British Gas

Lucia1980

Strange question but if they have sent a warrant letter in completely the wrong name, should it still stand? They sent a letter to us which we didn't receive, came in and changed the meter to a pay as you go one but when we questioned it and requested the copy of letter, the name is completely wrong, it says Miss David Smith (names changed) has boyfriends first name and my surname!!! Surely they can't get away with this?????

System

Lucia1980 wrote: »

Strange question but if they have sent a warrant letter in completely the wrong name, should it still stand? They sent a letter to us which we didn't receive, came in and changed the meter to a pay as you go one but when we questioned it and requested the copy of letter, the name is completely wrong, it says Miss David Smith (names changed) has boyfriends first name and my surname!!! Surely they can't get away with this?????

Annoyance apart - what do you want the supplier to do to put matters right? I assume that the meter was changed for a reason?

This is the procedure from the CA website: (which I assume that they followed)

The disconnection process

If you don’t come to an agreement with your supplier to pay off your debt, they can apply to a court for a warrant to enter your home to disconnect your supply. Your supplier must send a notice telling you they’re applying to the court.

Before the hearing takes place, contact your supplier and try and come to an agreement to pay off your debt.

If you haven’t contacted your supplier, there’ll be a court hearing which you should attend. You can still come to an arrangement with your supplier to pay off your debt at this stage. You can take along a friend for support.

If the court grants a warrant, your supplier will be able to disconnect your supply. They must give you 7 days notice in writing before they do. In practice, it’s rare for suppliers to disconnect customers. They’re more likely to fit a prepayment meter in your home.

Your supplier won’t need a warrant to disconnect a meter on the outside of your property (as the warrant is to enter your property), but most suppliers will still get one.

[Deleted User]

You and your boyfriend have been "getting away " with not paying for your energy for so long you have forced the supplier to add more debt to the prepay meter by having to apply for a warrant and by the sound of it, a locksmith as well . That will have added another £150 to your debt. They certainly did nt want to do this but then if you wont pay for what you use what option are they left with. I bet Apple/Samsung etc will cancel your smart phone contract the minute you stop paying them the monthly amount. If they have made a mistake in naming the warrant it can be easily re worded and applied again so whats the point in haggling over a mere detail.

MeterMan

BG no longer force disconnections, They will enter your home and change your meter for a prepay meter.

There will be no damage to your locks or home in the process and its much better if you just stay in on the day.

You could save yourself the hassle of the additional payments by contacting BG to request the meter to be installed.

The only reason why they would apply for a warrant of entry is because you failed to allow access to your home to change the meter, 3 times in the last 18 months.

[Deleted User]

MeterMan wrote: »

BG no longer force disconnections, They will enter your home and change your meter for a prepay meter.

There will be no damage to your locks or home in the process and its much better if you just stay in on the day.

You could save yourself the hassle of the additional payments by contacting BG to request the meter to be installed.

The only reason why they would apply for a warrant of entry is because you failed to allow access to your home to change the meter, 3 times in the last 18 months.

Looks like the meters have already been installed. Yes BG hate getting warrants and will do their best to avoid it.
OP if you check electric meter screens S and T and gas meter screens 26 and 27 ( with key/card inserted ) then you can see the total debt applied and the weekly repay amount.The repay amount is nt set in stone and an appeal could get it lowered.The amount can be between £3.50 and £16 as an upper limit.

Lucia1980

Its not what I want from it, im asking if the letter is incorrect with the completely wrong name if its legal?

Lucia1980

sacsquacco wrote: »

You and your boyfriend have been "getting away " with not paying for your energy for so long you have forced the supplier to add more debt to the prepay meter by having to apply for a warrant and by the sound of it, a locksmith as well . That will have added another £150 to your debt. They certainly did nt want to do this but then if you wont pay for what you use what option are they left with. I bet Apple/Samsung etc will cancel your smart phone contract the minute you stop paying them the monthly amount. If they have made a mistake in naming the warrant it can be easily re worded and applied again so whats the point in haggling over a mere detail.

We havent been 'getting away' with not paying we have been paying thank you!!! We didnt receive the warrant letter and the answer I got from BG was, because I hadnt paid on my paypoint card within 2 days (because I was ill, which i explained), they requested the warrant, they will not give me a copy of previous meter readings as requested.
When we requested a copy of the warrant letter which we have now received, the letter states Miss Rhys Bowker!!! my title and surname but my partners first name so this should be exempt from being valid. My partner did call them regarding a letter he had recieved from them which is when they confirmed they would be installing a meter and a warrant letter was sent, he said he would be at work and wasnt convenient!!! As for their customer service, this was appalling!! hence the action I want to take for this if it is not valid!!! Im not actuallt an offical account holder, my partner wrote a letter to say they could talk to me about the account as I was the payee, but not an account holder.

Barpeeler

The courts would not sanction a warrant unless numerous visits have been made to the property and correspondence left. You would also get a 14 day notice of the court date.
If you had gone to court and explained that any letters were in the wrong name then the courts would not issue the warrant.

As BG would of had to carry out these procedures before applying for the warrant I am guessing you were aware of any outstanding balance?

IF you had previously agreed a payment plan to avoid court action and then not kept the agreement they would be entitled to re-apply for a warrant and probably made you aware of this at the time?

The warrant cost (£200 when I was doing it) will be added to your balance, but could have been avoided if you had agreed to give them access before the court date.

I doubt the mistakes in the names will make any difference now unless you were to clear any balance in full and complain about the installation of the PPM.

Although they do not have to provide you with a credit meter