Problems with Scottish Power

brianrobertson

I used to be a customer with Scottish Power. It must be two years or more ago. I can't remember the date exactly, but like an idiot, I let them estimate the readings when I left them. As far as I am concerned, I settled my debts with them at the time, clearing the account. Then some months afterwards a demand for more cash from them dropped through my door. I paid it. Now, yet another demand for cash has dropped through my door, this time for £36.16. OK, it isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but this time it is from a debt collection agency! I am not aware of them asking for this amount previously and I have certainly not received any communication from them threatening that a debt will be passed to a debt collection agency. I am starting to feel that this is a 12 monthly con. "Oh, let's generate a bit more cash by sending a few ex-customers a letter demanding some cash. Just enough so they will not be too bothered about paying it." In other words, even if I pay for a quiet life (Including an admin charge of £6.27!!!!), what guarantee do I have that this will not happen again and again until challenged?

Well, I AM bothered about paying it! I am supporting my partner through treatment for cancer at the moment, funds are low, and the last thing I need is a pack of extortionists dipping my bank account at will. Any ideas as to what I can do? The extortionists hired by SP are called LCS, by the way.

Brian.

victor2

Can you prove you paid the first demand you got and do you have anything like a "final bill" from them regarding that payment? Might be a case of trawling through old bank statements to get some proof.
You could try calling SP to find out what happened, and what records they have. Could be an administrative error, or could just be that they never processed the payment and the debt eventually went over to the debt collector.

hybernia

OP: Family members' experience is that ScottishPower does not notify a customer of its intention to bring in its Debt Collection Agency. It is also, in their experience, ScottishPower's practice to consistently fail to provide the DCA with evidence of claim. In your situation, where you do not recognise as valid the amount now being claimed, you must do the following:

1) Do not make *any* telephone calls to ScottishPower or its DCA.

2) Do not enter into *any* telephone conversations with ScottishPower or its DCA.

3) Send a letter by Signed For 2nd Class delivery to the DCA, saying that the claim is disputed. You must use that specific word: disputed because it has a legal meaning.You must also ask the DCA for all the documentation it has in support of its client's claim, i.e.: the energy bills / statement which cite your usage.

4) OFGEM accepts that -- ridiculous though it sounds -- energy companies can issue "estimated readings" as Final Bills. However: OFGEM is also insistent that an end reading from a former supplier must be the same as a start reading for the new supplier. Responsibility for ensuring that is the supplier's. Not the customer's.

5) If ScottishPower is able to demonstrate that it is merely billing you up to a meter reading which happens to be the start reading for your new supplier, then you have no case. SP's claim is legitimate.

6) If ScottishPower is billing you on the basis of an estimated meter reading that doesn't match the one used by your supplier, then you must send by Royal Mail Special Delivery a formal letter of complaint to Customer Services.

7) Once the formal complaint process is underway, you will receive confirmation of that by post from ScottishPower. You must then scan or copy that document and post it to the DCA as proof that the matter is in dispute and the dispute has not yet been resolved. By Law, the DCA cannot proceed against you until your complaint has been sorted out, one way or another.

Good luck.