Paying the prostitutes electricity!

flashnazia

Help this is urgent!

The charity I work for has been in a long dispute with electricity company about an electric bill for a meter that nobody can prove is ours.

This gas bill was being sent to the BROTHEL next door (we are in a commercial building).

They kept ignoring it and eventually the landlord got involved and claimed the bill was ours.

The amount owed on it is HUGE!

There is no way we could have used this much whereas the brothel place has saunas and hot showers etc.

The electricity company didn't give us any joy as to the owner of the meter concerned.

The landlord then paid the bill (I think) and deducted it from a rent rebate we were due (we pay exorbitant rent so you can see why the landlord knows we are pushovers).

SO we stopped paying the rent (to equal amount landlord deducted)

Now they have threatened to send in bailiffs despite no ccj. Boss just sent a cheque today.

I am thinking of asking her to stop the cheque (Feels like I'm the only one who cares about this place as it's my livelihood).

My feeling is that we could have contested this in court. Even if they had sent bailiff they can't take anything that is needed for the business...

Am I barking up the wrong tree? I am so ANGRY!

Ken68

MPAS....Meter Point Adminstration Service is on 0845 600 0102....they should be able to confirm owners and perhaps users of the meter.

tripled

Get the serial numbers of your meters and don't pay any bills for any different meters.

flashnazia

Tried MPAS and all the rest of it (this has been going on for more than a year) and it's of no use. Nobody can confirm who the meter belongs to!

Ken68

Hi Flash, your original post is not too clear...are you disputing an electric bill or a gas bill ?
And you should have your own meters surely. Opportunity for a real fiddle otherwise.

waster_2

You need to take the initiative. You need to be able to prove whether or not the meter is yours. And then, whether any consumption recorded on the meter is being used solely by you, shared with A N Other or not being used by you at all.

In my view the only way to resolve this is by employing either a suitable electrician or electrical engineer to investigate on your behalf. they will be able to trace what circuits are fed from that meter and who enjoys the benefit of them. Armed with their expert advice you will then be able to take the appropriate action. But, be prepared to be told theat it's your meter and your resposible for the power used. This may especially be the case if the Brothel has been using your power by tapping in somewhere after or at the meter. Trying to prove their theft of your power will be, IMO, a futile exercise as the chances of getting them to pay you back are pretty slim. However, hopefully your electrical consultant will come up with some good news and you can then get on with claiming your money back and/or compo from whoever for all the cost and expenses you've been put to. To that end I would suggest that you advise the landlord what you are proposing to do, say you consider he has unlawfully retained money that was not due and that if he does not return it then all losses, costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith you will want to recover from him, via the Court if necessary. Also advise him what you are doin about establishing the user of the metered power and again any costs that you incur in that repect, if the meter is subsequently independently proved not to be yours will also need to be reimbursed by him.

Stand up to this bully boy, but take the initiative to get sorted. Good luck.

waster_2

BTW, should have said best to get sorted ASAP else otherwise you'll continue having the same problem when the next and subsequent bills arrive.

ptee

Have you tried unplugging everything and turn of all lights etc, if the meter is still turning then someone else must be using that meter

That seems too simple maybe i'vemissed something

flashnazia

Thanks for the advice.

They did try the switching off of lights etc but still didn't figure it out from that as we have some shared areas etc.

It's all a mess. Anyway, boss has decided it's too expensive to contest anymore as it's £200 a quarter so we will just pay it from now on until lease expires as getting a engineer or legal advice is going to rack up the cost.

mancitychick

I am shocked by your boss's response, especially as your a charity. I bet a private co wouldn't just pay the bill!

rosscobley

What elec suppiler are you with???

Call them up and ask them to book a job to de energise the meter (Pull the main fuse out) once they come and do that then You will then see who comes out running when they have no elec.

At the same time as booking a job to de energise ask the company to book you a job for the next day to re energise the meter.
Just in case it is yours... If they de energise and your elec is still on phone up the elec company and cancel the re energise job let who ever's meter it is sort it out