nPower problems

sc3499a

I've just moved into a new rented house. nPower have sent "The Occupier" a bill for a period prior to when I moved in plus about 10 days of my tenancy.

I rang them and told them I disputed the bill because there is absolutely no way I could have run up the bill they've sent me in just 10 days (it works out to something like £5k a year). I spoke to them and they said they agreed with me and to send through a copy of my tenancy agreement, which I did.

I rang them again today because I've been sent a "Telemessage" threatening bailiffs and a CCJ and offered to pay the amount that was FAIR for my usage but they said as they hadn't got all the paperwork they need off me, they can't accept payment unless it's in full - apparently the tenancy agreement which I was asked to send through isn't enough and I need to send more proof to them. I have no objection to paying what I used, but I refuse to fork out for a large bill for electricity I didn't use.

So, two questions really...

1) If bailiffs do come knocking next week, what rights do they have - considering that the bills are addressed to "The Occupier" and not in my name. Can they take items even though the bill is not in my name?
2) If it goes to court, can a CCJ be issued against me & will it hurt my credit file, again because the bill is not in my name?

As I said above, I have absolutely no issue with paying what I used but I refuse to pay this hefty bill for usage which was not mine (I actually don't understand how they can bill so much for a house which was empty either...). The people on the phone have even agreed that I couldn't have run up this bill. I have sent back all the paperwork they have requested but they keep moving the goalposts and deciding I need to send them even more paperwork. I really am absolutely fuming at the moment!!

Premier_2

Unless they are court bailiffs with an entry warrant, they have no rights at all. (as long as you don't let them in!)

If they have the appropriate entry warrant, they could come in and disconnect your supply!

If the matter goes to court to recover money claimed as owed, the summons will need to be in your name. (which presumably they now know)

I suggest you get talking with nPower to try and resolve this matter rather than trying to fight it.

sc3499a

Premier wrote: »

If they have the appropriate entry warrant, they could come in and disconnect your supply!

I'm not supplied by nPower, so I'm assuming they can't do this anyway?

Premier wrote: »

If the matter goes to court to recover money claimed as owed, the summons will need to be in your name. (which presumably they now know)

I suggest you get talking with nPower to try and resolve this matter rather than trying to fight it.

Trust me, I'm trying. I've rung them repeated times, written to them three times and I'm still no closer to getting this resolved.

Premier_2

sc3499a wrote: »

I'm not supplied by nPower, so I'm assuming they can't do this anyway?
...

If nPower believe (and can prove to the satisfaction of the court) that they supply the energy to the address in question, they can and will.

If you don't think they supply the energy, why did you even send them a copy of your tenancy agreement?

sc3499a

Premier wrote: »

If nPower believe (and can prove to the satisfaction of the court) that they supply the energy to the address in question, they can and will.

If you don't think they supply the energy, why did you even send them a copy of your tenancy agreement?

Because they were the suppliers of the house before I moved in. There was then a small delay before the switch to my current providers took place, so they supplied me with electricity for about 10 days. The bill they sent me covers about a month and a half. This obviously covers a lot of time when I wasn't in the property and, to my knowledge, the property was empty. Every time I have spoken to them, they have said that if I can prove that I moved in when I said I did (ie send them my tenancy agreement and all the other bumph they are asking for), then we can come to an agreement whereby I pay for what I used.

They know that they don't supply this particular house with energy any more, hence why I don't think they can come in and disconnect the electricity.

Clear as mud really

I'm mainly concerned that both myself and my partner have excellent credit histories and I don't want them ruined by nPower. As I said, I am more than happy to pay what I've used however if you work out the time in the property versus their bill, my annual electricity bill would be around £5k - and no, I don't live in a mansion!

Magentasue

When you moved into the property, who did you give meter readings to and were they recorded on your tenancy agreement? If not, were they witnessed by landlord/letting agent?

Vestra

What's happened is when the previous occupier moved out the accounts when into the name of the occupier from when their account closed. Npower were never informed of you moving in and when the change of supply happened they closed down "The occupiers" account. They sent the bill to "The occupier" you now need to prove to them you are not liable for the whole period by showing your tenancy agreement etc. Quite simple.

lee12_2

Hi did you phone the utility's with readings on the day you got your keys? if yes then tell them you want a correct bill using the reading you gave them the day you move in. And get them to contact the letting agent for the previous tenants new address.Also might be worth finding out if the previous tenant phoned a leaving reading to them or not, they should of.
We had a lot of problems with NPwoer a few years ago regarding billing us with incorrect readings in the end after 6mths of getting nowhere with them we wrote to energy watch witch is now part of consumer direct and got it sorted out ,even they had troubles but they got there in the end.
First thing we did after it was sorted we changed to Southern electric and have had no problems.

Bedsdriver

Good luck with npower, their customer services are atrocious. I could not get them to accept that they were wrong over an eighteen month period.

Turns out that, like you, the previous occupier had not paid a bill in over 16 months and they were trying to get the money from me. Even appointed a debt collector.

Keep copies of every letter sent/received. Take the name of anyone you speak to with details of the time and date.

Make sure you have a complaint reference.

Ask for the complaints procedure leaflet and make sure you follow it to the letter. (I wrote three times asking for this leaflet and fourteen months later eventually got it.)

Make sure your complaint is being dealt with/passed to the executive complaints department.

Refer your complaint to the ombudsman once you have exhausted the procedure and in any event, before nine months have passed.

Good Luck you will need it.

anniecave

Were you asked to take a meter reading when the change of supplier took place? Has this meter reading been correctly recorded by both suppliers?

If you didn't take a reading (for example because a meter reader came round instead) have you checked that the meter reading they have used is correct and consistent with what the meter reads now?