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British Gas send bailiffs to company in error
Hi,
British Gas sent a bailiff to my coffee shop for 'non payment of a bill from September'. I told the bailiff all bills had been paid and asked my office to contact British Gas. This took some time. The bailiff told me it doesn't matter as the electrician had arrived and he was going to cut the electricity no matter what and told me to empty the shop. He then laughed, cut the power and told everyone to leave himself.
When I got through to British Gas they admitted that they had made an error and all payments are up to date. We had to close for 3 hours (during our busiest trading period) due to no power. It came back on at quarter to 5 by which time it was too late to reopen as the coffee machine takes a further 2 hours to start up.
What are the laws when it comes to bailiffs? Our shop is in a row of shops with meters around the back, outside of our actual shop.
Can I sue them? Or British Gas for loss of earnings? And also for him telling my customers to get out?
Many thanks in advance
:mad::mad::mad::mad:
British Gas sent a bailiff to my coffee shop for 'non payment of a bill from September'. I told the bailiff all bills had been paid and asked my office to contact British Gas. This took some time. The bailiff told me it doesn't matter as the electrician had arrived and he was going to cut the electricity no matter what and told me to empty the shop. He then laughed, cut the power and told everyone to leave himself.
When I got through to British Gas they admitted that they had made an error and all payments are up to date. We had to close for 3 hours (during our busiest trading period) due to no power. It came back on at quarter to 5 by which time it was too late to reopen as the coffee machine takes a further 2 hours to start up.
What are the laws when it comes to bailiffs? Our shop is in a row of shops with meters around the back, outside of our actual shop.
Can I sue them? Or British Gas for loss of earnings? And also for him telling my customers to get out?
Many thanks in advance
:mad::mad::mad::mad:
0
Comments
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Yes you can sue them.
make an account of your losses with an estimate for damage to the business caused by instructing customers to leave whilst eating.
Send the bill as a demand, making it very clear it serves as a notice before action after 14 days if unpaid.Be happy...;)0 -
Sorry I dont have enough knowledge to say whether you can sue them but wanted to say I am really hoping that you can, thats a disgusting way to treat customers. Good luck.Slimming World at target0
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Hi,
British Gas sent a bailiff to my coffee shop for 'non payment of a bill from September'. I told the bailiff all bills had been paid and asked my office to contact British Gas. This took some time. The bailiff told me it doesn't matter as the electrician had arrived and he was going to cut the electricity no matter what and told me to empty the shop. He then laughed, cut the power and told everyone to leave himself.
When I got through to British Gas they admitted that they had made an error and all payments are up to date. We had to close for 3 hours (during our busiest trading period) due to no power. It came back on at quarter to 5 by which time it was too late to reopen as the coffee machine takes a further 2 hours to start up.
What are the laws when it comes to bailiffs? Our shop is in a row of shops with meters around the back, outside of our actual shop.
Can I sue them? Or British Gas for loss of earnings? And also for him telling my customers to get out?
Many thanks in advance
:mad::mad::mad::mad:
Were they bailiffs? Bailiffs come from the county court and have certain limited rights; they can be difficult to deal with. On the other hand if it was debt collectors who turned up, they are relatively easy to deal with. Debt collectors have virtually no rights, and even bailiffs were out of order if they forced people to leave. Take them to the cleaners; BG and the debt collectors, if that's who they were.0 -
Hi,
British Gas sent a bailiff to my coffee shop for 'non payment of a bill from September'. I told the bailiff all bills had been paid and asked my office to contact British Gas. This took some time. The bailiff told me it doesn't matter as the electrician had arrived and he was going to cut the electricity no matter what and told me to empty the shop. He then laughed, cut the power and told everyone to leave himself.
When I got through to British Gas they admitted that they had made an error and all payments are up to date. We had to close for 3 hours (during our busiest trading period) due to no power. It came back on at quarter to 5 by which time it was too late to reopen as the coffee machine takes a further 2 hours to start up.
What are the laws when it comes to bailiffs? Our shop is in a row of shops with meters around the back, outside of our actual shop.
Can I sue them? Or British Gas for loss of earnings? And also for him telling my customers to get out?
Many thanks in advance
:mad::mad::mad::mad:
The bailiffs will only act on a valid court order. Presumably they showed you a copy of this when they turned up?
You should have been advised by the court in advance that a hearing was to take place regarding the application of a warrant to terminate your electricity supply.
I think your first post here is already getting into the realms of fantasy :cool:0 -
The bailiffs will only act on a valid court order. Presumably they showed you a copy of this when they turned up?
You should have been advised by the court in advance that a hearing was to take place regarding the application of a warrant to terminate your electricity supply.
I think your first post here is already getting into the realms of fantasy :cool:
As you say, there would have be letter after letter from BG and then the Court informing you of the hearing date.
The only possibility I can think of is that the baliffs got the wrong property.
If the situation is exactly as the OP states, get a solicitor, BG will pay compensation and for the OP's solicitor.0 -
They also even get the wrong supplier, Brit Gas came to a very busy coffee shop at Doncasters Lakeside a few years ago in order to cut the electric off, the shop was supplied by Npower.As you say, there would have be letter after letter from BG and then the Court informing you of the hearing date.
The only possibility I can think of is that the baliffs got the wrong property.
If the situation is exactly as the OP states, get a solicitor, BG will pay compensation and for the OP's solicitor.0 -
...The only possibility I can think of is that the baliffs got the wrong property...
That is certainly a possibility. Anyone can make a mistake, hence why I asked if they were shown the warrant. The warrant would have the address stated on it.
I was watching a TV programme last week that filmed the police carrying out a drugs raid on a suspected property. They turned up on this estate, pointed out the door that they thought was the suspect's and then, using an enforcer tool, proceeded to smash it in and rush into the property.
They then came out rather sheepishly as they admitted to having smashed down the wrong door. The one they should have done was around the corner, so they went and did that one too where they caught the suspect dealer.
The narrator then said the police paid for a new door to be fitted at the first address that they smashed in by mistake.0 -
sacsquacco wrote: »They also even get the wrong supplier, Brit Gas came to a very busy coffee shop at Doncasters Lakeside a few years ago in order to cut the electric off, the shop was supplied by Npower.
Are you sure? Sounds like a possible wrong address again.
Why would British Gas apply for (let alone a court award) a warrant if they didn't even supply the premises?0 -
Are you sure? Sounds like a possible wrong address again.
Why would British Gas apply for (let alone a court award) a warrant if they didn't even supply the premises?
not checking the databaseDon't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.0
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