E.on Rep Please Help

JTdeVR

I have logged on here as I have seen from other threads that this is a remarkably efficient way of contacting help from E.on.

I have an account by default with E.on on a property which I let out. Previous tenants Mr and Mrs Devine were customers of E.on and during their 5 year tenure between 2005 and 2010 had a key meter installed due I suspect to their general struggle to pay anything that looked remotely like a bill. They kindly transferred the account into my name when they left but omitted to point out that there was a debt on the meter before they dissappeared into the ether. The incoming tenants, Mr and Mrs Kirk rightly complained to E.on about the outstanding debt when they took over the property in November 2010 which they recall as being a little over £100. As I understand it E.on agreed to waive it at that time. I also asked E.on to remove the key meter (they said no) and to acknowledge that the account holder was now Mrs Kirk

Fast forward to this year. I have had a surprise demand for payment in full for £112.44 within 7 days from "Ian Smedley" of E-on dated 16th July. However I had not had any prior correspodance associated with this demand which was therefore baffling. Speaking to my tenants they received a letter last month welcoming them to their new home (as of 13th November 2010) and welcoming them as account holders of E.on from that date. They reminded me about the sum that was "waived" between the two tenancies and we are guessing it relates to this. I cannot give you the number of my account because the demand does not list it but I would be happy to give you the postcode although my name should bring up the account as it is the only one I have with E.on

It is unfortunate that this demand came out with no bill/warning at the start of the holiday season because before it has been attended to Smedley and his team have sold the debt onto Pastdue Credit Solutions who have sent a Formal Demand for payment and an administration fee of £22.49

My greatest concern in Smedley's demand is the threat to report my "payment behaviour to a Credit Reference Agency"
I have (I believe) an unblemished credit record which is very important to me as I regularly seek funding for business activities.

What I would like help with is:

Please can you identify when and what the £112.44 is for?
Do you have a record of a bill being sent to me as unfortunately I don't and I cannot make any payments without an up to date invoice?
Can you justify my liability for the bill - I recall that the property was empty for say 4 to 6 weeks but nothing was left running, I would accept a token sum as there must be a standing charge and a small electric drain (no gas to the property) and E-on should not be out of pocket if I do owe something but I believe the bulk of the bill is owed by E-on's previous customer. I do not have meter readings from two years ago and anyway it's a key meter isn't that supposed to negate such problems?
Please contact Pastdue credit solutions (case number 4404573) on my behalf - E.on have sent the wolves out, they should get them back including settling any fees!
Please send me written confirmation with evidence that my credit record has not been tarnished by this error
Please come and take your card meter out of the property.

Many thanks in advance

Toby Rush

Terrylw1

There are a few different points in here:

- you and you tenants are not liable for a debt for another tenant. It was up to Eon to chase them for this. There is no waiver, you are not liable and they cannot legally pursue you for this.

- the PPM is up to them, they can charge to change it. Its worth mentioning that some suppliers will do it to gain or retain you.

- whilst you are the owner, you stated your tenants take responsibility for the utilities hence only they can ask for the meter change as they are the suppliers customer. If there was no tenant, you become liable as the owner hence you could ask for the meter change.

- for the period inbetween tenants, you become liable and have to set an account up. So, any bill should just be for standing charge plus any usage which is going to be minor.

- its just too much of a coincidence that this has all started happening now. I suspect that nothing has been happening and they have just discovered an account sitting in suspense for you and your later tenants. This quite likely means readings have been estimated which would inflate your bill since its based on consumption of the tenants.

- if the above point is true, then the supplier shouldn't be back billing for more than 12 months per the billing code and if nothing billed for energy at all, by the Ofgem back billing directive. This would wipe yours out but your tenants may have been billed further than they should.

- the tenants also need to look at the impact of estimated opening readings. Did any of you take readings for the moves?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Toby

On first look, it sounds as though there's been issues with the changes of tenancy.

When Mr & Mrs Devine left, did they or you give us full details including closing meter readings and a forwarding address?

If you did, your tenants account will have been closed down and a new one opened for the person taking over responsibility for the property.

A final bill will have been raised for the Devines which will include any remaining debt on the meter. This debt won't be waived but will be followed up with those responsible for it ie the Devines.

New payment devices will be sent out to clear the debt from the meter.

As the landlord, I'm assuming you were the person responsible for the period between the Devines moving out and the Kirks moving in.

Again, did the Kirks or you give us full details when responsibility changed? If you did, this will also have resulted in a final bill to you for this period. Is this the disputed bill?

Before accounts are passed to external debt agencies, a number of attempts are made to contact those responsible. If we were given a forwarding address, correspondence will have gone there. If we weren't, it will have gone to the property in question.

As the Kirks only received their welcome pack last month, I suspect there's been a breakdown somewhere within this chain.

With the correct information, I'm sure this can soon be sorted out. We'll need the dates responsibility changed (copies of the relevant Tenancy Agreements will help) and any meter readings if poss.

Key meters send us readings each time they're topped up. If there are no top-ups at the time, I'm afraid, we won't have readings for the actual dates in question.

As Mrs Kirk is now the account holder, she is the one who needs to request the meter be replaced. There are certain requirements that need to be met before we'll do this though. There's also a fee of £51.06 for the work.

I've tried searching for your account by name but am coming up with a blank. If you drop an email to the address in my Profile with the Post Code and property number, I'll be happy to take a look for you.

Malc

JTdeVR

Dear Terry and Malc, thank you for taking the time to reply.

I contacted the Letting Agent who acts for me and fortunately he has the meter readings (always takes a photo apparently) and has offered to take up the cudgel on my behalf.

I'm delighted to hear I can get the meter removed for a modest fee, I'll ask the current tenants to get it removed and refund them. I am surprised that E.on are allowed to install equipment in my property that requires a fee for removal without my written consent to do so?!

Malc I'll not step on the agents by asking you to enquire at the same time but if there is anything more when he's finished I'll get back to you.

Many thanks

Toby

Terrylw1

Just to add, the meter is the property of one of the suppliers agents, not the home owner/occupant. So, they can under their licence, pursuade a customer yo change to a PPM to get them to manager their debt or use a Rights Of Entry warrant to obtain access to forcefit one.

Both are perfectly legal under the utility acts as long as the correct process is followed.

The only time a supplier can't, is if it requires some form of damage to the property to do it. For instance, drilling or fitting a collector meter which has to be wired into the flat from the main meter.

In cases where tenants as for meter changes, suppliers should be stating to tenants that the should consult their landlord, but the contract really is between the supplier and the tenant.