Pitfalls of taking energy supplier to court ?

boneofo

So I switch to an energy supplier on a specific tariff and I receive a final bill from them with something else and I'm down by nearly £100.

If I use a court to reclaim this, what defence or lies will British gas / EDF / E.on / npower / scottish power / SSE use to contest its written tariff & contract it sent ?
After warning them I need to pay for legal representation due to disability, will I be able to get these costs through which I will add onto the amount of claim ?
What £ figure of costs will cause the supplier to contest - your not likely to get more than about £100 from the Energy ombudsman 6 months later.

Also, is it common from suppliers to change your no standing charge tariff to SC tariff when no gas has been used. The previous company to this did not contest 0kwh usage on NSC.

Can anyone with direct experience reply please ?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

boneofo wrote: »

So I switch to an energy supplier on a specific tariff and I receive a final bill from them with something else and I'm down by nearly £100.

If I use a court to reclaim this, what defence or lies will British gas / EDF / E.on / npower / scottish power / SSE use to contest its written tariff & contract it sent ?
After warning them I need to pay for legal representation due to disability, will I be able to get these costs through which I will add onto the amount of claim ?
What £ figure of costs will cause the supplier to contest - your not likely to get more than about £100 from the Energy ombudsman 6 months later.

Also, is it common from suppliers to change your no standing charge tariff to SC tariff when no gas has been used. The previous company to this did not contest 0kwh usage on NSC.

Can anyone with direct experience reply please ?

If the crux of the issue is the fact you were moved from a NSC tariff to one with SC (which I think it is), then if your tariff was variable, you don't have much of a case. If the tariff was fixed, then the energy company is contractually obliged to charge you the stated tariff for the duration of the contract period.

OFGEM has decided the British public is too stupid to understand a two tier tariff system, and has mandated that all tariffs must consist of a standing charge and a unit rate. The standing charge can be 0p, as with ebico. This has had the effect of punishing low users, although it could be argued the standing charge reflects the real cost of maintaining supply, even if no energy is used.

Bark01

I think what you are stating is:

1) Signed up for tariff X (No standing Charge)
2) For your final statement you were billed for tariff Y (Standing Charge)

For us to help you you will need to tell us :

(a) which supplier you are with
(b) the name of the tariff you signed up for
(c) when you signed up to this tariff (doesn't need to be the exact date)
(d) the name of the tariff on your final bill
(e) The date of the last reading on your final bill

I expect what has happened is your original tariff has come to an end and you have been moved onto the suppliers standard tariff.

chanz4

OP ofgem forced the standing charge single tier for standard rates, your on a looser and taking to court could cost you your home

Cardew

chanz4 wrote: »

OP ofgem forced the standing charge single tier for standard rates, your on a looser and taking to court could cost you your home

There is not enough information from the OP to know if the case has merit - I suspect not!


However any legal action would surely be in the Small Claims Court. The advantage of that system is the costs are very low and you do not have to pay for your opponent's costs - unless they counter claim.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

You would not get your legal costs covered for if you make a claim under the small claims track. So if you got a solicitor those costs wouldnt be covered by the other side should you win

Cardew

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

You would not get your legal costs covered for if you make a claim under the small claims track. So if you got a solicitor those costs wouldnt be covered by the other side should you win

Agreed, but for a claim of £100 it would be unusual to get legal representation.


The point I was making is that seeking redress under the small claims track will not put 'your house at risk' as suggested.

taking to court could cost you your home

chanz4

Cardew wrote: »

Agreed, but for a claim of £100 it would be unusual to get legal representation.


The point I was making is that seeking redress under the small claims track will not put 'your house at risk' as suggested.

If you are wating a suppliers sols time, expect a counter claim. Ask undaunted what npower did to his friend

boneofo

Thanks for the advise.
2 different suppliers have done this - the online account management shows I signed up for a no standing charge variable tariff and none of the online letters amongst the history inform me of change. The date of change seem arbitrary and I'm never asked for a meter reading at the price change date. A number of price changes occur in the space of a few
months.

Bark01

This will be classed as a standard price change and will have happened at the date announced in the press.

As its a price change you have to be notified by letter, even if you are an online customer.

I'm afraid you have very little chance of winning this.