Eon Rep is this fraud?

eddddy

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Could you explain a bit further why you would consider it fraud if somebody gives you more money than they have to give you?
...

Hi Archi Bald

Here's an extract from the Fraud act 2006:

Fraud by false representation

(1) A person is in breach of this section if he -

......(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and

......(b) intends, by making the representation -

..............(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or

..............(ii)to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.

So in the OP's case, the 'false representation' is supplying incorrect meter readings.

And the 'intent to make a gain' is because the OP wants to pay less charges to Eon than they are contracted to.

Here's more info about the fraud act: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/section/2

lstar337

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena wrote: »

If the customer decides to set their Direct Debit at a higher amount than they actually need to, we would be offering a refund at the review date and also advising what to adjust the monthly payment amount too.

Not including any interest it might have made, so still a loss to the customer and a gain to the utilities.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

lstar337 wrote: »

Not including any interest it might have made, so still a loss to the customer and a gain to the utilities.

We offer a payment adjustment for paying by a Monthly Direct Debit, this shows on the bill.

Helena

Hooloovoo

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Could you explain a bit further why you would consider it fraud if somebody gives you more money than they have to give you?

It isn't fraud when my utility company takes (by DD) more money than I really owe, to help me spread my payments throughout the year. I have for years always have had a credit balance, with various utilities.

If I decide to overpay myself, by giving you higher than actual readings, to help me spread my payments throughout the year, why is it suddenly fraud, and what would you investigate?

The difference is that when you overpay by direct debit, the money just goes into a "holding account".

Your bill is calculated based on your current tariff, and the money subtracted from your holding account.

If you wanted to, you could overpay by making a faster payment to your utility of, say, £1000. But you wouldn't be "locking in" your current tariff. If your tariff changes (meaning inevitably your bill goes up) then the higher tariff amount is deducted from your massive overpayment reserve.

What the OP is suggesting would be different from that, in that he would be trying to lock-in an expiring tariff by actually producing an artificially high bill as opposed to merely over-funding his holding account.

I know Scottish Power have some tariffs where you can legitimately pay up-front for a years usage, or even more. However when I've looked at them they have never been very good value. Stupid really, because I'd be more than happy to pay 12 months up front for a 10% discount on the current best tariff.

Yorkie1

eddddy wrote: »

Hi Archi Bald

Here's an extract from the Fraud act 2006:

So in the OP's case, the 'false representation' is supplying incorrect meter readings.

And the 'intent to make a gain' is because the OP wants to pay less charges to Eon than they are contracted to.

Here's more info about the fraud act: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/section/2

It's also potentially false accounting s.17 Theft Act 1968:

(1) Where a person dishonestly, with a view to gain for himself or another or with intent to cause loss to another,—
(a) destroys, defaces, conceals or falsifies any account or any record or document made or required for any accounting purpose; or(b) in furnishing information for any purpose produces or makes use of any account, or any such record or document as aforesaid, which to his knowledge is or may be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular;he shall, on conviction on indictment, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years.

(2) For purposes of this section a person who makes or concurs in making in an account or other document an entry which is or may be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular, or who omits or concurs in omitting a material particular from an account or other document, is to be treated as falsifying the account or document.