Been paying First Utility for almost a year & had someone turn up with an EDF warrant

TooAshamedToBeNamed

Looking for advice please.

We moved into a property on June 7th, the letting agent sets all new tenants up on Spark energy for gas and electric. (they also updated the water company and council tax with our details - seemed a lovely smooth take over)

Spark allow 28days on a special tariff during which you can switch to your choice of supplier or be moved to their regular rate. After researching we moved to First Utilities dual fuel fixed tariff (£75/month by direct debit) and received confirmation on July 30th.

August 7th we received notification First Utilities would be taking over our gas but there was an issue with electric. Upon making contact they said it was likely a previous debt so we supplied independent confirmation of our move in date and the meter readings on that day. We heard nothing of further issues the first £75 payment was taken and has been paid each month since.

Today a group of men turned up with a warrant demanding £800+ for an unnamed debt to EDF (listed as owner/occupier) or installation of a prepayment meter. The meter has been installed. Whilst here he told me the electric was being supplied by EDF and the gas by british gas.

I phoned First utility and the lady first assured me that they supplied both, then changed to only gas (EDF supply electric) and when I asked if she was sure she confirmed no you're right we supply neither, she sounded confused and transferred me to a man.

He then confirmed the account was gas only and they had emailed to advise they would still take the full £75 each month without adjustment, it's entirely my fault for not receiving an email that most likely went straight to the spam folder. However my gas account is in just under £200 credit.

Upon pushing the failure to switch electric supply further he mentioned there are two electricity meters at this property, one supplied by EDF the other british gas and the switch may have been refused due to it not being the right one.

(also worth noting that I was given my online account details during this call and logged in, my summary showed 'dual fuel' to start with however upon refreshing it stated 'we are currently processing your tariff information, please try again later')

As I had heard British Gas twice now I called them next, just to check they confirmed they have not supplied this address with gas since 2007 or electric since 2009.

I then decided to double check and called UK Power who confirmed one gas meter (couldn't tell us the supplier) and two electric meters, one supplied by EDF and the other DE-electrified or dormant.

At this point I decided to double check everything so called Spark, they confirmed it was only ever the gas that was transferred.

I then tried to call EDF but received a 'we're too busy try again later' message so used their live chat . . . I received no useful information here, the conversation raged from ' the account was closed before you moved in' right through to 'it is your debt after all, pay up' one thing that was repeated, a lot was the line 'there was no request ever to switch or we would have closed the account immediately'

Finally I got through to someone at EDF via phone who took note of everything I have just typed out here and assured me she would look into it and get back to me.

I just wondered if anyone knew where I stood with this? First utility have put the payments against gas so I wont get that back to be able to pay the electric debt and the difference in tariffs is huge (hence why I switched in the first place) and then there are all the charges that have been added on top and the increased cost of running the prepayment meter until this is completed.

Huge thanks if you have managed to read this far, I'm not even sure what advice I am asking for but I welcome any!

footyguy

TooAshamedToBeNamed wrote: »

Looking for advice please.

We moved into a property on June 7th, the letting agent sets all new tenants up on Spark energy for gas and electric. (they also updated the water company and council tax with our details - seemed a lovely smooth take over)

Spark allow 28days on a special tariff during which you can switch to your choice of supplier or be moved to their regular rate. After researching we moved to First Utilities dual fuel fixed tariff (£75/month by direct debit) and received confirmation on July 30th.

August 7th we received notification First Utilities would be taking over our gas but there was an issue with electric. Upon making contact they said it was likely a previous debt so we supplied independent confirmation of our move in date and the meter readings on that day. We heard nothing of further issues the first £75 payment was taken and has been paid each month since.

Today a group of men turned up with a warrant demanding £800+ for an unnamed debt to EDF (listed as owner/occupier) or installation of a prepayment meter. The meter has been installed. Whilst here he told me the electric was being supplied by EDF and the gas by british gas.

I phoned First utility and the lady first assured me that they supplied both, then changed to only gas (EDF supply electric) and when I asked if she was sure she confirmed no you're right we supply neither, she sounded confused and transferred me to a man.

He then confirmed the account was gas only and they had emailed to advise they would still take the full £75 each month without adjustment, it's entirely my fault for not receiving an email that most likely went straight to the spam folder. However my gas account is in just under £200 credit.

Upon pushing the failure to switch electric supply further he mentioned there are two electricity meters at this property, one supplied by EDF the other british gas and the switch may have been refused due to it not being the right one.

(also worth noting that I was given my online account details during this call and logged in, my summary showed 'dual fuel' to start with however upon refreshing it stated 'we are currently processing your tariff information, please try again later')

As I had heard British Gas twice now I called them next, just to check they confirmed they have not supplied this address with gas since 2007 or electric since 2009.

I then decided to double check and called UK Power who confirmed one gas meter (couldn't tell us the supplier) and two electric meters, one supplied by EDF and the other DE-electrified or dormant.

At this point I decided to double check everything so called Spark, they confirmed it was only ever the gas that was transferred.

I then tried to call EDF but received a 'we're too busy try again later' message so used their live chat . . . I received no useful information here, the conversation raged from ' the account was closed before you moved in' right through to 'it is your debt after all, pay up' one thing that was repeated, a lot was the line 'there was no request ever to switch or we would have closed the account immediately'

Finally I got through to someone at EDF via phone who took note of everything I have just typed out here and assured me she would look into it and get back to me.

I just wondered if anyone knew where I stood with this? First utility have put the payments against gas so I wont get that back to be able to pay the electric debt and the difference in tariffs is huge (hence why I switched in the first place) and then there are all the charges that have been added on top and the increased cost of running the prepayment meter until this is completed.

Huge thanks if you have managed to read this far, I'm not even sure what advice I am asking for but I welcome any!

I got confused at the point you say someone turned up at your home with a warrant for a debt (and then again the debt is apparently in no ones name). Who did they email???

I suggest you take whatever you have been given to the CAB who should be able to advise you further, or be able to put you in touch with a legal adviser if necessary.

SoletraderSteve

What I would suggest you do is make a note of your Meter Serial Numbers, which should be located on your meters on a sticker more than likely or directly on the meter. Take photographs also, and note down the current meter readings. Check these with the serial numbers on any bills that you have received from all suppliers, and contact them to establish what has happened.

Carrot007

DE means a dead site (mpan).

Sorry this site is mangling my link edit after clicking and remove the space(s) so it ends in false.

https://dtc.mrasco.com/DataItem.aspx?ItemCounter=0279&searchMockItems=False

The house was probably all electric and the off peak disconnected when gas was available.

Only an idiot would try to take supply of a DE mpan. But it happens.

You can request the credit back but unfortunatly it seems inaddiquate to cover the debt.

You are also responsible for noticing the change occured and a final physical bill would always be produced so it should be pretty obvious.

If you have a final bill then you have reason for complaint. if not then not so much.

The agent may have consused the matter by trying to get cashback for the changes and using the wrong mpan but i doubt you will get anything from them.

Unfortunatly, whatever the agents do you are still required to set up an account with the existing provider for before the changeover.

Seems like a big mess and the only blame to you goes for not taking an active enough role but a lot of people do not realiase they are meant to.

Former Spark Representative

Hi TooAshamedToBeNamed


It sounds like we've done our bit by confirming that it was only the gas that we transferred, but if you'd like me to check anything else, just drop me a line using the details in my profile.


Hope you manage to get this sorted out.


Jenny
Customer Relations Manager

[Deleted User]

You can't have a debt to an unnamed person or "owner/occupier".