My Eon Nightmare

vix2000

My energy used to come from Eon. Due to them not reading my meter regularly I went from an account balance hundreds of pounds in credit to being seven hundred pounds in debit from one bill to the next. I called and asked if they had a better tarrif for me as I was disabled and on a low income, and they said all they could do was put me on a list for more regular meter readings. After further research I moved to Southern energy who give 18 months discount of 20% on my bills. I then was bombarded with calls from Eon. They told me I had got to pay seventy five pounds a month to clear my account. I said that I could not possibly do this as my income is one hundred and fifty pounds a week and I was paying southern electric aswell. They said it was non negociable and I had to pay it. Due to not having the money I missed a payment sometime last summer, and again they were ringing up to 8 times a day.

When you answer you get an automated message saying x wants to speak to you and puts you on hold. about 5 minutes later it says 'x is not available' and cuts you off. Hang on, they rang me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, they demanded full payment as I broke the agreement. I was extremely upset and knew I couldnt pay it. My brother rang and explained again that I was disabled and only worked 16hrs a week. They said they would (grudgingly) re-instate the payment plan but I had to pay sixty two pounds twenty six pence a month. He tried to get it lowered to an amount I could actually afford but they would not listen and said their company policy was that all accounts must be paid in 10 months. He has been helping me pay this debt as he knew it was worrying me. I now believe they were lying as I just read a thread on here where the poster was told she had to pay in 12 months.

In december he could not afford to give me anything towards the payment with it being christmas. I had to cancel 3 standing orders and eon was one. I was also in the process of changing my bank account to A&L from HBOS to save money on charges, so I sent the payment on 9th Jan from my new account as soon as my dla came in. Since christmas I have been getting about 8 calls a day from eon but I couldn't face speaking to them as I know how forceful they are. As soon as I could afford the payment I sent them an email explaining that I had changed accounts but the payment had now been sent and that as I have been paying religiously every month I think 8 calls a day abit excessive. Today I got the following reply:-

I have detailed below the most recent transactions on your account. As you can see from this there has been a balance outstanding for some time on the account and payments following an agreed arrangement have been missed, therefore payment is required in full immediately. Please contact me on 0845 302 3812 to make this payment.


I have briefly spoken to CAB regarding this, and am waiting an appointment, but would like anyones advice or similar experiences on this. Thanks.

vix2000

just bumping. Can anyone tell me where I stand? I have just this minute opened a letter from them and they are threatening to pass my account to a debt collection agency and take legal action, to result in a ccj and charge me legal costs if I don't pay in full. My december payment was due 24 dec and i paid it on 9 january. Is this reasonable for them to do this?

Andy_WSM

vix2000 wrote: »

My december payment was due 24 dec and i paid it on 9 january. Is this reasonable for them to do this?

What, to call in a debt after you broke the payment agreement more than once? Of course it's reasonable.

PennyForThem_2

Hi

You seem to be in a bit of a pickle, OP. If it was me then I would contact the citizens advice bureau, but first I would set out for them clearly and honestly with dates and amounts exactly what happened on paper.

Tey may be able to negotiate a payment plan for both companies.

vix2000

Thanks for the help Andy? I don't need a payment plan for Southern Electric. I would not need one at all if Eon had ever bothered reading my meter. CAB have already told me that eon should not be pressurising people to pay more than they can afford but this was before I recieved the threatening letter. I have always said that I will pay them every penny and have paid twice in the following month when I have missed, meaning that one week of my income that month was on fuel. If they had not demanded such a high payment in the first place I would not have had to miss a payment at all. If you think that they are being reasonable Andy I hope you're never in this position. They are not very nice or helpful at all.

Andy_WSM

vix2000 wrote: »

If you think that they are being reasonable Andy I hope you're never in this position. They are not very nice or helpful at all.

I, like many on here, read my own meters on a regular basis, so know exactly how much I owe and how my payments are standing up at any time.

You asked if others thought they are being reasonable and I happen to think they are. Sorry it's not the answer you wanted to hear.

vix2000

You are lucky you can access your meter. As I said previously I was on Eons list for regular readings as I am disabled and cannot access my meters myself as they are down steps outside. Unfortunately I was only put on the list after Eon had estimated my bills for 18 months, hence the debt. As I said I am not trying to get out of paying for my fuel, if that is what you are implying, and I accept that in your opinion I should just pay up. Believe me if I had the money I would just to be rid of Eon.

Just to add, having checked my payment history, the first offence was not a missed payment, but I was told I had to pay over 10 months, so I paid a tenth of the outstanding balance. Eon had rounded it up so there was a 74p shortfall resulting in neverending calls and threatening letters. So this is actually my first missed payment.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi vix2000,

Just a couple of questions, did you contact E.ON to advise them that you were receiving estimated bills?

Did you advise that you were unable to read the meter yourself?

Energy companies are only obliged to read a customers meter once every 2 years.

Normally if there is a debt on an account, you will not be able to change supplier until this balance is paid.

If you had remained a customer of E.ON's you may have been able to spread your debt over a longer period of time. However, as this is a final balance that you owe we would normally expect this to paid with 3 months.

It appears that you have been allowed an arrangement over 10 months, due to the estimated bill. Different circumstances allow customers to pay balances over different amounts of time, it just depends on what has happened for that individual.

I would contact E.ON as soon as possible regarding the remaining balance, once you have made an agreement this will stop the calls.

With regards to E.ON rounding up the payments, you should have received a letter detailing the amounts to pay and on what dates.

Helena.

Premier_2

vix2000 wrote: »

You are lucky you can access your meter. As I said previously I was on Eons list for regular readings as I am disabled and cannot access my meters myself as they are down steps outside. Unfortunately I was only put on the list after Eon had estimated my bills for 18 months, hence the debt. ....

Why did it take so long? Or hadn't you advised the supplier previously?

...A customer who is disabled, chronically sick or of pensionable age can ask the electricity supplier to read their meter every three months if neither they, nor anyone else in the household, can do so.However, the bill will be estimated if the electricity supplier cannot gain access...

...

Services which may be available, depending on your circumstances, include:


...

• moving your meter free of charge to make it more accessible
• having controls and adaptors provided to make your meter or appliances easier to use

...

• arranging for your bills to be sent or copied to someone else, such as a carer, so that they can help you read and check them.

...

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/gas_and_electricity/electricity_supply.htm

vix2000

They were advised when they canvassed me to move to them that I had a disability. I was not aware of the special services available until I was hit with the mega bill. I had been with scottish power previously and eon told me they could cut my bill. It was reduced from 150 a month to 100. When I questioned this big difference by telephone they said that it was because their tariff was cheaper. I was continually looking online and was always hundreds of pounds in credit. It took ages for me to get a paper bill.

Helena - I was surprised that I was allowed to move to Southern electric, but again I was canvassed. I already knew about their 20% reduction for those in fuel poverty so it was a no brainer but I did tell the salesman I was in arrears with Eon.
Regarding the rounding, I went to the bank to pay my payment and forgot the letter. I got the sort code and account number from my online banking in branch. I knew I owed 622.60 so I paid 1/10th of this, 62.26. I was surprised that I was sent threatening letters and recieving all the calls for 74p. I sent this as soon as I knew it was owed.
I accept what you are saying that you would expect payment of the balance within 3 months, but I will say again, I can't pay what I havent got. I take responsibility for this debt, I don't think in fairness that it is 100% my fault that the debt accrued but I should have checked that the bills were estimated and that the salesperson had passed the info on regarding my disability. All I am asking is that I pay a monthly payment that I can afford without needing handouts from my family so that I can eat. Whatever company policy is regarding payment length I can only pay what I physically have. In my last telephone conversation I requested that I was taken to court as CAB have told me to offer 5 pounds a month with my income. I do not want to do this as I want to pay it off asap. I offered 50 a month but it was refused. I really am trying to sort this out but there seems to be no flexibility.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

vix2000 wrote: »

They were advised when they canvassed me to move to them that I had a disability. I was not aware of the special services available until I was hit with the mega bill. I had been with scottish power previously and eon told me they could cut my bill. It was reduced from 150 a month to 100. When I questioned this big difference by telephone they said that it was because their tariff was cheaper. I was continually looking online and was always hundreds of pounds in credit. It took ages for me to get a paper bill.

As you managed your account online, we would have sent you an email when your bill was ready to view online, you wouldn't have received these through the post as well. The online bill is just the same as a paper bill, you would just need to click on view bill to see all of the details.

Regarding the rounding, I went to the bank to pay my payment and forgot the letter. I got the sort code and account number from my online banking in branch. I knew I owed 622.60 so I paid 1/10th of this, 62.26. I was surprised that I was sent threatening letters and recieving all the calls for 74p. I sent this as soon as I knew it was owed.

If a payment arrangement is not kept to, either by missing a payment or paying an incorrect amount, the arrangement is cancelled and follow up will start again to collect the balance in full, this happens automatically.

I accept what you are saying that you would expect payment of the balance within 3 months, but I will say again, I can't pay what I havent got. I take responsibility for this debt, I don't think in fairness that it is 100% my fault that the debt accrued but I should have checked that the bills were estimated and that the salesperson had passed the info on regarding my disability. All I am asking is that I pay a monthly payment that I can afford without needing handouts from my family so that I can eat.

I understand that you can't pay what you don't have, but you will need to come to an arrangement to pay the rest of the balance, you should be able to set up another payment plan, due to the fact that you didn't miss a payment.

Helena