thank you
xXx

[bednobs]

your best bet would be to make a repayment schedule with them. It is his bill in his name, therefore he is legally liable

[ConfusedMum]

so although she lived there and has gone backwards and forwards saying she will pay, she wont pay blah de blah - there is nothing my partner can do? :(
thanks
x

[bednobs]

no, nothing. The account WAS able to be put in both names when it was open but he chose not to. Who is not to say they had an arrangement whereby he paid all the bills but she paid the rent?
or that she did all the cooking and cleaning as long as he paid the bills? British gas dont know and dont care about the ins and outs of who paid for what or who has promised to pay for what, just that it's his name on the bill, and he is the one they will be chasing (possibly through the courts) for the money

[tiggertan]

Unfortunately bednobs is bob on. I got stung a few years back on rent deposit, payments and a 1k phone bill (never go gaurantaor!)
If your name is on it, it is your responsibility.