Scottish Power frustration

Qwiksilver

I will try and keep this as brief as possible.
Mother in law passed away 1 year ago. Solicitor completed probate and informed all relevant parties of address for future correspondence. All with the exception of Scottish Power now correspond directly with me.
House has been empty for 1 year awaiting sale.
Council tax , factors fee etc continue to be invoiced and paid on time.
Scottish power however continue to send estimated bills directly to solicitor despite him informing them in writing and my wife telling them over the phone following receipt of last estimated bill.
New estimated bill arrived today (via solicitor) for £217.
I called them tonight and have been assured that it will all now be sorted. However when i asked them to provide an accurate up to date bill they gave me the old spiel about "we are only legally required to read your meter once every 2 years". As we live nearly 400 miles away reading the meter may prove problematic.We have no family in the area who can do it for us either. When I informed them that i have no intention of paying estimated bills I was informed that as we have now taken over the account for the property we are "deemed to have accepted their terms and conditions which require us to provide a meter reading or pay the estimated bill"
My question is therefore is the above statement regarding acceptance of terms and conditions correct?
Sorry it is so long but i assure you it could have been so much longer had I relayed all the nonsense we have had with this lamentable company.

Man_Overboard_2

Qwiksilver wrote: »

New estimated bill arrived today (via solicitor) for £217

Surely, the best person to advise you on the legality of the bill is the Solicitor to whom it was sent?

Terrylw1

If the meter reading when you took over matched your opening reading, you could give that and explain its vacant.

That put the ball in their court and to prove you wrong, they would need to send out a meter reader.

They may otherwise just refuse in which case raise a complaint and watch them shut it down quickly by sending out a meter reader.

The problem is that their system will estimate in the absence of readings so it won't be resolved next time. To do this, they would need to follow the vacant sites process to insert zero values but even then they could issue an estimate in error.

You are in a Deemed contract at a minimum so have agreed to t&c's but your case isn't simple due to the distances involved.

Is there any way to get someone your mother in law knew to do it until you have sold the house?

Pincher

Who will let the meter reader in?

Qwiksilver

Thank you Terry.

To date we have provided 2 meter readings. One following my MIL's death to the solicitor for probate (turns out they had overcharged her to the tune of some £290). One was supplied direct to them via my wife following an estimated bill sent fao.my wife but to solicitors address (grandson traveled 40 miles to read it). The solicitor and my wife have both informed them of new address and that the property is vacant. They have confirmed that they do indeed have this information but continue to send grossly over estimated bills to the wrong address.

Pincher,
it is sheltered housing and the warden can provide access.

Can i just clarify , should it transpire that we owe them anything however unlikely given it is empty , we will pay them immediately upon receipt of a correctly calculated bill.