LAST CHANCE. Post your energy-related questions on the 'Ask An Expert' board before the end of the day. Experts from MSE's Utilities team look forward to answering some of them

'Npower sent a £6,000 bill and threatened legal action - and I'm not even a customer' - MSE News

Former_MSE_Callum
Former_MSE_Callum Former MSE Posts: 696
Third Anniversary 10 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Newshound!
Forumite
Npower has apologised after sending a woman a £6,600 bill and threatening her with legal action - when the money was actually owed by someone else with the same name...
Read the full story:
''Npower sent a £6,000 bill and threatened legal action - and I'm not even a customer'
OfficialStamp.gif
Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.
Read the latest MSE News
Flag up a news story: [email protected]
Get the Free MoneySavingExpert Money Tips E-mail

Comments

  • Mister_G
    Mister_G Forumite Posts: 1,903
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    I assume that the 0845 number quoted is also illegal now?
  • anniecave
    anniecave Forumite Posts: 2,437
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    The article headline is incorrect... According to the article, Npower didn't Sarah a bill, they sent her a threating letter. Different things.
    Indecision is the key to flexibility :)
  • michaels
    michaels Forumite Posts: 27,500
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Forumite
    They have also now claimed the bill was for 'someone local with the same name' who could no doubt be identified from this info. I hope they have notified the data commissioner about this gdpr breach.
    I think....
  • bri160356
    bri160356 Forumite Posts: 134 Forumite
    A glaring admin error most certainly and I can understand the recipients distress when she received this final demand with its dire overtones of imminent legal action if she didn’t pay up forthwith.

    However, one would imagine (though I could be wrong!) it was quickly sorted once the recipient contacted Npower and pointed out their addressing error.

    I think this article is a bit of MSE flag waving to be honest;...which is fair enough as MSE were instrumental in ‘Sarah’ eventually receiving a £100 apology. :beer:

    Power to the People! :)
  • Paul_DNAP
    Paul_DNAP Forumite Posts: 751
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Rampant Recycler
    Forumite
    I once got a final demand from EoN (never been a customer) in my name but at Flat 25B (I am 25A) - turns out the guy who was in 25B left without settling up and they had "traced someone else living at the property" and I (not so) quietly explained we are not at the same property, but are neighbours, and asked if they had sent letters to the entire town or just me?

    They removed my name form their system.
    (Although I could be wrong, I often am.)
  • nfs_daemon
    nfs_daemon Forumite Posts: 14
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    I would have been so tempted to ignore it, on the quite reasonable assumption that it had to be a mistake.
  • bri160356
    bri160356 Forumite Posts: 134 Forumite
    nfs_daemon wrote: »
    I would have been so tempted to ignore it, on the quite reasonable assumption that it had to be a mistake.

    In this case it was certainly more than reasonable to assume the final demand letter was a mistake,...the ‘recipient’ Sarah knew for sure it was a mistake.

    However, it may well be ‘tempting’ but it’s very unwise to ignore warning letters and final demands on the basis that you know the information contained therein is erroneous.

    Situations like that do not usually sort themselves out without intervention and if left unattended they will generally escalate to the next level very quickly,...and so on,...upwards! :eek:

    The longer the situation is left unresolved the harder that resolution will become and at some point you may even find that your own intransigence could well make you personally culpable (in part) for what follows.

    In essence, ignore such letters/demands at your peril! :naughty:
  • Ian011
    Ian011 Forumite Posts: 2,432
    1,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Forumite
    Mister_G wrote: »
    I assume that the 0845 number quoted is also illegal now?
    Yes, since 13 June 2014.
  • pollypenny
    pollypenny Forumite Posts: 29,369
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Forumite
    I think I'd have let them take me to court.

    Costs awarded to Ms Penny.
    Member #14 of SKI-ers club

    Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.

    (Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 338.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 248.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 447.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 230.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 171K Life & Family
  • 244K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards