Electricity mistake - help!

Poo-snout

I have a problem: I have just found out that I haven't been paying for my electricity for 2 years! I switched to Sainsburys Electric (who use Scottish Power) 2 years ago but something went wrong with my switch and no-one notified me to say it hadn't been properly activated. Sainsburys admit now that they messed up by not sending my new account paperwork to Scottish Power for 2 years. I assumed I was paying, because I had arranged a direct debit, but now they suddenly want me to pay up. The bill was the first notice I had that anything had gone wrong.

They have agreed to let me pay installments, but this means that for the next 2 years, I will effectively be paying double my usual electricity bills and I'm not sure I can afford it. When I complained that this was entirely their mistake and that they should take financial responsibility for it, they offered to take off 15% of the bill. But that's just their standard placating amount. Should I push for more? Should they write-off the bill, seeing as it was all their fault? Or should we go halves, because I did receive a service from them but I also shouldn't be penalised for the next two years for their mistake? What do people think?
Thanks

Voyager2002

Basically, you have the use of the money for two years (and the opportunity to earn interest on it, or avoid paying interest on money you might otherwise have borrowed) and now you are getting a 15 per cent reduction on what you owe. And they have agreed (quite rightly) to give you time to pay so that this will not come as a financial bomb-shell. You are so lucky: I wish that something like that would happen to me. I suggest you accept the discount with gratitude, and make sure you arrange a repayment schedule that is convenient for you.

clark1982

although they have made an error, you should be grateful with the 15% discount and the option to spread the bill over 2yrs. They won't write-off the debt, as its still valid and you owe it. Its quite amazing that for 2 yrs you have'nt known your incomings and outgoings, I feel your as much to blame as them, as you obviously have no financial managment.

oldwiring

clark1982 wrote:

although they have made an error, you should be grateful with the 15% discount and the option to spread the bill over 2yrs. They won't write-off the debt, as its still valid and you owe it. Its quite amazing that for 2 yrs you have'nt known your incomings and outgoings, I feel your as much to blame as them, as you obviously have no financial managment.

Wouldn' t like to be as categorical as to say 'no financial management', but when I read an OP like this thread's, I do wonder what lies deeper in the poster's organisational abilities and whether assessment and counselling is another need.

Poo-snout

Thanks for the advice everyone, though I think some of the criticism is a little harsh. I am usually really good with my finances and I think it's worth remembering that this error came about as a result of me changing to a cheaper electricity supplier, which implies I have at least some level of interest in my finances.

I did indeed check my statements every month and, because there was a new direct debit to Sainsburys appearing every month at the right time, I assumed that was my electricity payment to Sainsbury Electric. Turns out it was actually to a phone company but it displays as Sainsburys on my bills because I get nectar points for it. So for all that time I no reason to suspect anything was wrong because they never notified me to say any different. Be fair, you would never expect 2 companies to provide you with a service for 2 years without realising that you're not paying for it!

I'm grateful for the advice, but not so grateful for the unnecessarily snide comments from people whom I can only assume have been fortunate enough to never make any kind of mistake in their lives. I hope people are less judgemental should you ever need their help.

oldwiring

[QUOTE=Poo-snout.#1..which implies I have at least some level of interest in my finances.


#2 I did indeed check my statements every month and, because there was a new direct debit to Sainsburys appearing every month at the right time, I assumed that was my electricity payment to Sainsbury Electric.
#3 I'm grateful for the advice, but not so grateful for the unnecessarily snide comments from people whom I can only assume have been fortunate enough to never make any kind of mistake in their lives. I hope people are less judgemental should you ever need their help.

[/QUOTE]

Comment#1: My remarks were not directed at you in particular, but come from time in banking and IR


Comment #2: Yes, it must have been muddling but were the amounts debited what you expected to see? I'd have thought that the amount)s) of the power DDs would have been agreed, Yes, our expectations of companies are rightfully high but peanuts and monkeys come readily to mind!

Comment #3: I personally was not being judgmental, but being straight is not a bad thing. I sincerely hope all is straightened out permanently, Regards to you