Scottish Power overcharged me £1300 and are evading making a refund

spcustomer

Some years ago now I read one of my electricity bills fully for the first time. I discovered Scottish Power were charging me the same rate for Economy 7 as for standard power. I emailed them asking how long they had been doing this and they didn't tell me, but they replied that they had overcharged me by £1300 and would send a cheque.

They then sent a cheque for £300, leaving me £1000 short, and have in various ways been ducking and diving over the years ever since to avoid paying me

I told them if they would not refund me I would go into arrears by £1000 thereby obliging them to take me to court (as I thought I would be able to resolve things that way) but they never did, and now, after more than the statutory 6 years for such claims they have still not done so, and pester me on a regular basis, billing me not just an extra £1000 but also their arbitrary extra charges for non-payment!

Meanwhile, not trusting them with a direct debit, I made a standing order for the amount their rep said my electricity would cost - and at the same time removed all my Economy 7 equipment, thus reducing my consumption considerably.

But they still keep adding to my alleged arrears. Is there some kind of creative accounting going on?

rogerblack

spcustomer wrote: »

(as I thought I would be able to resolve things that way) but they never did, and now, after more than the statutory 6 years for such claims they have still not done so

If they have not either acknowledged they owe this debt in writing , or made payments on it, starting the clock again - this debt _NO_LONGER_EXISTS_.

You should have chased this at the time, involving the courts if needed.

If they have acknowledged the debt (the £1000) within 6 years, then start an official complaint, and escalate to the ombudsman.

As I understand it, it's a completely seperate matter that you have a debt to them now.
Also, 'paying only what the rep said' - this will relate more to your consumption per kWh.

dogshome

The 6 year clock started on the day you first Emailed SP with your billing query
ie You could only ask them to go back through 6 years of your billing from that day - But once they had accepted the error, there is no time limit on how long negotiations should take to reach a solution.

A letter with a £300 cheque isn't good enough, you ar entitled to a financial statement as to how this figure was reached - but simply not paying their bills just muddies the water -WRITE to SP heading your letter setting Complaint, setting out your case concisely asking for a detailed statement of your bills for the 6 years prior to your first contcact, and figures as to how the £300 figure was reached.

Scottish_Power

Sp customer I did offer assistance with your query in another thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/58877603#Comment_58877603

That offer still stands. Send me an e-mail and I will look into it for you. [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL]

Thanks David

spcustomer

Thank you David of Scottish Power.

I was not actually 'seeking assistance with my query'.

I was seeking my money and I am still trying to get an honest, straightforward, non-evasive answer from Scottish Power, some honest accounting from Scottish Power and some compensation. I will not be willing, either, to pay for Scottish Power to look through the accounts as originally suggested by them.

If you would like to discuss this matter online I will dig out my account number and publish it for all to see - but only if you will undertake to deal with the matter online as well.

Transaparency is what is needed for the sake of everybody.

spcustomer

It would not be difficult to come to the conlusion that at least one other writer here than David of Scottish Power is also employed by Scottish Power, but that is neither here nor there. David has not responded to my invitation to discuss the matter online.

The questions I need answered are:

1 How did Scottish Power suddenly arrive at an extra £1000 to charge me?

2. Why were they not willing to give a breakdown of the account at that time without my paying them £14 a sheet for the paperwork?

3. They sent me an email giving me a contact at Ofelec to whom I was to direct my complaint who then, apart from persuading me to part with another £200, did nothing and made no ruling thereafter. Why? Was he in fact just another part of Scottish Power?

4. I expect it is fairly well known that Scottish Power around 2003-7 had some people in their accounting department who gave themselves special low-rate charges and were subsequently brought before the courts and found guilty of that. Is there any reason to suppose that they stopped at that? Could they be a way of accounting for my missing £1000? And if they are, should Scottish Power be responsible rather than me?

5. Why have all my requests for a serious look at the accounts been ignored? I would now like them looked at in front of the public.

6. I have at least one bill here that has an 'actual' meter reading allegedly taken on a day when I was away and the house was locked up. Is there a way of accounting for that?

Come on David. I will not be willing to give you my account number unless you agree. The longer you leave it, the more questions are likely to emerge.

vuvuzela

spcustomer wrote: »

It would not be difficult to come to the conlusion that at least one other writer here than David of Scottish Power is also employed by Scottish Power, but that is neither here nor there. David has not responded to my invitation to discuss the matter online.

The questions I need answered are:

1 How did Scottish Power suddenly arrive at an extra £1000 to charge me?

2. Why were they not willing to give a breakdown of the account at that time without my paying them £14 a sheet for the paperwork?

3. They sent me an email giving me a contact at Ofelec to whom I was to direct my complaint who then, apart from persuading me to part with another £200, did nothing and made no ruling thereafter. Why? Was he in fact just another part of Scottish Power?

4. I expect it is fairly well known that Scottish Power around 2003-7 had some people in their accounting department who gave themselves special low-rate charges and were subsequently brought before the courts and found guilty of that. Is there any reason to suppose that they stopped at that? Could they be a way of accounting for my missing £1000? And if they are, should Scottish Power be responsible rather than me?

5. Why have all my requests for a serious look at the accounts been ignored? I would now like them looked at in front of the public.

6. I have at least one bill here that has an 'actual' meter reading allegedly taken on a day when I was away and the house was locked up. Is there a way of accounting for that?

Come on David. I will not be willing to give you my account number unless you agree. The longer you leave it, the more questions are likely to emerge.

You may well have a genuine grievance, but making foolish innuendo as in point 4 is not a way of winning sympathy for your case. As for refusing to give your account number until they agree to your demands, well, I hope that when hell does actually freeze over you have a good blanket.

Point 2 is massive overcharging. A Subject Access Request under the DPA would be a tenner maximum http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/personal_information.aspx

spcustomer

Thank you Vuvuzela.

Innuendo?

I occasionally read newspapers. I got the story of the Scottish Power accounting staff working a fiddle from one or two newspapers that reported it at the time. Most likely was the Financial Times. There was a court case. The staff were fined.

As to not giving David my account number, I am familiar with the technique. If they get that, they hope to take the matter out of public scrutiny by contacting me direct, and experience has shown that their only goal is to avoid resolving the matter. Public scrutiny might help them focus.

I have never heard of a Subject Access Request. What is it?

Joyful

Spcustomer

The Scottish Power reps have helped a lot of people on this forum and I believe you are cutting off your nose in not accepting the help they offer in the way it is offered. There is nothing stopping you giving the info then reporting back to people with your resolution but for them to help they will have to adhere to their company rules( or possibly MSE's as all reps help in the same way).

You appear to have a few issues and may need communication by phone to resolve. It may also need to be referred to different people to help with all your points. It would not work having have the info on here and half in person.

Scottish_Power

SPcustomer I'm sorry it is not possible to answer your questions unless you e-mail me your account details to investigate. I have no problem posting a response excluding any personal details here, or you can post my response to your e-mail if you like.

We are here to help our customers but we can't do that without their co-operation and it is always our intention to resolve issues.

Please do not post your account number online. Send it in an e-mail to [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] making reference to this thread and I will pick it up from there.

I will be unable to respond any further without this.

David

spcustomer

SP rep:

What is the reason you do not want me to post my account number here? It seems a very strange request, but obviously you have a reason.