small biz electricity and mail problem.

shaven-monkey

Friend of mine, let's call him Charlie runs what is effectively a covered market stall.

He's been in the location for several years just about squeaking by.
Charlie has been on the phone to the supplier repeatedly trying to get them to correct the addressing info and spelling of his name but somehow they never managed to get it right over the course of 3 years.

Last week his electricity was cut off, there had been no final demand delivered. The only paperwork relating to this disconnection was a bit of paper that had been stapled to something pushed under the stall front awning (which serves as a security blind) on the day of disconnection.
It was dated a month previous to the disconnection.

The other stallholders, when asked, said they didn't see anyone.

He isn't very good at dealing with officialdom and has been on a deemed contract for about 3 years paying £24 standing charge and £12 ish monthly usage charges.

Now the suppliers are demanding payment of about £450 for warrant to disconnect, full balance for electricity used + standing charge and £100 ish for reconnection.
Charlie doesn't have that kind of cash available.

Charlie claims they received no final demand or warning about the disconnection before it happened.
I've told him to ask the landlord to explain how the post is sorted out because he hadn't been getting regular bills.
There is a CCTV setup in the hall which may clarrify who pushed the warrant warning into the stall.

While Charlie is responsible for late payment of the balance due it appears to me that the supplier have been shafting him on the standing charge (his own fault for not negotiating) and the irregular delivery of bills if any suggests someone has been interfering with his mail.

So... In conclusion, other than lend this guy who can barely pay his rent the £700ish that I can't really spare to clear up the electric bill, what can be done to help him out?

I'm setting up some LED lighting run off solar cell which will hopefully keep the shop open for a while.

What does a "letter of authorisation" mean to allow me to talk to the supplier on Charlie's behalf?

How much does it actually cost suppliers to get a warrant for disconnection?

What sort of negotiating can be done to reduce the burden of debt.
What can be done to pass the disconnection debt onto whoever is messing with the post?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Savvy_Sue

I'd say a 'letter of authorisation' would be a letter along the lines of

Dear electricity supplier

I authorise you to discuss all matters relating to my supply with my associate shaven-monkey. He will phone you in 3 days time to discuss your actions in failing to notify me of an outstanding balance and then to disconnect me.

Yours faithfully

Charlie

If there's a reason why Charlie can't do this himself, then giving that can be helpful. I often make phone calls on behalf of my mother, because she is extremely deaf, for example. Actually I've usually phoned up, said who I am, handed the phone to her while listening on another handset, mouthed or written down their questions to her, and then taken the phone back once she's satisfied them that she's really her, she's in her right mind, and she wants them to talk to me.