Scottish Power - Dont Go !!

thrombanks

On Friday last, out of the blue, I got emails from Scottish Power imploring me not to leave them .... "Please don't go" they said. Eventually I got through to them be mail (you can forget their HelpDesk by phone they just say they are too busy and cut you off).

Anyway they informed me that they had instructions, from som undisclosed supplier presumably, that I was leaving them on the 24th Feb (Gas) and 25th Feb (Electricity). I have NOT authorised any switch so I am totally bemused by this. In the telcom industry this is called "slamming" I believe but I have never come across it in the utilities industry.

Has anyone else come across this sort of thing ?

Joyful

It's called an Erroneous Transfer if you have not given permission to change suppliers. Your Supplier will be able to tell you which company has applied. You then need to ask for proof that you either agreed on the doorstep, in a shop, over the telephone or any other way. If they cannot give this to you they can send the accounts back to your current supplier as if you had never left.

If you find that someone from your property has agreed to move suppliers you will then need to stay with them for 28 days minimum and action a contract to take you back to your current supplier( if that is your wish).

thrombanks

Scottish Power tell me they have referred it to their [FONT=&quot]"back office team, who will attempt to object to this transfer from going through"

No one at this property has authorised a switch , I know that for sure.
How do these things happen????
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Cardew

thrombanks wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]No one at this property has authorised a switch , I know that for sure.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]How do these things happen????[/FONT]

You haven't had anyone look at your meters by any chance?

It is not unknown for doorstep salesment to forge details on an application form.

thrombanks

We have recently had our meters read , I didn't deal with them as I was out , but my wife said the meter reader seemed genuine.

What bothers me is that no one has contacted me directly from another company and I know I have not signed or authorised a switch.

Having Googled "Erroneous Transfer" I can see it's not an uncommon practice.

It's very disturbing ... and I am very annoyed about it.

Cardew

thrombanks wrote: »

I know I have not signed or authorised a switch.

Oh yes you did!!!;) - panto season has not yet finished!

Seriously, although it is unlikely to have happened - you wouldn't be the first to have been conned in that fashion.

Check with Scottish Power if they have recently received meter readings!

thrombanks

Cardew wrote: »

Oh yes you did!!!;) - panto season has not yet finished!

Check with Scottish Power if they have recently received meter readings!

Oh you can bet on it ...

kjsmith7

It's always sad when I see that this has happened. It causes so many problems (with set up Direct Debits, tariffs, etc.) and it's very annoying. It takes roughly 6 weeks to leave a supplier to go to another, and that's supposed to stop this from happening, but a lot of the time current suppliers only send the 'please don't leave' letter/e-mail/phone call when it's too late to stop the transfer.

Hopefully you'll be able to find out exactly what has happened. I know I've seen quite a few instances when it was merely done in error (for instance, the address given was '5' instead of '5a' or '51') but sometimes it must have happened maliciously somewhere down the line!

If it is too late to stop the transfer, you can either stay with the supplier you have moved to (and obviously come to some sort of 'arrangement') for the 6 weeks it takes you to move back, or you can sometimes be pushed straight back as though you never left. However, that can take a couple of months to get your accounts fully working again. Either way, take lots of meter readings Hope that helps!

thrombanks

Just to bring this saga up todate. I now have a direct line to the customer care representative at Scottish Power dealling with my case and I have to say she has been very helpful.

The company that has "hijacked" my Gas and Electric supplies is E.ON (formerly PowerGen) and I have today spoken with their customer care department who admit that they have made a mistake.

When I then talked about compensation for my distress and inconvienience they became very defensive and seem to think that by returning my supplies to Scottish Power " at no cost to yourself" as they put it. I am afraid that answer ratcheted up my anger :mad: and I demanded to speak to a manager who repeated the same arguement.

I have now written to E.ON quoting the [FONT=&quot]Power Supply (Compensation for Erroneous Transfer) Act 2004 which says that they are legally obligated to compensate me. I wait for their answer and offer with interest.
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Cardew

thrombanks wrote: »

The company that has "hijacked" my Gas and Electric supplies is E.ON (formerly PowerGen) and I have today spoken with their customer care department who admit that they have made a mistake.

[FONT=&quot].
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Are you any clearer how the mistake was made?

thrombanks

They would not discuss it with me but it was obvious when I gave my name and address that they realised what had happened. They were apologetic but it's been a real hassle and my wife has been very worried by it all.