Eon Assumed Contract

lemontart

DVardysShadow wrote: »

IMO, you are missing the point of billybear's concern. He is not concerned that he will fail his credit check. He is concerned that the credit checks which utilities providers may make will leave footprints on his credit file which may cause him to lose his hard won mortgage. And given the 'computer says no' world in which we live, where no one who deals with an ordinary person has nay scope to use initiative of common sense, he is right to be concerned. Mortgages even get whipped away from people between exchange and completion.

billybear, just move in and accept the deemed contract. Once you are in start your search for another supplier. Once you are in, your mortgage will be safe.

Given how hard it is to get a mortgage I truly believe it will be unlikely he will fail as mortgage lenders do not lend to those with bad credit records these days - or that is what they would have us believe, i just feel worrying with out cause. And if already at stage of registering it would indicate moved into the property,

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

billybear1 wrote: »

So, in conclusion, I can just set up a standard tariff, no credit check and find the tariff I want on a comparison site and join up to that one?

Hi billybear

You don't need to give us a Date of Birth but we will still ask to carry out a credit check as we do this with all new credit customers without exception.

To confirm, you'll be put on our standard tariff but can start the switch as soon as you take over responsibility for the property.

Sorry this isn't what you want to hear.

Malc

jalexa

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi billybear

You don't need to give us a Date of Birth but we will carry out a credit check as we do this with all new credit customers without exception.

I realise I am intruding here but I do not think you can (legally) perform a credit check without the data subject's consent - without exception. Or are you saying that "deemed contract" terms include that consent?

I am also puzzled that it is possible to perform a credit check without a date of birth, and in the case of a data subject having just moved to a new address, without knowledge of prior residency up to 3 years.

Your latest post raises some concerns with me, and I suspect also with Terrylw1. I thought we had already established that you cannot decline a deemed contract, or enforce entry to install a prepayment meter without a warrant.

I dare E.ON to face the consequences of applying for a warrant when the customer's (deemed) account was in good order.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

jalexa wrote: »

Regarding "proving ID" on a phone call, I can hardly think of a less secure check. Commonly known to other family members (ex too:(), anybody within earshot in an office (because incompetent organisations insist on asking a numpty question) and anybody who checks public records.

Hi Jalexa

Confirming a Date of Birth isn't the only check we make. It's just one of several checks our advisors need to make before they'll discuss anything of a sensitive nature with a caller.

Other checks include account number, address details and payment arrangement details. This is not an exhaustive list and the advisor may dig deeper, particularly if there's a doubt over a caller's authenticity.

Malc

jalexa

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Confirming a Date of Birth isn't the only check we make. It's just one of several checks our advisors need to make before they'll discuss anything of a sensitive nature with a caller.

Other checks include account number, address details and payment arrangement details. This is not an exhaustive list and the advisor may dig deeper, particularly if there's a doubt over a caller's authenticity.

Why not just skip DOB for telephone authentication, especially given Chanz4's alarming revelations that DOBs are so readily available. Though I don't personally go with "readily", it is a fact that the information is available in public records, hence a particularly poor form of authentication.

Anyway its really unconsented credit checks which concerns me (and the OP).

DVardysShadow

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi Jalexa

Confirming a Date of Birth isn't the only check we make. It's just one of several checks our advisors need to make before they'll discuss anything of a sensitive nature with a caller.

Other checks include account number, address details and payment arrangement details. This is not an exhaustive list and the advisor may dig deeper, particularly if there's a doubt over a caller's authenticity.

Malc

Actually, as I see this, without exception for a deemed contract, you must accept the current customer - even on credit terms and YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER TO CONDUCT A CREDIT CHECK. Now if you disagree. I would like to see your evidence for your astounding and outrageous claim.

And if you cannot declare any evidence, then I will be telling people that E.ON are making unsustainable claims over their rights to make credit checks.

There is an important principle at stake here and you must either back down and accept that you have made an unwarranted and unsustainable claim or you must justify it. No wriggling please.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

jalexa wrote: »

I realise I am intruding here but I do not think you can (legally) perform a credit check without the data subject's consent - without exception. Or are you saying that "deemed contract" terms include that consent?

I am also puzzled that it is possible to perform a credit check without a date of birth, and in the case of a data subject having just moved to a new address, without knowledge of prior residency up to 3 years.

Your latest post raises some concerns with me, and I suspect also with Terrylw1. I though we had already established that you cannot decline a deemed contract, and without a warrant enforce entry to install a prepayment meter.

I dare E.ON to face the consequences of applying for a warrant when the customer's (deemed) account was in good order.

Sorry Jalexa. Phrased my earlier post very poorly. Have edited to better reflect our policy.

You're absolutely correct. We do need a customer's consent to carry out a credit check and we'll always ask for this.

The customer is perfectly entitled to refuse a credit check. At this point, we'll ask for a £200 deposit per fuel or give the option of a prepayment meter.

If these options are declined, we'll mark the account as high risk and it will be monitored by our credit management guys.

Should all be ok and bills settled on time, the account will be treated in the same as any other account. However, if it turns out to be a risk and runs into debt we reserve the right to go down the prepayment route.

To be clear, we'll not decline a deemed contract and will always continue to supply energy to a property even though responsibility has changed hands.

Sorry if I didn't make this clear before but hope I've explained it a bit better this time.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Actually, as I see this, without exception for a deemed contract, you must accept the current customer - even on credit terms and YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER TO CONDUCT A CREDIT CHECK. Now if you disagree. I would like to see your evidence for your astounding and outrageous claim.

And if you cannot declare any evidence, then I will be telling people that E.ON are making unsustainable claims over their rights to make credit checks.

There is an important principle at stake here and you must either back down and accept that you have made an unwarranted and unsustainable claim or you must justify it. No wriggling please.

Hope my earlier reply to Jalexa clears this up DVS.

My poor phrasing I'm afraid. Sorry for any confusion.

No wriggling - my personal mistake.

Malc

billybear1

So basically I can refuse credit check, refuse £200 up front per utility and refuse a meter and just move companies and be on my way within 30 days? Which is what I hope to hear!

Good. For all I know, you may well be the cheapest provider and we will go down a credit check but I will not be wasting a mark on my data for no good reason.

Terrylw1

You got it OP. Basically, Eon have a process that has no support under any firm of policy, law, act, SLC, etc...hence they don't enforce it.

So, its purely aimed at minimising business risk in a sector where the rusk has to be assumed since the supplier is bound by the Deemed contract rule. The are also bound to offer terms under one of the SLC's that I posted on another thread...which is why I challenged this in an earlier post. Malc has now clarified this for me.

So just how much in deposits are customers being duped out of by senior managers at Eon who like taking advantage of their customers to gain "credit" via interest free loans?
Thanks Malc, my above comments relate to Eon's senior management, not you buddy.