warrant of execution electricity company installed pre-payment meter

song_mcbun

Hi guys,

Wonder if someone can clear a few things up.

I fell into arrears last year with electricity provider - Npower. We cam to an agreement on a repayment plan but unfortunately as I am self-employed I defaulted on payments again. Npower then refused to budge. They wanted to fit a pre-payment meter. My son's use of the internet for study (examination period) made me reluctant to agree.

Anyway, I was notified of Npower's - thru Utility Management Services - intention to make an application for warrant of execution. This would enable them to fit the meter. The court date was set for 20th May in a location 250 miles from my home. With work at a premium right now, and funds scarce I could not afford a 500 mile round trip on a weekday.

The following day three cowboy's arrived, informing me a warrant had been granted and they wanted to execute it. They showed me a piece of paper - supposedly proving said warrant - but could not give me a copy.
They told me unless I co-operated they would ring the police and force entry. I gave them access and 3 hours later the meter was fitted.

Having done some research there are a few anomalies which I would like to address:
i) I read on the CAB that you must be given notice that the warrant was issued and then given 7 days to make payment. I was given 1 day and not informed that the warrant was granted. Npower say that it says on their letter - notifying me that they will make an application for warrant - that they will call immediately at my property. This is true, but does it exempt them from the 7 days notice and notification of successful application?

ii) The amount outstanding has increased by almost £900 since yesterday. When I phoned Npower, I was told that:
£150 court fees
£50 engineer fees
£600 'other charges'.
Is this all legitimate?

iii) The debt collector couldn't provide me with a warrant and when I requested the warrant number from Npower they replied, 'You'll have to contact the court'. Is this standard practice?

lynz68

First of all I am no expert. Could you have come up with the arrears in the next 7 days anyway? If not then whether they fitted it today or next week is irrelevant.

Where you paying anything towards your electricity?

Going to Court will always add charges though that does seem a lot to me but then I have never been in this situation. About 10yrs or so ago I had a meter fitted as I did get a bit behind but I just let them install the meter I owed the money and it was the easiest option.

The arrears were paid off via the tariff in that I got less electricity for my money until the arrears were paid off.

Have they told you how they expect you to pay of the debt is it just by your meter?

I would ask them to clarify what is covered in other charges not sure if they will tell you though.

Unfortunately as you appear to have avoided the situation it has cost you far more.

Jonesy88

Hi,

You might get a more detailed answer on the utilities board.

However, i'll fill in what i know (i used to work ina very similar department)-

Yes engineer and court fees can definately be added on.

In order to go for disconnection, a pre-disconnection visit needs to be done (usually charged £23.50 for this)

This process is very lengthy and costly - you would/should have received several letters. For companies to be granted a warrant they have to prove they've contacted you and confirmed occupancy/no vulnerabilities etc.

In some cases a ppm can be fitted on a pre-disconnection visit, however warrant fees wouldnt be added.

Other costs can include: locksmiths (to gain entry), dog handlers etc.
I once saw a report requesting a snake handler as the occupant had released his snake in an attempt to avoid disconnection!

ETA: Npower also send a "rights of entry letter" early on in their debt collection cycle - this gives details of how they can ultimately go into your home to disconnect.

The court date was 20th May, and they came on the 21st so presumably it was granted. When was your last letter dated?

Building_Surveyor

How much was the original debt?

song_mcbun

lynz68 wrote: »

Could you have come up with the arrears in the next 7 days anyway?

Where you paying anything towards your electricity?

Thanks for response Lynz. Not all of the £800 but certainly some of. Sort of an irrelevant question tbh. I may not have been able to pay on the 19/05 but during those 7 days, financial circumstances could change. Those 7 days are there surely to afford people this opportunity in light of the latest development.

As fro regular payments - I had missed a payment in February and March but paid April's and May's bill.

song_mcbun

Jonesy88 wrote: »

Hi,

Yes engineer and court fees can definately be added on.

In order to go for disconnection, a pre-disconnection visit needs to be done (usually charged £23.50 for this)

This process is very lengthy and costly - you would/should have received several letters.

ETA: Npower also send a "rights of entry letter" early on in their debt collection cycle - this gives details of how they can ultimately go into your home to disconnect.

The court date was 20th May, and they came on the 21st so presumably it was granted. When was your last letter dated?

Thanks Jonesy. Can engineer, dog handler and court fees possibly total £800+, isn't there a limit to how much they can charge?

Only letter I have received - other than monthly bills- since defaulting was dated April 25th notifying me of their intention to apply for a warrant and the date set in court. Nothing prior or since.

Jonesy88

tbh i dont know of any limits - i know they cannot profit from these fees - only pass on what they incur.

patman99

I would write to Npower asking for a breakdown of the EXACT costs of what the £600 is.
Give them 28 days to respond, then if they don't, contact the regulator.

Court fees - if through the County Court Small claims division - likely to be no more than £80.

If you had requested a pre-pay meter to start with, they would have charged you nothing as you would simply be switching tariffs.

Here's a question, as you have the legal right to change energy providers (with pre-pay meters, the contract length is a nominal 1 month rolling, as my son discovered), what would happen if you were to phone-up a cheaper provider (Co-Op energy is the cheapest at the moment by a good margin (even without the yearly cashback via the annual divi))?. Npower are powerless to stop you as the meters are installed and owned by 'UK Power Networks' who take a small % from the energy supplier.

lynz68

They would still be chasing him for the money and I doubt another provider would be too keen to take on a customer who is in debt to current supplier which they would find out.

chanz4

song_mcbun wrote: »

Hi guys,

Wonder if someone can clear a few things up.

I fell into arrears last year with electricity provider - Npower. We cam to an agreement on a repayment plan but unfortunately as I am self-employed I defaulted on payments again. Npower then refused to budge. They wanted to fit a pre-payment meter. My son's use of the internet for study (examination period) made me reluctant to agree.

Anyway, I was notified of Npower's - thru Utility Management Services - intention to make an application for warrant of execution. This would enable them to fit the meter. The court date was set for 20th May in a location 250 miles from my home. With work at a premium right now, and funds scarce I could not afford a 500 mile round trip on a weekday.

The following day three cowboy's arrived, informing me a warrant had been granted and they wanted to execute it. They showed me a piece of paper - supposedly proving said warrant - but could not give me a copy.
They told me unless I co-operated they would ring the police and force entry. I gave them access and 3 hours later the meter was fitted.

Having done some research there are a few anomalies which I would like to address:
i) I read on the CAB that you must be given notice that the warrant was issued and then given 7 days to make payment. I was given 1 day and not informed that the warrant was granted. Npower say that it says on their letter - notifying me that they will make an application for warrant - that they will call immediately at my property. This is true, but does it exempt them from the 7 days notice and notification of successful application?

ii) The amount outstanding has increased by almost £900 since yesterday. When I phoned Npower, I was told that:
£150 court fees
£50 engineer fees
£600 'other charges'.
Is this all legitimate?

iii) The debt collector couldn't provide me with a warrant and when I requested the warrant number from Npower they replied, 'You'll have to contact the court'. Is this standard practice?

Your notice was the rights of entry notification on the pre-disconection visit.
Once a warrant is obtained they have 28 days to execute, and they normaly would tell you a date.

Inregards to your court, its your local magistrates that they are issued in.

Inregards to copys they are correct, as its an origional court stamped one and without it have no evidence of it been issued but you can call the court and they would confirm.


Inregards to fees,
£150 court fees standard
£50 engineer fees standard
£600 'other charges'. ( dog handler, other work you would need to ask for a breakdown)

chanz4

song_mcbun wrote: »

Thanks Jonesy. Can engineer, dog handler and court fees possibly total £800+, isn't there a limit to how much they can charge?

Only letter I have received - other than monthly bills- since defaulting was dated April 25th notifying me of their intention to apply for a warrant and the date set in court. Nothing prior or since.

Dog handler £150 plus