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opus energy out of contract rates !

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Hello

Our electricity provider has had us on out of contract rates since Jan 2012 , i did not get an expiry letter last year , however recieved one last week stating the expiry of the contract in Jan 2013 , i called to discuss a new contract and found out we have been paying this ` rollover ` rate , can i claim it back ?

any advice is greatly appreciated

thanks

edd

Comments

  • dogshome
    dogshome Posts: 3,878 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Visit Ofgem's web site and look at the pages for 'microbusinesses'

    From your post it would appear that you were on a 1 year contract that expired in Jan 2012 - What should have happened is that Opus should have written to you to 90 days before this contracts end, then you would have had 30 days to either find a new supplier or negotiate a new contract with Opus.

    Surpise, surprise, a large number of these 90 day letters seem to go missing in the post, then with no response from the contractee the supplier can start a new contract on whatever terms they like.
    The letter last week advising you of the present contracts end in Jan 2013, is in fact a 90 day letter and you have 30 days to find a new supplier or negotiate with Opus

    I'm afraid that re-visiting the prices you have been charged this year isn't really an option - The suppliers rely on established law that once a letter is posted, it is deemed to have been recieved - To challange Opus you would have to prove the letter was never sent, which is impossible
  • Terrylw1
    Terrylw1 Posts: 7,038 Forumite
    On top of Dogshome's post, look at Standard Licence Condition (SLC) 7 if you are classed as a microbusiness.

    Here is the link to Ofgem's site, use the supplier .PDF's.

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

    Opus have messed up here and shot themselves in the foot. If they had not sent anything at all now, they could have claimed the "we sent it, it must have got lost in the post" defence. By sending it now, when they have no need to if it went missing in the post, they seem to be admitting to not sending it before.

    Suggest using this to get out of the Deemed contract and switch away or argue a new contract rate. You should also argue you should have your previous months changed to reflect a possible rate if they had alerted you.

    You have to take some responsibility since your t&c's will contain all this but Ofgem have put the onus into suppliers to alert microbusinesses due to lots of them getting caught out in recent years, so you have some room to maneuver.
    :rotfl: It's better to live 1 year as a tiger than a lifetime as a worm...but then, whoever heard of a wormskin rug!!!:rotfl:
  • Hi!

    The company has asked to respond.

    Hello edd1234, my name is Andy Nash and I am the Operations Director at Opus. I would like to look into this for you, could you please send an email to operationsdirector@opusenergy.com and quote the reference MSE 121112 so that the team and I can help.
    Could you do with a Money Makeover?


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  • Terrylw1
    Terrylw1 Posts: 7,038 Forumite
    MSE_Andrea wrote: »
    Hi!

    The company has asked to respond.

    Hello edd1234, my name is Andy Nash and I am the Operations Director at Opus. I would like to look into this for you, could you please send an email to operationsdirector@opusenergy.com and quote the reference MSE 121112 so that the team and I can help.

    Are Opus able to set up a rep status account?
    :rotfl: It's better to live 1 year as a tiger than a lifetime as a worm...but then, whoever heard of a wormskin rug!!!:rotfl:
  • Hi, I know a business that was put into a contract with Opus energy through an energy broker called EnergiSave Online.

    It's owned by Janet Thornton and she also owns Inspired Energy based in Kirkham.

    It seems their only sales tactic is to hound and abuse customers until they sign with Opus Energy so I don't think any of it is Opus' fault - just the broker.

    You can read more here:

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4901283
This discussion has been closed.
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