Scottish power issue, please help I am at my wits end!

suzybloo

I changed over my account to a new tariff with them in august last year...it never happened, I have complained on numerous occasions but was getting nowhere, so I contacted the ombudsman in February when it still had not been resolved, but they cannot do anything as it is a 'technical' issue - still almost a year later! So in a nutshell I have never had a bill since august last year, although I am constantly requesting one, they stopped taking direct debits in November and won't accept payment and I can't move my supply anywhere else, as they cannot give me a bill, I am at my wits end with them, I phoned them today and this 'technical' issue still has not been resolved, and they have no idea when it will be, I would be interested to hear from anyone else having the same problems as myself, as I need to get this resolved ASAP, I do not want to be in debt to anyone, but they are forcing me into debt, probably by about a thousand pound at the moment, so I am worried about using any further gas/electric. I am going to be contacting the energy minister, and anyone else who will listen, but would like to hear who else is in the same boat, due to their technical issues! I printed off all correspondence I have going back to august last year, between myself, them and ombudsman and it is over two inches thick!
The tariff I changed to was categorised by the govt as being too complicated (so scottish power tell me) but at the moment I am still on it, I don't know the unit prices they can't tell me, I have requested, in writing, all notes and correspondence of my account, I have never received it! Sorry for the rant, but I never slept last night worrying about how much I am in debt to them for, and now today being told they don't know when it will be sorted stresses me more, thank you for reading, any advice would be appreciated.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Your guesstimate of £1k is about right at £90+ per week, every week underpaid. Underpaid that is, not in debt. You are not in debt, you have never been invited to pay.



legacy tariff?

- did you record the original [Nov 2013] meter readings ?
- what was the verbatim name of the original [Nov 2013] pre-swap tariff ?
- what is the verbatim name of the current [Nov 2013] post-swap tariff ?
- was the 'complicated' caused by mis-selling or by an over complicated E7 E10 E18 'heatwise' electricity energy tariff

Continue to 'ring fence' the £91+ per week and await the outcome. This is the best you can do, eventually demand a substantial reduction as part of the final settlement agreement.

suzybloo

Hi thanks for your reply. I have the readings that I asked to be changed over to on 6th august last year, I asked to be put onto online energy saver 23, which is where a certain amount of units at a certain time were at a reduced rate. I have been told by Scottish Power it was too complicated for consumers to follow, which I tend to agree with - the point was they never made clear when a period started or finished! I have been keeping money aside, but as I do not even know what my winter bills were last year, I am now stressing with higher bills not too far ahead! I was in general £130 a month for gas and electric, no payments have been made for November onwards, ie 9 months worth.

Andy_WSM

If you can prove you've asked them to bill you, keep your £1,000 aside ready for the eventuality they do bill you, but in the mean time just keep quiet as they won't be able to bill you for more than a year in the past. Their loss for their incompetence.

suzybloo

Oh that is interesting! Is there some written clause I have missed?

Andy_WSM

suzybloo wrote: »

Oh that is interesting! Is there some written clause I have missed?

The backbilling rules in the code of practice they have agreed to, prevent them from billing for more than a year in the past, provided you have made efforts to obtain a bill.

suzybloo

Thank you, I gave written correspondence requesting a bill and their response saying due to technical difficulties they cannot provide me with a bill at this time....

footyguy

suzybloo wrote: »

I changed over my account to a new tariff with them in august last year...it never happened, I have complained on numerous occasions but was getting nowhere, so I contacted the ombudsman in February when it still had not been resolved, but they cannot do anything as it is a 'technical' issue - still almost a year later! So in a nutshell I have never had a bill since august last year, although I am constantly requesting one, they stopped taking direct debits in November and won't accept payment and I can't move my supply anywhere else, as they cannot give me a bill, I am at my wits end with them, I phoned them today and this 'technical' issue still has not been resolved, and they have no idea when it will be, I would be interested to hear from anyone else having the same problems as myself, as I need to get this resolved ASAP, I do not want to be in debt to anyone, but they are forcing me into debt, probably by about a thousand pound at the moment, so I am worried about using any further gas/electric. I am going to be contacting the energy minister, and anyone else who will listen, but would like to hear who else is in the same boat, due to their technical issues! I printed off all correspondence I have going back to august last year, between myself, them and ombudsman and it is over two inches thick!
The tariff I changed to was categorised by the govt as being too complicated (so scottish power tell me) but at the moment I am still on it, I don't know the unit prices they can't tell me, I have requested, in writing, all notes and correspondence of my account, I have never received it! Sorry for the rant, but I never slept last night worrying about how much I am in debt to them for, and now today being told they don't know when it will be sorted stresses me more, thank you for reading, any advice would be appreciated.

Did you ever receive an acknowledgement from the energy ombudsman that they have received your complaint?

If so, or even if not, I suggest you give them a call to see what progress they are making (or if they even received your complaint in the first instance)
I see another poster in a thread posted earlier who seemed to have an almost identical issue also reported the matter to the ombudsman in February and the ombudsman issued a resolution proposal in May.

I can see no valid reason why your supplier cannot give you details of the tariff they are currently applying to your account.

suzybloo

Hi yes I have had an acknowledgement from the ombudsman and have been in regular contact with them, however, they say since scottish power have told them they accept there is a technical issue that is ongoing, and they are doing everything they can to address it, the ombudsman can do no more other than have done.

They can give me the cost per unit, gas and both night and day units but the issue there lies in that the tariff had a sliding scale over a certain period that was charged at a higher rate then reduced for the remainder of that period, but since I can't give readings either I am scuppered.

The government, I am told by scottish power, advised that this scheme was to be stopped as it was too complicated for the consumer.

I have been in touch with my MP and also the Energy Secretary for Scotland, in the hope that they can assist,