URGENT ADVICE PLEASE..is this illegal....

dmcguire275

Not sure if thisis the right forum, but maybe someone can point me in the right direction.

A couple of years ago i changed from powergen to southern electric on a promise of cheaper bills. (this was not the case in the end) anyhoo powergen sent me a final bill of over £700 pounds. i called them and told them this was wrong, gave them meter readings and they agreed, yet they still tried to withdraw £700 from my account just before xmas. (Not enough funds to cover so just incurred bank charges to boot).
i called powergen again, they apologised. a few weeks later i received a cheque from them for £700. (even though they had not managed to withdraw it from my bank). so I called them SEVERAL times asking if this was correct, they assured me it was and that i could go ahead and cash the cheque.

6 months or so later i received a bill from them asking for £700 i called them they said I had to pay i disagreed. this went on for a few weeks when i eventually agreed to pay back £500 @ £16 a month as this is all i can afford.
I spoke to citizans advice and they said morally powergen were in the wrong but legally they could ask for their money back. so i paid.

I had been paying for over a year £36 a month @ £20 for utility service and £16 to reduce the £500 they think I owed them.
They now want me to pay £74 a month to clear debt (i no longer use them as a service provider as i have moved house). I argued that it was agreed that i would £16 a month for as long as it took because it was their error, they telelady disagreed and is now sending my account to a debt recovery agency. ( they still dont know my new address and never asked for it even though i told them I have moved). i offered to pay £20 a month as this is all i can afford but thats not good enough.

Who is right me or them?
any advice from anyone would be gratefully received.

rachaelc_2

In my job i help people with debt advice and seting up tenancies etc so have had lots of dealing with gas/electricity comps. I would recommend drawing up a fiancial statement of all your incomings and outcomes, and from this show them how much you can 'afford' to pay, if they did wish to take this further for example to court, a judge would take one look at the financial statement and back you up on your payments.

dmcguire275

i AM CURRENTLY WITH CCCS (a debt management organization) so this should not be much of a problem. Although i dont think ishould be paying it back. (morally, or legally for that matter)

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dmcguire275 wrote: »

i AM CURRENTLY WITH CCCS (a debt management organization) so this should not be much of a problem. Although i dont think ishould be paying it back. (morally, or legally for that matter)

Good choice of Debt management organisation, the CCCS is and offers free advice. Most debt management companies charge excessive admin management fees which swallow up what money it is agreed you will give them, thus not making it worthwhile paying them.

SUESMITH_2

my 15 yr old son ordered things off them, hes v internet savvy and no where did it say you would "join" this club etc. had to take him to the bank to cancel his card (they were brilliant with him) etc. and then home to ring trading standards who were v interested in them - unfortunately theyre registered in bermuda and the netherlands so not bound by EU laws. a total scam

dangeroussports

Im not sure if it is completely illegal but I must admit I have never heard of them before and never intend on using them. Whats interesting is that a company making out as they were part of Benson & Hedges were trying a similar trick like this about 10 years ago.

I hope this has been of a benefit to someone.

Thank you very much bye bye

chrisb374

Just spoken to VistaPrint Rewards on the '0800 028 8251' number. The American customer service girl I spoke to said "as soon as you click to view the £10 reward they offer you, you are automatically signed up for £9.95 per month rewards scheme even if you choose the 'no' option to refuse subscription."

This strikes me as being slightly illegal?

My membership has now been cancelled and apparently I'll get a full refund (after reading all your comments I won't hold my breath for it).

mhairib_69

I have just called the number as advised and they cancelled both of the apparent memberships that I had signed up to, and arranged a refund - excellent.

mhairib_69

I have just called the '0800 028 8251' number as advised and they cancelled both of the apparent memberships that I had signed up to, and arranged a refund - excellent.:rotfl:

jane19969

I have made several phonecalls and emailed vp rewards to no avail. I just keep getting fobbed off. I cancelled my membership in May and recieved a confermation email to that effect. The person I spoke to told me it may take up to three months for them to refund me :mad: why? it didn't take them any time at all to effectivly steal my money. I've recieved nothing back and its now August!!!!!
any ideas?
Im so sick of being fobbed off