More dodgy practice at Spark Energy

Emmac05

Does anyone know if providers can charge you late fees? I noticed I had a random increase on my bill which spark have stated on an online chat that it!!!8217;s a late fee (£35) I have never been made aware of these?! I told her how have I only ever got one late charge when I always pay late she then said you have been charged before a £25 charge. How can late fees be different I ask isn!!!8217;t it just a one of charge of being late in which she answered it depends how many days late you are?!?! Also she then stated that on my Feb bill I!!!8217;m going to be charged 35£ for being late in October and another for being late in November so £70 is getting added to my already ridiculous bill that they rob me of. Can this be true seriously I!!!8217;m finding it really hard to believe

System

Emmac05 wrote: »

Does anyone know if providers can charge you late fees? I noticed I had a random increase on my bill which spark have stated on an online chat that it!!!8217;s a late fee (£35) I have never been made aware of these?! I told her how have I only ever got one late charge when I always pay late she then said you have been charged before a £25 charge. How can late fees be different I ask isn!!!8217;t it just a one of charge of being late in which she answered it depends how many days late you are?!?! Also she then stated that on my Feb bill I!!!8217;m going to be charged 35£ for being late in October and another for being late in November so £70 is getting added to my already ridiculous bill that they rob me of. Can this be true seriously I!!!8217;m finding it really hard to believe

Hi - you need to read the contract terms and conditions that you agreed to when you switched:

14.4 Where we have sent you a bill or statement requesting payment of charges and the charges requested remain unpaid for 30 calendar days after the date payment was requested;

a) we may charge you an Additional Charge to recover our reasonable expenses incurred in pursuing you to pay the charges, including without limitation our reasonable administration costs, our costs paid or incurred by us in trying to contact you for payment and, if we need to visit the Property, for obtaining a warrant allowing us to enter the Property;

b) we may charge an Additional Charge to recover interest on the outstanding charges at an annual rate of 4% above the prevailing Bank of England base rate; and

c) we may (where we are permitted by our licence conditions and industry arrangements) prevent you from transferring to another Energy supplier.

Whether the charges are reasonable is another matter. I suggest that you have a chat with Citizens Advice.

Emmac05

Where would you find this information, sorry if that’s a stupid question, again I was a tenant who moved in with these already at the property and I only have copies of my bills never got sent anything else

lstar337

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.

I would say your letting agents are liars. If you didn't give Spark your name, where do you think they got it from?

Your letting agent gave it to them.

CaptGraybags

Hi may be right - however it doesn't take much imagination to work out how it would have happened without their involvement. I think my assumption is reasonable given I have no issue with the letting agent and given Sparks history of similar dodgy practice (for which they were fined 250000 by ofgem a couple of years ago. Add to that Sparks refusal to engage with me (other than sending me demands for payment). I could also mention Sparks made up meter readings which leads me to assume they are trying to scam my new supplier as well. Old habits seem too die hard at Spark.....

System

Emmac05 wrote: »

Where would you find this information, sorry if that’s a stupid question, again I was a tenant who moved in with these already at the property and I only have copies of my bills never got sent anything else

Go to Spark Energy's website and click on USEFUL INFORMATION in the top banner. Then click on THE LEGAL STUFF in the side banner and then additional charges. It will take you to a PDF that has been updated to show you the actual charges.

CaptGraybags

Just as a final update on my original post: The daily multiple text demands from both Spark and their debt collectors got to much so I referred the matter to the Ombudsman - who has just found in my favour, and I am now awaiting my letter of apology from Spark and the (small) compensation.

Also - big thumbs up for the Ombudsman service. Although there is a delay whilst they wait for evidence from the other side, once that period had expired and the case was assigned to a case handler, it was only one week for a decision.