Scottish Power Billing Block.

kernachan8

Hi there,

I am having an issue with Scottish Power at the moment. My account has a Billing Block on it and no date when it will be lifted.

My bills get produced quarterly and my last one was due on the 11th June. I went online a few days after to access it and noticed it hadn't been produced yet. I held off and kept checking for a few days and still nothing.

So, this is where the fun begins. I called them up and they said there was an issue with there computer system and this would be rectified in a few days. I gave them meter readings to keep things up to date and left it for about a week. I checked again online and my account was still the same, no bill produced. I phoned yet again, and this time was told that it was because they were switching to a new IT system and this would be resolved within a week. Again, gave meter readings to keep account up to date.

I left it for another week and low and behold nothing has been produced. I phoned again and was told it would be back room staff that could only lift this as if it was lifted now I would be billed at the wrong tariff. I also asked for someone from the back room staff to call me that day to resolve this issue and I was told they would. Surprise surprise, no phone call.

I called again a week later as nothing on my online account had changed, no bill being produced yet still taking direct debit. Surprisingly a very nice man actually explained to me the issues they were having and actually said looking at my account nothing had been reported to anyone. He said he would personally see to it and my bill should be produced within 3-4 weeks.

Just over 3 weeks past and yet again nothing has changed. I phoned yet again today and they have admitted that they can't give me a resolution date for my bill to be produced.

My concerns are that they've still been taking direct debit and I have now built up £300 approx in credit. Also, I applied for winter warm discount November last year and it isn't showing on my account as paid but every time I call they say it is on my bill payments on the 19th March. If that's the case my account is in credit for £435.

Also my deal with them ended the end of July and I was actually wanting and hoping to have switched supplier by now but I can't as I don't have a full years readings to use as guide for accurate comparisons.

What I am saying is help... How can energy suppliers keep people prisoner to them like this. In a day an age when things should be so simple they are making things so complicated. They need to get there acts together and move into the 21st century.

My apologies for such a long rant. Thanks.

kernachan8

I have now taken this complaint to the Ombudsman but it's going to take 6-10 weeks to resolve.

nanima

Hi kerchanan8,

I am having the exact same issues as you and sadly I cannot offer any light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday an agent finally admitted that there was an MS billing block on my account. This was the first time I had heard this term so I googled it and was led to your post.
I have been trying to get my online account sorted since February 2014 and I also sent a report to the Ombudsman, Energy on 31 March. Nothing has been resolved.
They say that the billing block is affecting many customers and they have no idea when it will be resolved. I am of the exact same opinion as you and think that Scottish Power need to be forced into sorting this out.
If you read the forums on their Facebook pages you would sink into a deep depression!
I wish Martin could get involved with this as he is absolutely brilliant at getting things done.
I sympathise with your rant and hope you get your account sorted soon. Don't hold your breath.
Now I arrange for a call back when I need to submit a reading. I do not call them.
Good luck!

dogshome

Despite the lack of bills from SP, there is nothing to stop you Switching

You have a list of previous meter readings given to SP, so simply use the one/s closest to the end of July and calculate your annual use on that

SP, when they have finished faffing about will send you a Final Bill, just make sure it's End reading tallies with the Start reading of your new supplier.
Your 'Credit' with SP will be accounted for on their Final Bill

gumbo77

hello was wondering if you have had any reply back from ombudsman or scottish power as i am experiencing the same problem and all i have told is that its a problem with there computer system.

pearl123

I don't understand how this company can trade. If you enter energy figure it does not input. I tried 3 times over several days in the end I gave the figure of an automated phone system. I've only been with them for 3 months, but it is clear that nothing on their website works. I've now started reading review about them and it seems that they take hours to answer the phone as well.
I can't help thinking what a bit mistake I might have made swapping to the cartoon company.