Pre payment meter, estimated leaving costs and threatened with debt

Viberduo

Basically I moved in around 10th of March thought he contract began 20th February and on the 26th May changed supplier, I told new supplier the meter was £3.26 in debt when it changed(though the £3.26 seemed to carry over as the amount stayed the same on the screen)

Added to this I spend the odd weekend away at parents and once away for a week.

The old company has decided I owe £42 debt, this is actually the 3rd time in 3 years I have had the same problem with this company(Scottish Power) at previous addresses though each time a phone call sorted it but this time is with debt collector.

I did get the usual if you dont pay you will get a default story from the company but they refuse to show me any proof of money just told me conflicting things like as I only topped up when needed that each time I topped up the rates could of changed so if I left it a week or more then I have that amount of money since the rates changed becomes debt even though it didnt show, also was told that despite having a date confirmed by old and new supplier of the change over that it may have taken up to a week to actually change so any top up I made with the new supplier and dongle was actually funds due to old supplier.

This does not take into account that each period I was away and every appliance turned off and the fusebox had all the flip swithces off and had the power to the entire flat off so the only thing with power was the meter itself and the usage each day was exactly the amount of the standing charge.

Now I said I am happy to pay this £3.26 charge but did query the fact that it carried over so what are my rights?

datlex

Have you contacted their complaints department rather than their customer services department? Companies do not like complaints. If you get no where there, consider going to Ofgem and raising the issue with them. You will probably find the complaints department will be enough to resolve your problem.

[Deleted User]

When you are away , the meter will be clocking up a weekly standing charge to be paid, its over £2 a week now. I think the standing charge debt is shown on screen " A " on Landys and Gyr prepay meters with a minus sign against the ammount. The other meters will show the word "debt " in small letters against the ammount on screen "A". Maybe that is the debt which has built up. We all pay a standing charge on electric meters, prepays pay it weekly

Viberduo

Yes I meant whilst I was away even with the trip switch off the meter went down by the exact amount of the standing charge but the previous time I had problems at old address I was told the standing charge comes off on each topup and its not automatic though was not told that this time.

Thanks so far

Viberduo

Got a copy of bill today what they have done is charged me for standing charges from the day I moved in till the service ended despite the meter taking them off as well.

What can I do now

markharding557

As you may be a low user who is away some of the time, i suggest a tariff with no standing charge such as ebicos