Business Electricity account with opus!

minichooper

hi everyone, i'm new to this so thank you for reading my post.

I'm in dispute with opus at the moment and requested a copy of my contract in Feb 2012 and they still have not sent it to me, of course i have chased them several times. since Feb 2012, i paid £1800 already towards the account but i believe the rate they billed me is incorrect, hence thats why i want to see the contract. They keep promising to send the contract but keep asking me to pay contribution towards the account. they said the same thing again today promise to send me the contract but enough is enough, I refused to pay and the guy was nasty on the phone. He said opus already added £542.92 late payment fee to my account and if i don't pay £300 today, they will add £511.86 late payment charge, so in total £1054.78 late payment charges. i stated that i have no invoice or any record of the late payment charges, they said they just add it on the account and it doesn't show on the bill. can they accurately do that....? can i refuse to pay now the bill until i know it is correct...?



please help

Terrylw1

Suggest starting here by checking the t&c's.

http://www.opusenergy.com/business-customers/opus-energy-electricity/customer-focused-care/opus-standard-terms-and-conditions/

Its not openly available, always a mark of a poor company or website design, as its in the site map...so its buried somewhere!

Check that about the charges. Some suppliers add fixed charges, some are X% above X banks base rate, some quote the % one but used fixed charges in reality...so you will have to check that stacks up.

I can't see that Ofgem's Standard Licence Conditions (SLC) give you any further protection regarding accessing the principle terms as its all in the domestic customer protection sections.

Suggest seeing if there is anything in their t&c's.

Here is the Ofgem SLC page if you want a look, use the supplier .pdf's.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Licensing/Work/Pages/licence-conditions-consolidated.aspx

Not sure if there is anything covered in the utility act. Its unlikely given it was very lax for domestic customers back the.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/27/contents

Can you find anything under contract law or information to push for your rates?

Opus have been monitoring this board recently and posted an email address which you should try. They don't seem to have the integrity to apply to use the board and help their customers, might help your case though.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4039243

dogshome

I'm afraid that the rules laid down by Ofgem on Terms of Business and how customers seek redress in the event of a complaint, are mostly designed for Domestic Customers - However in 2011 they did set down a few rules on Business Contracts - See 'Microbusinesses' on their website

Basically Business users are on their own and have to rely on Contract law for which you will need a Legal Eagle, but before you go to one you need to WRITE a letter to Opus setting out the history of your calls requesting a copy of the contract, and if you had not had one, a demand for a fully detailed bill listing dates/meter readings/charges

So far as the "Late payment Fee's" are concerned, for these to be payable the contract must list exactly the circumstances in which they will be applied, and how the sums charged are calculated.

However there are a couple of things in your post

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi

Opus has asked to post a response. MSE doesn't endorse anything a company says on the forum.

“I am sorry to hear about your reported problems. This doesn't match the high standards we set ourselves and so I’d like to personally look into this for you. If you’d like to discuss the problems further please do contact me directly at operationsdirector@opusenergy.com and quote the code MS03 so that I can help. Andy Nash, Opus Operations Director”

Terrylw1

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Hi

Opus has asked to post a response. MSE doesn't endorse anything a company says on the forum.

“I am sorry to hear about your reported problems. This doesn't match the high standards we set ourselves and so I’d like to personally look into this for you. If you’d like to discuss the problems further please do contact me directly at operationsdirector@opusenergy.com and quote the code MS03 so that I can help. Andy Nash, Opus Operations Director”

Should they not just register so they can do this?

Whilst the Eon reps offer excellent service on this board and always offer advice, the SP & Npower reps prefer to ask to be contacted so Opus could do the same to reduce you having to do it for them.