Wrongly switched to Business Electricity provider by landlord! PLEASE HELP!

jeffgoodfella

I live in a Shared Ownership flat which I've had for nearly 2 years now. I own half and the housing association A2Dominion own half. When I moved in I was supplied with electricity by Scottish Power and had no problems for over a year, paying £36 per month Direct Debit.

Then in November 2010 I received a letter from A2Dominion saying that by mistake they had transferred my supply over to THEIR supplier...Opus Energy. They apologised and said that I would hear from this new supplier soon but if I wished to go back to Scottish Power I could just wait for my first bill and thn cancel my account and switch back.

Now I'd never heard of Opus Energy so just waited for my bill assuming it would be roughly the same as it was with Scottish Power....to my horror it was almost double over a 3 month period!! I've since found out that Opus Energy ONLY supply electricity to businesses and commercial premises....not residential properties.....so I've been paying "out-of-contract" business rates!!

After months of letters, phone calls and stress I've now managed to switch back to Scottish Power, but Opus Energy are now demanding I settle my account. I've reluctantly paid £160 after getting a final reminder of my first bill but there is still about £100 owed for the last couple of months.

So my questions are:

1) Was it illegal for A2Dominion to end my contract with Scottish Power and start it with Opus Energy without my permission?

2) Was it illegal for Opus Energy to accept A2Dominion's request to supply me with electricity, as my property is clearly residential and they only supply to business customers?

3) If it was illegal for Opus Energy to supply me with electricity can I tell them I wont pay them the rest of the outstanding balance as their business only permits them to supply/charge business customers, not domestic residences?

A2Dominion admit their error but have basically told me "You've used Opus Energy's electricity so you have to pay for it" .....even though I had no choice in this AND they only supply business customers and therefore business rates!!

I would be grateful for any advice anyone can give regarding this matter.

Thanks in advance!

Jeff

DVardysShadow

Basically, you have been too soft on A2dominion and opus from the outset. You should have written to both immediately and insisted that you were put back to where you were and that the 2 of them bear all costs above your legitimate costs on SP's tariff.

By not doing this, opus have a half reasonable expectation that you should bear the costs. Were you returned to SP under an erroneous transfer process? I think too, that you should refer Opus to A2dominion to cover excess costs.

Opus_Energy_3

Dear Jeff,

I’m sorry to hear about the problem you’ve experienced. Please call me on 0800 223 0170 and we’ll look into this for you immediately.

Kind regards,

Andy Nash, Operations Director

spiro

Opus_Energy wrote: »

Dear Jeff,

I’m sorry to hear about the problem you’ve experienced. Please call me on 0800 223 0170 and we’ll look into this for you immediately.

Kind regards,

Andy Nash, Operations Director

You need to contact MSE about becoming an authorised poster as you will notice the other supplier reps all have a signature showing they have been checked and approved.

dogshome

Hi jeffgoodfella - Your post says that you have an admission from A2Dominion in writing that it was by thier error that you, a domestic customer were transferred to the commercial supplier, Opus.

You know the tariff you were on with SP, so apply these rates to the bills you have recieved from Opus to find what your costs would have been if A2Dom. made not made the error and you had remained with SP.

Armed with these figures and enclosing a copy of A2Dom's apology letter, write a common letter to both Opus and A2Dom advising them that you will not settle any bills from Opus that require payments in excess of those you would have paid to SP, and that should you occur any expenses in defending yourself from demands from Opus, you will seek recompense from A2Dom via the Small Claims court.

Also
Write to Consumer Focus enclosing copies of the correspondance.

JasX

If ever something like this happens you need to act IMMEDIATELY to get yourself sent back to your original supplier under the erroneous transfer process, normally by letting time pass and allowing OPUS to supply you for a period after you became aware of the switch and start to bill you you kinda end up committed to them.

However as per their post above they may be able/willing to sort things out for you so would be worth contacting.

jeffgoodfella

Thanks very much for all your replies and useful advice, its very much appreciated :j

I'll let you know in due course if I manage to resolve the situation in a satisfactory manner.

Thanks,

Jeff

chanz4

as its third party do not see why to involve consumer focus, simply get the dorm company to pay the difference.

Ali_UK

Hi,
Just wanted to ask the OP if they had any luck with this? I've been arguing with Dominion and asking Opus to just switch me back pronto but it's been three months now am sick of never getting back to me!
Thanks

Opus_Energy_3

I am pleased to report that the original issue referenced in this thread has been satisfactorily resolved. Please do contact me on 0800 223 0170 and we will aim to do the same for you as quickly as possible.

Kind regards,

Jennifer Sena
Head of Business Operations