ZEST 4 in administration!

lorraine_9

I've just received my letter this morning, with my final bill, When I rang Zest 4 to give them a final reading they were in administration that afternoon.

Do I still pay the bill or ring British Gas to query the bill? I have cancelled the DD so they have to contact me to organise payment anyway.

Suggestions appreciated
Lorraine

Ignite

Lorraine, contact the administrators. I've posted the number a few messages earlier.

Andy

Ignite

I've just had a chat with Energy Watch the gas and electricity watchdog. They've told me that as far as they know at the moment, we should get our money back as Zest 4 had their licence revoked and that is why they had to go into administration, and it is not to do with a financial meltdown. I'll believe this when I see it. They have also given me the number of British Gas who are dealing with all of the transfers. It is 0845 606 2820 and quote Zest 4. Just tried the number and they have a main computer failure for their call centre so call back later is the message. Their normal hours are 8.30am to 8pm M-F and 8.30am to 6pm Saturday.

Andy

mhendo

Hi Andy,

I think EnergyWatch have got it all wrong. If you read my post with the OfGem (regulators) documents, it says the licence was revoked due to financial difficulties, and the Administrators called OfGem to advise that Zest4 were in administration.

If you read the first couple of para's of the 2nd document, you'll see the reasons for the licence being revoked.

Basically, Zest4 advised OfGem of financial difficulties in late Jan, and were seeking a buyer for the company. On 03/02/06, a court order placed them in administration. The reason the licence gets revoked, is because the Administrators advised OfGem it would not be able to sell/transfer the portfolio to any interested party. As such the licence is revoked by OfGem so they can initiate the SoLR (Supplier of Last Resort), to transfer the electricity acocunts to another supplier as quickly as possible to avoid interuption to service.


Thanks for the British Gas transfers contact number

Ignite

mhendo, I think you are right in terms of the situation. I was passing on what Energy Watch told me hence the I'll believe it when I see it statement. It is very worrying that the consumer watchdog has the wrong info and is telling people that they will get their money back though.

Andy

mhendo

I don't tend to bother with "watchdog" organisations. Tend to go straight to the horse's mouth, so to speak. I doubt OfGem will take any queries from the public, but the information is readily available on their web-site.

I agree, you'd think EnergyWatch would know what their talking about - obviously not! LOL.

EnergyWatch haven't replicated the information OfGem have published, on their own web-site. I couldn't see any mention of Zest4 in administration on the EnergyWatch web-site.

I just wish those that do have credit with Zest4, the best of luck getting your refund. I've not dealt with a company in administration before, but I doubt it will be an easy task getting your money back.

dave_dph

mhendo wrote:

I just wish those that do have credit with Zest4, the best of luck getting your refund. I've not dealt with a company in administration before, but I doubt it will be an easy task getting your money back.

I received my final bill today and I owe them £16.91 which they say will be taken by DD on the 20th Feb. I cancelled my DD on Thursday evening which normally goes out on the 15th of each month, but having now received this bill I have re-instated the DD so that they can take the outstanding amount.

I just hope they don't debit my normal £42 on the 15th prior to taking the final payment on the 20th.

Ignite

I would keep the DD cancelled and let them contact you for a payment. At least then you don't have the hastle of getting your bank to refund the DD.

horizon

Since my post this morning I have read my meter.

It appears that their geusstimate of my usage was way out, and I have used up all my credit and a couple of quid more on top.

It is therefore likely that I owe them around a fiver.
I have cancelled the DD so no more monies can leave my account.
I will wait and see if they contact me for any monies owed.

My letter doesn't mention who my supply will be transfered to.
I think I'll wait until contacted, and enjoy some free electricity in the mean time !!

koru

Luckily, it is only a month ago that I told Zest 4 they might as well refund the £80 credit balance I had built up. So, my final bill shows I owe them, which is fine.

I am actually quite pleased about this, because it gave me the impetus to check out the best deals, which I hadn't done for a year. I found that for me Scottish Power's capped rate deal is one of the cheapest right now, and that's before any price rises. The cap means the price can't go up for a year and a half, which seems great, given the huge rises that seem to be on the cards. And, thanks to a post at the beginning of this thread, I get £46 cashback. (Cheers!)