E-On Threatening Court Action/Credit Affected

_andrewstewart

Hi all, long term lurker first time poster!

Just looking for a bit of advice re: E-On chasing me on an old (closed) account.

We moved house last summer, and since they flat out refuse to go out of their way to take gas/electric readings I sent them what I thought was the correct readings. I received this back:

"I have closed your account as requested and you will receive a final bill soon. This will be an estimated bill as the gas and electricity readings that you provided cannot be used.

The readings on your email indicate an unrealistically high usage, which would result in a significant bill."

I paid that estimated bill and thought my dealings with E-On were finished (see 'I have closed your account as requested')

However, a few months later I received a letter off a debt collector acting on their behalf saying there was an outstanding amount to be paid - and upon checking with E-On, they seem to now be arguing that when they took readings some point after we had left the property, they were much higher and they are trying to make me pay it.

When we moved out, the landlord had the whole flat re-painted and a new bathroom fitted (I know this as the next tenant was my dad) - I can only assume this period is the time which the usage is for and therefore none of my responsibility. However E-On and two of their credit companies are STILL chasing me for this and have just been turned down for a house as their threats have led to a low credit score for me.

So any tips on how to get them off my back (I've quoted them the above email plenty of times, to no response from them but more threats of legal action) and how to clear this debacle from my credit score! (what happened to innocent until proven guilty??)

chanz4

If your read was much higher, you would be liable for the billing. They may of suspected you gave incorrect reads, then once the l.lord took it back the reads have been confirmed.

Terrylw1

Landlords are very good at dumping debts for their periods on customers bills by not telling the supplier they are there. The common scenario is that the new tenant is hit with the extra as their account opens based on the previous occupiers closing reading - no landlord account I between.

You need to find out if this has happened. Why? If the new tenant moved in and disputed the opening reading, the supplier should create he landlords I between account. If the new tenant didn't push this and settled for an estimated opening reading change, it would also spread the landlords usage over your account as well.

If the new tenant had an opening reading that matches up expected consumption after investigating the readings with the currents ones, the supplier may have created a dummy account and simply dumped the last tenant on it.

How do your closing readings they ignored appear against the new ones they have used? Maybe yours were right all along so what would that have done to your final bill?

spiro

When you moved out you and the LL should have read the meters and agreed your move out reading which should have been used to close your account. If they did not use this reading because it appeared to be wrong (too high) and they now have proof that it was correct then you owe the money and they should have issued you with a revised final bill (assuming they have a forwarding address).

macman

The supplier is only required to read the meter every two years. All other reads are your responsibility-you need to do it at least every 3 months.

E.ON_Company_Rep_Chris

Hi Andrew

I’m so sorry that we didn’t investigate the meter readings you gave when you moved out and chose to estimate instead.

With what’s happened since, it does look like the estimates were too low and it is our policy to correct these if we receive accurate readings further down the line.

We need to make sure that you’re only being asked to pay for the energy you used at the address. I agree with Terry, as you have a record of the emails that were exchanged when you moved have you checked that the new readings are in line with the ones you gave us?

As we didn’t use them to issue your bill they may not be recorded on your account, please contact us so that we can investigate further and provide you with a bill that’s as accurate as possible. It sounds like you’ve tried this already without success so I suggest you lodge a formal complaint.

This will put a hold on the debt collection whilst we look into it and then once you’re happy that the balance is correct we can set up an arrangement for you to pay in instalments, this will help improve your credit file too.

I hope this helps a little and you soon get things sorted, if there’s anything else I can do please let me know.

Amanda

shammyjack

The good old EON muppet show ! A new saga every week !


:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

undaunted

Terrylw1 wrote: »

How do your closing readings they ignored appear against the new ones they have used? Maybe yours were right all along so what would that have done to your final bill?

Thats a good question, I was just wondering the same thing myself.

macman wrote: »

The supplier is only required to read the meter every two years. All other reads are your responsibility-you need to do it at least every 3 months.

Checking the meter every two years surely does not negate the suppliers responsibility to read meters or correctly bill the account. Where is it stated that a supplier is not legally responsible for reading the meter more often than every two years?

Whilst some suppliers may have snuck it into their terms & conditions more recently where is there otherwise any legal onus placed upon consumers to read meters at all? In this case the customer did read the meter of course the supplier pparently refused that reading and was quite free to go and read it themselves

chanz4

Its covered under the engery retail association code of practise:

Meter Readings

Suppliers will offer a range of options to make sure that they obtain and

record the most up to date and accurate meter reading.

2.1 Your supplier will attempt to read your meter on a regular basis, at

least every two years as a minimum.

2.2 If it is not possible for your supplier to gain access to read your meter,

your supplier will explain how you can provide your own reading.

2.3 Where a valid read has been obtained this will be used to improve the

accuracy of your bill/statement.

2.4 It is important to check the accuracy of your meter readings. Suppliers

will provide information to help you understand the importance of the

meter reading process.

2

chanz4

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/Energy-yourconsumerrights/DG_196252

The amount you have been charged for your gas and electricity may be based on:

• an estimate of the energy you’ve used
• a reading taken from the gas or electricity meter for your home

Energy companies only have to try to take a meter reading once every two years. This means most of your bills are likely to be estimated readings.

Terrylw1

On top of the Must Be Reads process, the Balancing & Settlements Code holds all industry parties to agree to ensure that data is accurate by 14 months. In recent years, suppliers and their agents have been part of something called the 97% project which was to baseline accurate data settled at 14 months at this figure. This means suppliers have to go beyond the 2 years obligation to achieve it.

2 year obligations are to ensure safety, which distributors also do themselves. I often think the 2 year obligation is taken out of context and its used to state "we need do no more" but its accepted that only reading a meter every 2 years is poor service and if they all did that, the industry would be in turmoil settling on estimates all the time.