More dodgy practice at Spark Energy

CaptGraybags

I moved in to my rented house mid December, where the energy supplier was Utility Warehouse. I took meter readings that day and phoned them through to UW. Within a week or so I started getting bills and calls from Spark Energy - claiming to be my supplier. I advised them repeatedly they were not my supplier and that UW were. UW also phoned and I informed them that I had not authorised a transfer and that as far as I was concerned they were still the supplier.

Spark, as a rule, ignore anything you tell them on the phone and also ignore any emails you send. When, in January, I finally chose the supplier I wanted to move to I emailed all parties (Spark, Utility Warehouse and my new supplier Bulb) regarding the situation with Spark. I immediately heard back from Bulb and Utility Warehouse - the latter being particularly helpful, and apologetic for allowing an "erroneous transfer" to go through, indeed they offered a small amount of compensation. Of course, this buttered no parsnips with Spark who, as normal, ignored the email and just continued to send texts and letters demanding payment of seemingly random amounts of money, not supported by any documentation.

At the end of last week I send Spark a recorded delivery letter further outlining the situation and informing them that unless they resolved the situation soon I would refer the matter to Ofgem. They received the letter yesterday - and today I received a text from their debt collection agency.

It seems to me that dodgy practice is the only practice they know! Is it wrong of me to want them to pursue the matter so that I can see them in court :-)

System

CaptGraybags wrote: »

I moved in to my rented house mid December, where the energy supplier was Utility Warehouse. I took meter readings that day and phoned them through to UW. Within a week or so I started getting bills and calls from Spark Energy - claiming to be my supplier. I advised them repeatedly they were not my supplier and that UW were. UW also phoned and I informed them that I had not authorised a transfer and that as far as I was concerned they were still the supplier.

Spark, as a rule, ignore anything you tell them on the phone and also ignore any emails you send. When, in January, I finally chose the supplier I wanted to move to I emailed all parties (Spark, Utility Warehouse and my new supplier Bulb) regarding the situation with Spark. I immediately heard back from Bulb and Utility Warehouse - the latter being particularly helpful, and apologetic for allowing an "erroneous transfer" to go through, indeed they offered a small amount of compensation. Of course, this buttered no parsnips with Spark who, as normal, ignored the email and just continued to send texts and letters demanding payment of seemingly random amounts of money, not supported by any documentation.

At the end of last week I send Spark a recorded delivery letter further outlining the situation and informing them that unless they resolved the situation soon I would refer the matter to Ofgem. They received the letter yesterday - and today I received a text from their debt collection agency.

It seems to me that dodgy practice is the only practice they know! Is it wrong of me to want them to pursue the matter so that I can see them in court :-)

Welcome to the forum. Have you actually checked which supplier is listed on the National Meter Database?

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/connections-and-moving-home/who-my-gas-or-electricity-supplier

Who told to that UW is the Deemed Supplier?

CaptGraybags

The letting agent gave me the details of the supplier. When I called UW to give the readings they confirmed they were the supplier. In the mail for the previous resident there were letters from UW.
I am pretty sure they were....

System

Was the letter from Spark addressed to you by name or with a generic !!!8216;the occupier!!!8217;? If the latter, and you are 100% sure that UW is showing on the database as the named supplier, then there is little to worry about. My guess would be that Spark was a supplier in the past and a previous occupant moved out without informing them.

lstar337

I expect your letting agent switched you to Spark.

Spark seem to have a deal with letting agents that allows them to take over the supply when a new tenant moves in.

CaptGraybags

I too thought that may have been the case so I contacted the agent and they positively confirmed they had NOT transfered to Spark.

System

CaptGraybags wrote: »

I too thought that may have been the case so I contacted the agent and they positively confirmed they had NOT transfered to Spark.

Make a call and check the database.

CaptGraybags

Hi Hengus - will do, but do they have historic records as I have changed supplier now to one of my choice?

System

CaptGraybags wrote: »

Hi Hengus - will do, but do they have historic records as I have changed supplier now to one of my choice?

You are believing what you are being told by the suppliers that you think you are with. The National Database will confirm your present suppliers. It is not unprecedented for a supplier to think that it is on supply only to find out that it isn't listed as the named supplier.

You still haven't answered my question about the letters from Spark. Are they being sent to you personally, or to 'the occupier'? I assume that when you moved in, you took meter readings? Provide these to Spark along with a copy of your tenancy agreement. I still have a suspicion that Spark are trying to bill you for energy used by A N Other. This is a tactic often used when the tenant moving out hasn't bothered to inform them that they are leaving.

CaptGraybags

1. The bills they send in the post are in my name. 2. I know who my current suppliers are - I switched to them. 3. As per original post, yes I took meter readings - even photos of the meters! 4. I have an email from UW confirming the erroneous transfer - which incidentally appears to have happened 3 days after I moved in, so not down to the previous occupier.

System

CaptGraybags wrote: »

1. The bills they send in the post are in my name. 2. I know who my current suppliers are - I switched to them. 3. As per original post, yes I took meter readings - even photos of the meters! 4. I have an email from UW confirming the erroneous transfer - which incidentally appears to have happened 3 days after I moved in, so not down to the previous occupier.

In that case, your present supplier should tell Spark that The Erroneous Charter has been invoked. Spark should then immediately suspend all bills against you. You continue to pay UW. UW should write to you within 20 days stating what action they are takingto resolve the issue. Best of luck.