We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
E.on Bill Not my but Defaulted Account. E.oN Wont Help!!!
Comments
-
Hi amychristina
I'm sorry the advisors you spoke to were so unpleasant. This certainly isn't acceptable.
In cases where responsibility for energy usage changes, we need to be advised so the original account can be closed down and a final bill issued.
Following this, a new account needs to be opened for the person taking over responsibility for the ongoing energy usage.
In your situation, you need to let us know who is responsible for the energy being used at the property and from when. A Tenancy Agreement will help here. Details from your letting agent/landlord might also help.
We've a specialist House Moves team who deal exclusively with this type of transfer. These are the guys to talk to.
Hope this helps point you in the right direction.
Malc
Thank you for a reply. No this is not acceptable and did not appreciate being spoken to when I am a paying customer.
I was not passed onto these people, I was merely shouted at and told that I could not be helped.
I would advise re thinking your 'policies' as it has been sought for legal advice that it is not acceptable to start putting bills in my name when I do not know as I am then responsible for money I do not know about. I feel strongly about how I should have been contacted to be informed about this, as it shows someone can clearly pass on my name and begin a bill and account in my name.
Fraud? Identity fraud?
Thank you.0 -
amychristina wrote: »I feel strongly about how I should have been contacted to be informed about this, as it shows someone can clearly pass on my name and begin a bill and account in my name.
Fraud? Identity fraud?
Thank you.
They have contacted you - they sent you a bill in your name!
You can write and say you are not solely responsible for the bill and name the others in the house.
What you cannot do is tell them you take no responsibility for the bill as you, and everyone else in the house, have entered a legally binding deemed contract by using gas/electricity.
However it won't make any difference as you are all 'jointly and severally liable' for all of the bill.
Do I detect you are not from the UK? I have lived abroad in several countries and a telephone call from someone else was sufficient to put the various utilities in my name.0 -
They have contacted you - they sent you a bill in your name!
You can write and say you are not solely responsible for the bill and name the others in the house.
What you cannot do is tell them you take no responsibility for the bill as you, and everyone else in the house, have entered a legally binding deemed contract by using gas/electricity.
However it won't make any difference as you are all 'jointly and severally liable' for all of the bill.
Do I detect you are not from the UK? I have lived abroad in several countries and a telephone call from someone else was sufficient to put the various utilities in my name.
I would/will take full responsibility for the bills obviously, however they should tell me when they are putting them in my name to check I agree as I am then responsible for the money. My details should not have been passed on and because they have eon should have contacted me and checked this to be the case and I agree to it.
No I am from the UK. Your advice is not helpful as you do not understand the situation, the rudeness of eon and what I am trying to sort out. Thank you anyway though.0 -
I just don't understand why YOU would let other people take their name off a bill, it;s obvious that you should check or refuse until all parties agree... Also it was the landlords agents that setup the account IN my name so there is another point.
It's showing as 6 months on my credit report, however I believe that is slightly inaccurate as you have my bill dates wrong as you have on the bill until November and We where only at the property until July, I would agree with other posts VERY unhelpful people on the phone. And to be honest a con of a company. I will NEVER use them ever again.
I don't see how it's late payments either, because Last corespondance on my account was E.oN where going to look into something and get back to me, but never have.0 -
seven7two2 wrote: »I just don't understand why YOU would let other people take their name off a bill, it;s obvious that you should check or refuse until all parties agree... Also it was the landlords agents that setup the account IN my name so there is another point.
.
OK take this situation.
You move out, phone the company and tell them Cardew is moving in.
What are the company supposed to do now?
If they write to me, I don't reply because I don't want my name on bill.
Are you lying about moving out?
Someone has to pay - so carry on making you responsible for bill?
So come on, what is your solution?0 -
Over the years we have had dozens of similar cases like yours - mainly in Student houses.
If you have used any of the energy in the house, you are 'jointly and severally liable' for all of the bill - as is anyone else in the house; you have entered a legally binding 'deemed contract'.
It doesn't really matter if it is your name is on the bill, or it is addressed to 'The Occupier' they can chase anyone for the whole amount. The reprehensible actions of the guy who moved out have simply given the Utility company a name of one of the occupants.
On the question of the Utility Company putting a name on an account after a telephone call; what else can the company do in this situation?
The name on millions of accounts are changed each year; the vast majority without a problem. If I ring up and give the company a name to be on the account, how does a company ascertain that is the correct information?
Would it be reasonable to expect that individual to obtain a legal affidavit?
Whilst I broadly acknowledge what you are saying here surely if a new customer is identified there is a duty upon the supplier to contact that customer with terms & conditions etc "within a reasonable timescale" rather than just rely on the so called "deemed contract" for ever more0 -
amychristina wrote: »Thank you for a reply. No this is not acceptable and did not appreciate being spoken to when I am a paying customer.
I was not passed onto these people, I was merely shouted at and told that I could not be helped.
I would advise re thinking your 'policies' as it has been sought for legal advice that it is not acceptable to start putting bills in my name when I do not know as I am then responsible for money I do not know about. I feel strongly about how I should have been contacted to be informed about this, as it shows someone can clearly pass on my name and begin a bill and account in my name.
Fraud? Identity fraud?
Thank you.
I can see your line of thought - upto a point - though unfortunately legislation does not identify what the "reasonable" timescale is.
Given that you knew he'd moved, the buill had been in his name etc I do however wonder who you thought was going to be on the account / paying whilst you continued to use the energy?0 -
OK take this situation.
You move out, phone the company and tell them Cardew is moving in.
What are the company supposed to do now?
If they write to me, I don't reply because I don't want my name on bill.
Are you lying about moving out?
Someone has to pay - so carry on making you responsible for bill?
So come on, what is your solution?
How about, upon learning the bill payer is leaving (or has left) the supplier writes to the newly named occupier or where unknown "the occupier" immediately, asking the occupier to contact the supplier to arrange for continued supply arrangements (or transfer elsewhere) and stating that if nothing is heard within say 14 days they will unfortunately be forced to disconnect supply until such time as an identified occupier and contract is in place0 -
How about, upon learning the bill payer is leaving (or has left) the supplier writes to the newly named occupier or where unknown "the occupier" immediately, asking the occupier to contact the supplier to arrange for continued supply arrangements (or transfer elsewhere) and stating that if nothing is heard within say 14 days they will unfortunately be forced to disconnect supply until such time as an identified occupier and contract is in place
There is a contract in place - a deemed contract. Nobody signs a contract these days.
In practice it takes months to disconnect gas and electricity as there are hoops for the Utility company to jump through. Many weeks before a 28 day disconnection notice can be served.
In many cases it requires access to the property to disconnect, - thus court order and baliffs to get this to happen.
Obviously it is wrong that the outgoing occupant names the new account holder without their permission, but how often does this happen? Particularly as there is normally no incentive for them to provide false information.
If they fail to give a name for the new occupant, the bill is sent to 'The Occupier' which is what happens in the majority of cases.
Under the 'Jointly and Severally' liable provision the situation hasn't really changed for the remaining occupants
It is also pertinent that when the occupant moved out, the remaining occupants should have contacted the Utility company with the current meter readings.0 -
There is a contract in place - a deemed contract. Nobody signs a contract these days.
In practice it takes months to disconnect gas and electricity as there are hoops for the Utility company to jump through. Many weeks before a 28 day disconnection notice can be served.
In many cases it requires access to the property to disconnect, - thus court order and baliffs to get this to happen.
Obviously it is wrong that the outgoing occupant names the new account holder without their permission, but how often does this happen? Particularly as there is normally no incentive for them to provide false information.
If they fail to give a name for the new occupant, the bill is sent to 'The Occupier' which is what happens in the majority of cases.
Under the 'Jointly and Severally' liable provision the situation hasn't really changed for the remaining occupants
It is also pertinent that when the occupant moved out, the remaining occupants should have contacted the Utility company with the current meter readings.
But - even with a "deemed contract" the customer is supposed to be made aware of the terms.
Seemingly this customer wasn't & is complaining about that.
The aim obviously wouldn't in reality be to disconnect but to establish contact. If no one wants to make contact / set up an account the supplier should surely have concerns / grounds for disconnecting until they do
I agree with you that somebody should also have contacted the supplier & set up an account if they were going to continue using the supply - hence my question above0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 355K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.7K Spending & Discounts
- 247.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.7K Life & Family
- 262.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards