SSE Reconnection costs business premises

skegyuk

Hi,

I have taken on a small workshop for furniture restoration.

I called SSE before I signed the lease to ask about the electricity reconnection as they had previously cut it off. I was told they wouldn't be able to do anything until they had a copy of the signed lease. I would then have to pay £82 reconnection charge.

I handed over my 3 months deposit and month upfront and signed the lease, then sent it off to SSE. They have come back, done a credit check on me (as I am not setting up a LTD company)and told me I will need to pay a £80.50 reconnection charge and pay a £500 security deposit!

I am annoyed as I wouldn't have signed a lease if I had known about this cost. They say it is incase the business goes under but as I am not a LTD company I would be liable for any outstanding costs- they have all my personal details.

Has anyone encountered this? I am just starting a new business and cannot afford to have £500 sitting with SSE.

Any advice would be really appreciated!

Amy

dogshome

I think that you are stuck with it
As the power had been disconnected, the chances are the previous tenant had moved out still owing power bills - SSE know full well that as they are the existing supplier, you cannot go elsewhere yet and are covering their tail.

Get onto SSE and ask what tariff you will be on when the power is re-connected - You are a business and business Energy supply contracts are an absolute minefield, and even though you can't shift supplier at the moment you could well be on a punative "Out of Contract " tariff
SSE though difficult, want your business so the time to negotiate your tariff prices and contract length, is before they reconnect

As soon as your new business opens, you will be inundated with phone calls from brokers wanting to sign you up for Energy supplies - BE VERY CAREFUL what you say on the phone as these brokers will try to get you to a agree to a "Verbal" contract without you haveing seen a hard copy of the contract and it's small print.