Elec disputes!

spacecadet0377

I am sorry if I repeating someones thread but I am quite worried at the moment and would be grateful for any advice.

I have been trying to get an electricity bill for the past 6 years! To cut a very long story short when I first moved in I contacted mPAS - those that tell you who supplies you and they said it was powergen. Four years on - phone calls and letters later still no joy so I contacted mPAS again who then told me that my supplier was Atlantic electricity and gas and that they had been my supplier from May 2002 (I moved into house Dec 1999). It was 2004 now and I wrote to them, got no reply so then found out about Energywatch - the energy watchdog who emailed Atlantic on my behalf. They took my meter details and replied saying they couldn't look into the problem as they were not my supplier and that was that back to square one. I know I should have chased things up then and there but I didn't. I heard nothing then until November 2005 when I got a bill for "the occupier" with no contact tel no on the letter for them demanding £300 for outstanding debt.

From here I have had nothing but probs - they are now interested in looking into things and following a bill for £2600 they have lessened the amount to £1800 but demanding payment over 2 years. This equates to approx £50 pm on top of the £91pm I am currently paying. I have told them I can't afford this and they say they want to install a prepayent meter which means that due to their lack of interest in 2004 I am now having my current supply jeopardised to ensure they get their money. They even suggested at one point I put the outstanding amount on credit card to pay them off. I have exhausted avenues with Energywatch - they cannot force the company to help further. Atlantic claims that they were given the meter number at my address for another address in the area which is why I knew nothing of the change over and did not sign a contract. Does anyone have any idea of someone or another organisation who can help.

Powergen who did supply me from 1999 to 2002 have written off the £3000 they estimated I owed.

Thanks for taking the time to read this...

Claire

TMFTP

http://www.energywatch.org.uk/help_and_advice/billing_basics/index.asp#2

From the energywatch site:


"I haven’t had a bill for ages – do I still have to pay?

Consumers are legally bound to pay for their utilities
.....
Suppliers should at least offer a payment plan that allows you to repay any debt over the same length of time that it has built up. In other words, if you have not had a bill from your supplier for three years then, when a bill does finally appear, you should be able to spread the repayments over three years. However, if you accept a payment plan then you will not be able to change your supplier until you have cleared the outstanding debt.

However, as a result of the ‘super-complaint’ submitted by energywatch in April 2005 to the energy regulator, Ofgem (see below), energy companies have been told that, as of July 2006, they should no longer bill for any energy used by consumers more than two years previously where the company themselves has failed to provide a bill. As of July 2007, energy companies will be expected not to bill for any amount that dates back longer than a year."

If energywatch aren't helping, try OFGEM for the the specifics relating to your position - they're apparently there to "take account of the needs of vulnerable customers".

If you've been stitched up by the industry's apparent inability to bill you shouldn't be expected to be the one bending over backwards to put things right - particularly if you are willing to, but on reasonable terms.

TMFTP

Wee bit more digging - there's an "ENergy Supply Ombudsman" now too - apparently with the power to award up to £5,000 compensation against companies for "poor customer service."

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/15597_Ofgem33.pdf

and

http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/energysupply.html

apply.

Good luck.

spacecadet0377

Thank you so much for your help. I had already read the info on energywatch about on verbal contracts and payment plans. But I have had no control over this from day one so wasn't sure if I could take things further or not. Once again...many thanks!!

TMFTP

No probs. Welcome to the board!

MegMoo_2

I moved into a brand new house last year and haven't had a bill for over a year. I have phoned up, sent emails and letters and no joy. Make me wonder if I should just save the money and hold off - hope that I dont get one until after next july!!!!!!!!

spacecadet0377

I would save the money for as long as you can but this does get difficult...I have a 2 year old and having money put aside is a luxury I don't have. But if you can do. If you havent already contact energywatch to nudge the company your property is registered with into investigating further or better still get some advice from the new electricity ombudsman. They couldn't take my case but were great for encouragement to pursue my complaint and gave me some really invaluable information.

At one point I had two companies claiming they supplied my property and when they want their money they push and push. Keep plugging to find a way to get a bill now rather than end up in my situation - I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Good Luck...

Claire