E-on is charging us for electricity they didn't supply! Help!

ipi_ipi_ipi

Firstly, thanks to anyone taking the time to read and respond to this thread.

I moved into my flat in July 2008. The previous tenants were being supplied by e-on. We stayed with e-on until December 2008 when we changed to British Gas. We changed because e-on persisted in trying to charge us for the previous tenants energy, threatening us with debt collectors in the process. They sent us bills for 2 separate meter serial numbers. I spent hours on the phone to so many people, each of them saying that our electrical wires were crossed with other flats and promising to resolve it. Of course, it never was. We were glad to be rid of e-on.

BUT

Because of the crossed wires, British Gas somehow ended up supplying a different flat.

Last week we found out npower has been supplying us with electricity. They say a 3rd random flat had entered into a contract with them and they somehow ended up supplying our flat. Currently, they say were on a 'deemed contract' with them and they will be supplying our energy until the erroneous transfer has been sorted out, sending us back to e-on who we wanted to desperately get away from!

British Gas has agreed to refund our 18 months worth of electricity money. We want them to be our supplier. They made us aware of the ofgem ruling that energy that hasn't been billed for 12 months cannot be charged.

Npower admit they legally cannot charge us for the erroneous transfer. During they phone call they try to persuade me twice to drop the charge that the transfer is erroneous so they can bill us. They say they are transferring the account back to e-on.

Npower say that e-on will bill us for the last 18 months worth of energy EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T SUPPLY IT!

That's ludicrous, right? E-on did not give me energy but they're allowed to charge me for it anyway?

In addition, there's a dispute with the ofgem 12 month clause. On the one hand it has been suggested that because I was indeed billed by british gas during these 18 months, e-on can refuse to acknowledge me as 'unfairly unbilled'

However, the backbilling document for consumer focus says e-on would be liable if:

'o Where meter details are crossed and the supplier had opportunity to recognise but did not investigate further.'

I haven't recieved any correspondance from e-on yet but I want to be fully equipped to fight my corner.

Help?

Premier_2

ipi_ipi_ipi wrote: »

...That's ludicrous, right? E-on did not give me energy but they're allowed to charge me for it anyway?...

Who do you think supplied the energy you consumed?

EOn were the original supplier

You asked British Gas to take over the supply, buy they didn't (they took over someone elses)

nPower took over your supply, but agreed they did so errtoneously, so will refund.

So who do you think you owe if it is not the original supplier?
You do think you owe someone for the energy you have consumed don't you?

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi ipi_ipi_ipi,

In the circumstances you’ve outlined, the right action has been taken. The supply has been sent back to E.ON and the monies you paid to British Gas have been refunded.

When the issue is resolved you will be able to transfer to British Gas as your preferred supplier.

It’s very difficult to say if the billing code would be applied in this scenario. Each case is assessed on its independent circumstances and in some cases I have seen a reduction applied and in other cases I have not.

I think the main issue here is the bill from E.ON is unlikely to be for the same amount you had previously paid to BG, this is going to be dependent on whether the BG bills you paid were accurate, and of course the prices charged by BG are unlikely to be the same as those that E.ON will bill to.

So effectively you may have either paid more to BG over the last 18 months, or the E.ON bill may be more than the amount you’ve paid.

If the bill is less than the amount of payments you’ve made so far, then it could be said that aside from not having your supplier of choice, you may have financially benefited from the mix up.

If the bill from E.ON turns out to be more than the amount you’ve made payments for so far, I think you have more cause for complaint.

If you haven’t already, I’d raise this with the E.ON Directors’ Office, this way you’ll have a dedicated complaint handler to correspond with. Email me via the address in my profile if you’d like any assistance regarding this.

Brian

cherie63

I am in similar situation, Npower have given me 5 years money back since 2005
Due to a dispute with them not sending me a bill for 18 months in early 2008 they checked my meter 6 times as it was not linked to our address, the house was built in 1945 and always had electricity
Eon have taken over and have one person who is keeping me informed but Eon still have not got it all sorted yet
I gave Eon my readings on 20.4.2010 but how will they work out what I now owe and how do they work out at what rate?