Scottishpower - accepting monetary offer v Ombudsman

Grumpyoldwoman_2

Hi, I am trying to sort out my elderly parents' SP account.

SP cancelled their contract in error. It was not requested by my parents, SP just actioned it. Parents (step-father 87 and blind) have not paid by dd for Jan, Feb & March 2014. They have not withheld payment deliberately.

I have written to Lynda Clayton (one of their directors). Received no reply. I have also made several calls, posted on Facebook and Twitter. Sent email to Neil Clitheroe (CEO).Received reply from Director's Support Team. Their offer is to waive half of the 3 months' gas & electric charges and start normal monthly collections in April. This, apparently, is their 'final offer' and if my parents don't accept it then they must go to the Ombudsman and SP will withdraw their offer.

The problem is compounded as parents' fixed rate deal ends on 31/3/14.

In my letter to Lynda Clayton, I asked that all costs incurred from the date SP cancelled to the date I got the account reinstated should be waived. Is this reasonable do you think? What should we do now?

greyteam1959

Personally I would accept Scottish Powers offer & move on.
My opinion only.........

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Grumpyoldwoman wrote: »

Hi, I am trying to sort out my elderly parents' SP account.

SP cancelled their contract in error. It was not requested by my parents, SP just actioned it. Parents (step-father 87 and blind) have not paid by dd for Jan, Feb & March 2014. They have not withheld payment deliberately.

I have written to Lynda Clayton (one of their directors). Received no reply. I have also made several calls, posted on Facebook and Twitter. Sent email to Neil Clitheroe (CEO).Received reply from Director's Support Team. Their offer is to waive half of the 3 months' gas & electric charges and start normal monthly collections in April. This, apparently, is their 'final offer' and if my parents don't accept it then they must go to the Ombudsman and SP will withdraw their offer.

The problem is compounded as parents' fixed rate deal ends on 31/3/14.

In my letter to Lynda Clayton, I asked that all costs incurred from the date SP cancelled to the date I got the account reinstated should be waived. Is this reasonable do you think? What should we do now?

What would be reasonable would be to pay for the energy as if the mistake had never happened ie. nobody loses.

What would be unfair is if SP were somehow penalising you ie. billing at a higher rate.

SP are being more than reasonable by writing off half the debt. Take their offer.

Nada666

Grumpyoldwoman wrote: »

In my letter to Lynda Clayton, I asked that all costs incurred from the date SP cancelled to the date I got the account reinstated should be waived. Is this reasonable do you think? What should we do now?

No it is not reasonable.

I advise you to stick your heels in, tell Scottish Power where to stick their offer, and go to the Ombudsman. That way you will lose out, have to pay one hundred percent of the usage, and receive a token compensation of only £20 or £25 instead.

What on earth is possessing you to think you are being reasonable? Fifty percent off a winter bill is not enough? Why do you think you should not be paying for your usage?

wakeupalarm

Just to add to the other comments here, the ombudsman service is paid for by the energy companies to keep their complaints out of court. It it totally toothless and awards a pittance of compensation for the stress and aggravation not to mention time and costs incurred pursuing complaints against energy companies.

Take their offer, get it confirmed in writing, and then switch energy companies.

matelodave

I think Nada is a bit harsh but I have to agree with him - just take the money and go somewhere else.
It may be aggravating and annoying but chucking your rattle out of the pram and trying to fight a point of principle will just cost you more time, aggro and most likely money as well as you'll have to pay all the outstanding bill and not just 50% and may not get any compensation at all - Move on.

Froglet

You are very lucky to have got in touch with Scottish Power at all!! There are hundreds,probably thousands who would love SP to actually contact them,and answer their phones or emails but they never do.They run their website appallingly,do not give any indication when you change a tariff that they recognise it and so on.Fed up with them as are many people.

cing0

I'd send acceptance of the offer using the SP online contact form (which sends you a confirmation email of what’s written) and put a deadline in it to pay up by with full account holders details & reference numbers. When they don't, claim it back in the county court and add on a couple of hundred for costs (well, your step father can't fill in the form as they don't have one in braille).
Not tried this (yet) so can't advise if they would settle out of court or defend.

All you will get from the ombudsman is 6 months waiting to tell you that you won't get any more than the offer.
Move suppliers.