Scottish Power debacle

Mish_Mash

Apologies for this post but am so very frustrated with Scottish power and Ovo that I need to rant!

My energy deal ended in Feb this year and so I used the energy comparison website and identified that Ovo would be a good company to swap to. I filled in the forms (as I have done many times before) and waited for the transfer process to complete.

About 5 - 7 days after I completed the forms, Scottish Power (who were then supplying my energy) called and offered me a deal. I agreed to stop the transfer to Ovo and remain with Scottish Power who said they would handle the cancellation etc and it wouldn't be an issue.

However 3 months later I am paying both Ovu and Scottish Power approx £110 a month. I haven't received the monies that were in credit on my Scottish Power account (I believe it was at least £200). I am probably now also owed money by Ovo.

I am losing the will to live. I have just spent over 50 mins waiting on the phone to Scottish Power before I actually spoke to someone. I am so annoyed it's unreal. I feel like I am being held to ransom and I have no control over the situation.

Never ever again will I use Scottish Power.

All I can ask at this stage is that someone somewhere sorts out the transfer, that I get the correct amount of money refunded by both companies and that I am compensated for the money I have paid out to both companies (which I could be using for other things) and for all the calls and inconvenience.

I am beginning to think there is more chance of seeing a pig fly.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

A few things here.

Who is actually supplying you? You haven't been clear about this. If neither supplier will tell you, http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/who-supplies-my-electricity-and-gas/

You are entitled to a refund of all monies paid to the supplier that isn't supplying you. Write a letter headed complaint to both suppliers outlining your problems, what you expect to be done and where appropriate what reimbursement you expect. You won't get "compensation" (you've still received gas and electricity) but you may be offered a "goodwill gesture" - maybe £50 max.

When retention teams phone you, they never offer anything that isn't widely available via the normal channels. The sales agent may have had a sharp tongue, but it's almost certain the better deal was with OVO all along.

ILuvEbico

Mish_Mash wrote: »

Apologies for this post but am so very frustrated with Scottish power and Ovo that I need to rant!

My energy deal ended in Feb this year and so I used the energy comparison website and identified that Ovo would be a good company to swap to. I filled in the forms (as I have done many times before) and waited for the transfer process to complete.

About 5 - 7 days after I completed the forms, Scottish Power (who were then supplying my energy) called and offered me a deal. I agreed to stop the transfer to Ovo and remain with Scottish Power who said they would handle the cancellation etc and it wouldn't be an issue.

However 3 months later I am paying both Ovu and Scottish Power approx £110 a month. I haven't received the monies that were in credit on my Scottish Power account (I believe it was at least £200). I am probably now also owed money by Ovo.

I am losing the will to live. I have just spent over 50 mins waiting on the phone to Scottish Power before I actually spoke to someone. I am so annoyed it's unreal. I feel like I am being held to ransom and I have no control over the situation.

Never ever again will I use Scottish Power.

All I can ask at this stage is that someone somewhere sorts out the transfer, that I get the correct amount of money refunded by both companies and that I am compensated for the money I have paid out to both companies (which I could be using for other things) and for all the calls and inconvenience.

I am beginning to think there is more chance of seeing a pig fly.

So you were with Scottish Power, you applied to switch to Ovo but then decided to remain with Scottish Power

(and now you are saying you will never use Scottish Power again? :huh:)

Anyway, if you advised ScottishPower during the cooling off period, which it seems you did, then then should have prevented the switch going ahead.

Ask them (or Ovo if you have more faith in a supplier you are not even with and chose, after originally applying, not to go to them in the end) to invoke the "erroneous transfer" procedure.

I would provide you a link, but I'm not currently allowed to - but google will soon find you the necessary info if you are interested.

You certainly shouldn't be paying two suppliers for the same consumption. If Scottish Power say thery were, and remain your supplier why are you paying Ovo? Just cancel the DDI with your bank as a start.

Mish_Mash

An update. I took my complaint to the ombudsman and did eventually get the outstanding money on my account refunded to me. However I have not been able to sort out the issue of energy supplier.

Basically Scottish Powers IT systems are up a certain creek without a paddle. Its been ongoing for 1 and a half years and I am unable to move my Gas/Electricity. In fact my electricity still remains in an erroneous account and I am not being billed (I am bracing myself for the inevitably large bill).

Scottish Power are unable to tell me when the issue will be resolved. They have paid me £300 'compensation' and I have been advised by the Ombudsman that Scottish Power have failed to comply with their regulated obligations. They have advised me to raise another complaint and to look to take legal action (which I would have to fund). They have also advised Ofgen about Scottish powers behaviour.

So the moral of this story is - don't use Scottish Power.

This is not an isolated case. Several other people in my office have had horror stories with Scottish power and their defective billing systems. All of which have ended up with the ombudsman. Be warned.

This has been a particularly stressful experience and I am sharing this as a warning to others.