SSE Chasing Account Payment But Wont Tell us How Much

mumbles27

To Forum


I own the Freehold of my flat with the owner of the upstairs flat, so only 2 flats within the freehold and 50% share each. We have a small communal entrance hall that contains one light.

Suddenly SSE have been in contact and have asked us to pay for the power and standing charges for that communal hall. The problem is they wont us anything about the account or the costs.

They started contact about 18 months ago sending letters to various people at our flat, next door, and upstairs [the other freeholder]. These letters we ignored as they didn't have our details on the address. They weren't addressed to us.

Eventually we got hold of a letter that was addressed to one of our tenants, who passed the letter to us, the owner of the flat. I contacted them straight away.

Ive now been in discussion with them for 3 months over the account for the communal area of the freehold but they wont:

Will not let me update the account to the correct names
Will not allow me to give them me proper correspondence address
Will not tell me anything about the account, whats owed, what date it needs paying from, how they became suppliers of the account.

during the last 18 months they have written 'notification' of coming to check the meter reading and as no one has received or replied to their correspondence, they have been unable to get into the property and therefore have charge £72 per visit, they made a few visits. i pointed out that they haven't had the correct names of people occupying the flat, or mine, as the owner and thats why no one responded, and they say thats my fault!?!?!? Some letters even went to a flat a few doors down the road?!?

They claim its up to me to supply a start date. i have no idea what this maybe. the claim they are going to cut us off and proceed with legal procedures to reclaim the money we owe.

We bought the freehold 10 years ago. I dont mind paying what i owe in used power and charges but i'm being bullied into signing onto an account i have no details of, that then binds me in to paying all their 'added on' charges for the last 10 years if they see fit, and i still dont know how they came to own this account. I'm worried they can spring anything on me because i don't know what i'm agreeing to?!?!

They claim they are about to cut of the supply and they say this then invalidates and insurance, buildings or contents, that we have (something which i am currently checking).

Any ideas? is this legal?

Cardew

mumbles27 wrote: »

We have a small communal entrance hall that contains one light.

They started contact about 18 months ago sending letters to various people at our flat, next door, and upstairs [the other freeholder]. These letters we ignored as they didn't have our details on the address. They weren't addressed to us.

Eventually we got hold of a letter that was addressed to one of our tenants, who passed the letter to us, the owner of the flat. I contacted them straight away.

Not sure I understand the situation here.


It appears the 'common parts' of the building(the hall) have had a separate meter, and hence should have had a separate account, for at least the 10 years you have had the freehold.


You say just one light, but if left on that can run up a reasonable bill. Also most common parts have a socket so a Hoover can be plugged in???


Did you receive bills for that account?


If so, who paid the bills?


If not, why didn't one of the freehold owners contact the electricity company.


I also cannot understand why you think it unreasonable for the electricity company to want to know how long you have been responsible for paying for the electricity bill. Until they know that, they can't work out how much you owe.