E-On - Very large bill after moving

Noj

Hi all,

I'm a long time reader - but only just registered as I have a huge issue with E-on (well, huge to me because of the amount anyhow!)

I moved from a rented property to my mothers (to look after her as she is terminally ill) earlier this year (just after I got burgled as well - its been a rubbish year so far).

I left the property on the 10th April, and the tenancy officially ended on the 24th. On the 24th I went to the check-out with one of the letting agencys representatives, who read the Gas/Electricty meters at the time. I then had to sign a form with these readings on (of which I have a copy), as the final meter readings for the property. These were 7699 for the Gas and 15107 for the electric. I am happy to pay up until the move out date based on these figures as I checked them at the time.

Initially, E-On sent me a cheque for £486 as a rebate due to overpayments, which was a nice surprise, and covered some moving costs.

In mid June they wrote to me and said that they had made a mistake, and that I owed them £336.90 - after triple checking everything (including their calculations, and the meter readings etc) I agreed that they had made a mistake, and that I owed them the money. I paid £200.00 there and then, with the remainder to be paid in July once my salary had been paid.

Yesterday, I received a letter from them now saying that I owe them an additional amount of £639.32 for a grand total of £776.22.

Upon querying this with them the gentleman last night said he believed that they were charging me for all new costs since I moved out - which he agreed wasn't right, but said that there was nothing he could do as it was outside 9-5.

I called them again this morning, and they have stated that the new tennant has recently moved in (i believe it was the end of first week in July) and sent them a picture of the meters as a first reading. This shows Gas to be 7998 and electric to be 21210.

They are now saying that this is my debt, even though the property has been used by the landlord between 24th April and approx 8th July.

This means that 299kwh of gas and 6103kwh of electric has been used in around 78 days - which is a huge amount (I have been told by an ex-neighbour that the property has been extensively redesigned in the interim period).

I explained to e-on what the readings where when I signed out of the property, and sent them a copy of the agreement via e-mail, but they say the dispute is nothing to do with them, and that I must sort it out with the letting agency/landlord. I've spoken to both this morning, and neither are willing to help as its more than 90 days since I moved out. (its the 90th day today!!)

Ive contacted Energy Watch (or consumer focus as they are now called) and they have said that until I have followed E-on's full complaint procedure they can't do anything other than help me with my letters etc - which is a waste of time I suspect. I dont mind paying the £136.90 I owe - but I'm not going to pay the remaining £639.32.

Anybody able to offer any ideas as to what I should do other than complain to E-on?

Am I in the wrong - should I have to pay this amount? even though I can't see why?

Who else can I go to, to resolve it?

Cheers all

undaunted

I'd get a copy of the figures you signed for from your landlord. Write to Eon enclosing what you agree and tell them that you accept no liability for energy used when you had moved out.

I presume from the fact that they appear to have sent you a final bill & refund (even if incorrectly) that you did tell Eon you had moved out at the time?

If so tell them you assume they must have a "deemed contract" with the landlord / that the landlord must have been using the supply if they can't provide details of any further tennant.

You could try contacting the energy ombudsman - but only if you have had a final response from EON or they have failed to provide a satisfactory response within 8 weeks http://www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk/links/3-52-making_a_complaint_to_an_energy_company.php

Cardew

Noj wrote: »

I then had to sign a form with these readings on (of which I have a copy), as the final meter readings for the property. These were 7699 for the Gas and 15107 for the electric.

This shows Gas to be 7998 and electric to be 21210.



This means that 299kwh of gas and 6103kwh of electric has been used in around 78 days - which is a huge amount (I have been told by an ex-neighbour that the property has been extensively redesigned in the interim period).


Cheers all

Welcome to the forum.

Firstly a technical point. There is a discrepancy of 299 gas units(not kWh) This could be either approx 3,300kWh or 9,500kWh depending on your gas meter.

You appear to have proof of your final readings - which I assume the letting agent will back up?

It is now just a third party dispute between you and the Landlord. Could it be that he is willing to pay for the units consumed between April and July? He might not even know of the problem? and EON being unaware that the property was used in that period just sent you a bill.

Just write to EON(don't ring) with the facts and state you are not paying.

Premier_2

If you want to follow the supplier's complaints procedure, you can do, and that should result in you speaking ultimately with the energy ombudsman, not energywatch or consumer focus.

You can contact consumerfocus at any time and they should be able to explain your rights.

Personally I wouldn't bother. As E.on claim the dispute is your problem, just tell them you think the dispute is their problem. Deny you owe the money claimed, and that you therefore are asking the amount to be put into formal dispute.

Also advise that unless they see things your way (i.e. it is their problem) you will never agree otherwise. You provided the reading at the end of the TA, you took the readings, you supplied E.On with these readings and you have documentary evidence agreeing these readings with the landlord at the end of the tenancy.

If they don't like it, tell them only a court will be able to settle the dispute and if they don't agree to remove the claim, they should without delay, commence a court summons against you to prevent any delay and the accumulation of further fees & costs thereby resulting.

As the amount is considered to be in formal dispute, they can't do anything like try and attach a default to your credit file, until that dispute has been fully addressed.

A court will almost certainly see it your way. You don't owe the company the money claimed. I suspect E.on will see the light before it ever gets to issuing a court summons and will withdraw the bill.

spiro

When you write to E-on I would be inclined to copy the landlord in as the extra debt is his.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Noj

I'm sorry you're having these difficulties and following our formal complaints process will be the best option.

You did exactly the right thing in taking meter readings on the last day of your tenancy. Did you call in with these, and details of the change of occupancy, or did you leave this to the letting agent?

What I'm wondering, and I stand to be corrected here; if we didn't receive the information, we will have continued billing as if you were still responsible for the property.

However, if these details were received, your account should have been closed down to the date and readings advised. Did you receive a final bill based on this information?

If this happened, your account would have been closed and a new account opened from 25 April either, in the absence of a tenant, under the name of the letting agent or landlord. Was the bill/letter asking for £776.22 in your name?

If this didn't happen and we now need to back date the closure of the account, we will need evidence of the change as it will inevitably result in a bill being sent to the letting agent/landlord.

The easiest way forward is for both you and the letting agent/landlord to agree dates/readings and contact us jointly. All the billing will then be corrected accordingly.

If your previous letting agent/landlord disputes what you are saying, the matter becomes a third party dispute and we will not become involved in this disagreement.

Also, did we explain the mistake we had made which resulted in us first sending you a refund and then asking for most of it back? Not sure where this fits in to the overall dispute.

Sorry for all the questions Noj. I'm struggling to build up a picture of what might have happened.

I'd suggest contacting our Director's Office with the complaint (contact details are on your bills). Write in and enclose copies of all the supporting documents. This will allow us to fully investigate the circumstances behind this situation.

Hope this is not too vague and helps a little. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.

Malc