Scottish Power / past due - I've never missed a payment

southernshepherdess

I have had multiple years of issues with SP... none my own doing either!
The issues arose as despite only having 2 meters... there were 8 account numbers. I had 3 accounts online for 2 meters... all open.
They had 2 systems, the new one they spent millions on and sone accounts were closed on one system but not the other.
I happen to be very anal when it comes to debt so despite not having recieved any bills for 18 months, I set up a standing order for a calculation of 365 standing charge + units used the previous year + 10% to allow for inflation - all paid to the online account number given for duel gas and electric.
Every now and then I'd get a red letter for other account numbers and I just paid them assuming sp knew what I owed but then a few days later, I'd get a debt collector for the "remaining" random amounts. After the second time, I got SP to investigate... It got worse.
They admitted they started making up bills for accounts that never had any bills on them, transferring stuff all over the place... They admitted losing payments and all sorts so after years of threatening to leave... I did.
(I'm an accountant too )
The mess was much bigger than I made it sound but I'd be here all day.
They sent multiple bills with multiple amounts, they were trying to say the variation was due to the standing charge... which was not true as this variation went from £1s to £100s. ..depending on who calculated it and what acvount numbers and system they used.
From the time I left them... I continued to pay a standing order of £10 a month. They sent me a final bill of £170 approx and I accepted it and agreed to continue to pay £10. (They wanted £14 so I politely asked if they were not accepting my offer and so they settled.)
I have never missed any payment. And the account is now at £60. ( each payment goes out 13th- 15th of the month)
On the 12th May a payment went to them... on the 13th past due wrote to me. This was the 3rd time SP transferred me to debt collection due to the amount being paid into the account I was given, not being transferred to one of the other account numbers... AGAIN!
Past due looked into it and realise there was an error. SP said they had mistakenly passed it to past due and cancelled the payment plan in error.
However... I've now got another letter from past due... showing the reduction due to my payments... ie last month it was £70... this time it's £60 and my payment to Scottish Power isn't due until 13th/14th/15th.
How can I stop SP continually harassing me ! It's been a total mismanagement from every point with them!
I have notified them that if I have to do this again, I will be charging them £30 !

fatbelly

I've also had issues with SP on 2 properties and have posted on the electricity board - I've now left them on both accounts and (I think) am finally free of them.

The key is to get out early or (better) not sign up with them in the first place.

In your case it will take some effort and only you can judge whether it is worth your time but you should set out the history (I know that will be like writing a book) and ask for compensation. Require them to respond within 8 weeks.

Procedure here

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/complain-about-an-energy-company/complain-to-your-energy-supplier/

Then refer their response (or lack of it) to the ombudsman

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/complain-about-an-energy-company/complain-to-the-energy-ombudsman/

National_Debtline

Hi

Good advice from fatbelly. I know some people have found using the Resolver tool effective when complaining so it might be worth having a look into it:

www.resolver.co.uk/companies/scottish-power-complaints

James
@natdebtline