Scottish Power "Court Proceedings Letter"

Darcyart

I recently had a bill from Scottish Power for my Gas and Electric which was HUGE compaired to the same quarter last year. More than double. The meter reading were actual so I didn't have a problem with that. I hadn't had my central heating on for the majority of the winter to try and save costs and everything else is as energy efficient as possible. More so than last year. I called them to first of all ask why the prices have gone up so much and secondly to explain that I couldn't possibly pay that amount in full and would have to pay a certain amount each month over the next couple of months. I also emailed this to them so that I would have hard evidence that I had spoken to someone.

Firstly I received a phone call after the first couple opf weeks. They stated that I had to pay the full amount straight away otherwise it would lead to court proceedings. I explained that I had already spoken to someone with regards to this. After a few minutes of bickering they still demanded the money there and then.

I then received a letter for a notice of court proceedings and threatening bailiffs. Along with an additional amount of £250 on top. This is after I had made 3 payments in that one month which covered half of the cost.

The bill is less than 2 months old. How can they get away with this threatening behaviour for a start, especially after I had made an agreement to pay them monthly?
I know I am not the only person that has had to deal with this from Scottish Power and think it is absolutely disgusting, especially in these times, that they are scare mongering people like this. Where can I complain about this other than Scottish Power who will obviously do nothing to help.

Also just to make clear I have paid the full amount off now. But I'm disgusted in the way they are treating their customers!!!

KimYeovil

If it is a quarterly bill then you have had three to four months to keep an eye on your meter and put money aside each month (or pay to the account). This is particularly important in winter.

It is good that Scottish Power harass customers who do not bother paying their bills or who use power they can not afford or who do not manage their household budget sensibly.

Of course the computer generated demands are irritating and the lack of co-ordination between one grunt and the next is annoying. But if you manage your household then you never come in to contact with them.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

Although you spoke to someone in the first instance, and followed it up with an email, unless you have in writing that they agreed to delayed payments, you haven't a complaint.

If you pay quarterly you have already had up to 3 months credit and like many any other companies they are simply not prepared to give you an interest free 'loan' for extra months.

If you cannot pay the first winter bill, it is reasonable for them to assume that you will not be able to pay the next quarterly bill.

This entails the company having to go to the expense of fitting pre-pay meters and/or court proceedings.

There is every indication that utility companies are taking a much harder line with customers who default on their debts.

Sorry if that is not the message you wanted.

Magentasue

Darcyart wrote: »

Where can I complain about this other than Scottish Power who will obviously do nothing to help.

I'm not sure you can. Quarterly bills are due within days rather than months and, although you were under the impression SP had accepted your suggestion of a payment plan, it is clear that they hadn't.

Maybe monthly DD payments would suit you better? You'd also get a discount for paying this way.

1carminestocky

If the OP had a phone conversation with Scottish Power that contradicts the action taken since then he has every right to query this with SP. The calls are recorded and can be recalled in order to be listened to again. The only problem I can deduce is it's not entirely clear from the OP's post that an actual *payment arrangement* was made?

sugary

We also suddenly received unusually large bill, seemingly only electric and not gas recordings were being put on their system - for no apparent reason they were continually estimating the gas bill. We were assured we were big users, however several years later we have learnt that they have consistently charged incorrectly, using an imperial formula to calculate bill based on metric readings - they owed us thousands. Even if a meter change was several years ago, ask them to check how bill is being calculated.

Darcyart

KimYeovil wrote: »

It is good that Scottish Power harass customers who do not bother paying their bills or who use power they can not afford or who do not manage their household budget sensibly.

Of course the computer generated demands are irritating and the lack of co-ordination between one grunt and the next is annoying. But if you manage your household then you never come in to contact with them.

Oh I can assure you that I ALWAYS pay my bills ontime and CAN manage my household bills sensibly. The problem this month is that it was a rediculous amount. Combined with my partner being made redundant.

I have NEVER received a letter like this and especially so quickly after receiving the original bill.

I think you have assumed too quickly!!! This is exactly what Scottish Power have done also and it is extremely insulting!!!

Magentasue

sugary wrote: »

Even if a meter change was several years ago, ask them to check how bill is being calculated.

Before you do this, check for yourself.

Although the formula for converting meter units to kwh is a bit complicated, the maths to check whether they're using the correct formula is a doddle.

You need to check your meter first - it it is imperial, it will say cubic feet and if it is metric, it will have cubic metres or the like somewhere.

Now look at your bill or statement. You should be able to see how many meter units are being charged and how many kwh that has been converted to.

If you have an imperial meter, the units should have been multiplied by approx 31 to get kwh.

If you have a metric meter, it will be roughly x11.

Obviously, if you have a metric meter and they think it's imperial, you will be charged roughly three times as much as you should have been. However, if you have an imperial meter and they are only charging you for metric ...

Magentasue

Darcyart wrote: »

.

I have NEVER received a letter like this and especially so quickly after receiving the original bill.

As said, it seems that suppliers are not as slow to respond to non payment as they used to be. I realise that you were under the impression that you had negotiated a payment plan, but this also seems to be less common and suppliers are more likely to want you to pay upfront for your next bill as you reduce the last one.

Lesson to be learned is to watch your meter and be prepared for the bills, especially when prices jump and cold weather sets in.

Fire_Fox

Darcyart wrote: »

I recently had a bill from Scottish Power for my Gas and Electric which was HUGE compaired to the same quarter last year. More than double. The meter reading were actual so I didn't have a problem with that. I hadn't had my central heating on for the majority of the winter to try and save costs and everything else is as energy efficient as possible. More so than last year. I called them to first of all ask why the prices have gone up so much and secondly to explain that I couldn't possibly pay that amount in full and would have to pay a certain amount each month over the next couple of months. I also emailed this to them so that I would have hard evidence that I had spoken to someone.

Firstly I received a phone call after the first couple opf weeks. They stated that I had to pay the full amount straight away otherwise it would lead to court proceedings. I explained that I had already spoken to someone with regards to this. After a few minutes of bickering they still demanded the money there and then.

I then received a letter for a notice of court proceedings and threatening bailiffs. Along with an additional amount of £250 on top. This is after I had made 3 payments in that one month which covered half of the cost.

The bill is less than 2 months old. How can they get away with this threatening behaviour for a start, especially after I had made an agreement to pay them monthly?
I know I am not the only person that has had to deal with this from Scottish Power and think it is absolutely disgusting, especially in these times, that they are scare mongering people like this. Where can I complain about this other than Scottish Power who will obviously do nothing to help.

Also just to make clear I have paid the full amount off now. But I'm disgusted in the way they are treating their customers!!!

Sounds like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. I am guessing you spoke to the customer services department, but have had an automated letter from the collections department?

A couple of years ago I had cause to query my bill with NPower, and was advised that the customer care/ complaints people were weeks behind on their caseload so my letter had not been read. Meanwhile collections was bang up-to-date and had sent my 'debt' to a collector. :mad: Usually if you contact them to say that you are querying the bill they will take a payment and put the remainder on hold temporarily.

Cardew

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Sounds like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. I am guessing you spoke to the customer services department, but have had an automated letter from the collections department?

It is not clear from the OP's posts if verbal agreement to delay payment was obtained.

If the operator agreed on the phone, then clearly the OP has a valid complaint.

However the way the original post was worded - i.e. he/she explained that they "couldn't possibly pay that amount in full and would have to pay a certain amount each month over the next couple of months" - does not signify that SP agreed that course of action.