Electricity help...sorry long winded

susi

My son started a small business 5 years ago, for three of those years he paid his electricity bills direct debit every month without fail, this was to a company he had signed a contract with when he first started. He (three years into the business) received another huge bill from another electricity company. This bill was dated from 2003 to 2008 (bearing in mind he didnt open the business until 2005 and the building had been empty for approx a year before this). When he proved this they deducted an amount from the total but this still left him with thousands to pay. After months and months of trying to find out what had happened here, this is apparently what went wrong.
Company 1 who he signed contracts with and got a statement every month for his payment it appears were actually supplying another part of the building (the building and outbuildings are several different businesses). However company 1 went into recievership whilst the investigations were going on.
Company 2 were supplying the electricity even though there was no contract signed and no verbal communication whatsoever and left it 3 years to send a bill or to make any kind of contact with my son.
My son has now had to close his business and this although not the only reason has been a major factor in that decision, its caused him so much stress he was actually under the GP for depression. He hasnt gone bankrupt he has just decided to call it a day and cut his losses. Is there any help he can get or does he still have to pay this bill himself. (Company 2 let him pay monthly eventually but at first wanted the full amount or they would cut off his supply)
We feel so angry that this has happened and still cant understand why it was left so long and got so out of hand before anyone realised. Sorry this is so long any imput would be appriciated

Cardew

Unfortunately business gas/electricity accounts have none of the 'safeguards' or help afforded to domestic accounts.

Any debt is treated like any other business dept.