Fraudulent Switching?

Waxy_2

I've recently received an email from my current supplier (Scottish Power) saying "sorry to hear your leaving us". Needless to say I was surprised as I haven't requested any switch. After running around in cirlces on the phone and discovering that my current supplier can't reject the switch on my say so despite going through all their security checks (ridiculous system). I've found out that British Gas are trying to stealing my account and won't cancel it until I provide various meter serial numbers and so on to verify who I am and where I live.

As well as the above I have received a few calls to my mobile from a +8444777802 (Vietnam) number which, google tells me, is scam callers posing as Scottish Power call centres to get info off you. (I never pick up foreign numbers thankfully).

I was just wondering if anyone else has suffered the same recently and whether Scottish Power is leaking customers personal data quicker than the Exxon Valdez shed oil. Also if any one has any advice on who I can complain to about British Gas I'd be eager to hear.

Cheers,

Waxy

Pssst

Dont believe what the power co's say. Fraudulent switching of customers is rife and is carried out by unscrupulous commission hungry salespeople who would rob their own mothers if they thought they could get away with it.

In particular, prepayment customers need to check that the corporate ID on their gascard matches with whom they believe is their gas supplier. For eg,if you think you are supplied by Npower,then you should have an Npower gascard.

Having said that,there may be circumstances in which you have a different coloured gascard but as far as accounting is concerned,everything is above board.

If anyone needs to clarify who their registered gas supplier is they need to contact Xoserve on 0870 6081524

It would be useful if you have your meter serial number when you call.


Xoserve is a central database which is the repository for all metering/shipper info.

Typo

Waxy wrote: »

I've recently received an email from my current supplier (Scottish Power) saying "sorry to hear your leaving us". Needless to say I was surprised as I haven't requested any switch. After running around in cirlces on the phone and discovering that my current supplier can't reject the switch on my say so...

This hasn't happened to me recently, but it did happen when I bought my house 10 years ago (Sep 98). I was livid.

The previous owners were on British Gas. A month after I moved in I received a letter from BG just like your email. Somehow, Midland Gas were taking over & they insisted there was a signature to prove it. However, they were not able to show me the signed document, apparently. The previous owners confirmed that they had not signed any such thing. But I was unable to reverse it.

It got worse when a bill arrived, indicating that I was on some kind of higher "non-contracted" tariff due to not having signed a contract myself. What a farce. I made calls from time to time for *months* to try to sort it out. Eventually one of Midland Gas's staff agreed to look through it properly, adjust my bills to a normal tariff, and I changed supplier. Fast.

At the time I figured it had to be a scam... perhaps a door-to-door gas salesmen noticing the house had just been sold & falsely signing an agreement themself for the commision. Who knows...

Premier_2

The Erroneous Transfer Charter

The ETCC was set up due to the large number of erroneous transfers which take place in the gas and electricity industry. Under the Erroneous Transfer Charter you can contact either the new or old supplier in order to resolve the complaint. The allocated supplier (new or old) is obligated (under the Charter) to liaise with the other supplier to reach a resolution to the complaint.
The contacted supplier should send you a letter within 5 working days of the contact. The supplier should also explain why the transfer took place. You should also be provided with confirmation within 20 days of your contact with the supplier that you will be returned to your old supplier.

http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=geSMGHkj&p_lva=&p_li=&p_faqid=5675&p_redirect=&p_created=1210089293&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01NzksNTc5JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**

Compensation following an Erroneous Transfer

There is no formal compensation available for Erroneous Transfers however the supplier may award a goodwill gesture depending on the circumstances surrounding the complaint.
If you wish to pursue the company for compensation you should be prepared to seek independent legal advice.
As part of the Erroneous Transfer Customer Charter, the supply should be returned to the previous supplier. If the company sends a supply to the incorrect company, they should rectify the problem as soon as humanly possible. There are no compensation agreements for a breach of the ETCC, but the company should seriously consider compensation. There is a voluntary scheme amongst some suppliers which offers £20 compensation. It is not mandatory or enforceable.
If the Erroneous Transfer was caused by a proven forged signature, £250 compensation should be paid to domestic consumers by suppliers who are members of the AES Code of Practice.

http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=geSMGHkj&p_lva=&p_li=&p_faqid=5676&p_redirect=&p_created=1210089333&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01NzksNTc5JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**

Alternatively

If a verbal agreement was made over the telephone, or signed up with a supplier over the Internet, you must be sent clear written confirmation of what has been agreed to. Once again you have seven days from the date you receive the written confirmation to cancel the contract or more if the company says so in their information. When you cancel a contract it is always best to put it in writing and keep a copy of the letter - you might find it useful to send it by a means which requires the letter to be signed for. If you contact the company by telephone, you should make a note of the conversation and who you spoke to.

http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5682&p_created=1210150228&p_sid=geSMGHkj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01NzksNTc5JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

SwanJon

BG are probably asking for the information for legitimate reasons.
(Assuming this wasn't deliberate, they'll be investigating that side too)
It might be a neighbour did want to move and somehow the data gbot mixed up. The meter numbers will help them resolve this.
They'll be able to send you back to SP as if you never left - an erroneous transfer as above.