Moved House. Scottish Power ignoring completion dates!

dansbigmama

We completed on our house sale on the 28th September. The morning of 28th i took readings and also took photos of both meters on my phone. Took keys to estate agents and then called up Scottish power to close down my account. They duly took all my information, said a final bill will be prepared and also arranged for transfer of my energy supplier in new house to them.

Yesterday I contacted Scottish power for the 3rd time in 2 weeks. They keep trying to bill me for an extra day after we had completed and moved out. They also keep trying to use either estimated meter readings or the readings the new occupier has provided.

When I questioned them last week, they said they'd update my moving out date and change the meter readings to my recorded readings.

When I spoke to them yesterday they informed me nothing had been updated as the readings the new owner provided are different and they won't accept my readings over phone. Stating my bill will be based on her readings??

Not blooming likely. I have evidence that has embedded dates in the photos, proof from estate agents of handing keys over and proof from solicitors of completion. However they will not accept this unless in email.

They have said they will put a block of this account till a resolution is reached but tbh I don't trust them to have done this and fear I'm gonna get black marked for not paying the bill on time!

So angry that they can do this. And now I'm probably stuck with them in new house as I believe my switchover date is today or tomorrow!! (Even the tariff they agreed to switch me to isn't what I'm on now. It's changed to their standard tariff in last week):mad:

dansbigmama

I do realise it's not going to be hundreds of pounds incorrect but the principle is they will not accept my information!
Sorry rant over ��

wavelets

dansbigmama wrote: »

We completed on our house sale on the 28th September. The morning of 28th i took readings and also took photos of both meters on my phone. Took keys to estate agents and then called up Scottish power to close down my account. They duly took all my information, said a final bill will be prepared and also arranged for transfer of my energy supplier in new house to them.

Yesterday I contacted Scottish power for the 3rd time in 2 weeks. They keep trying to bill me for an extra day after we had completed and moved out. They also keep trying to use either estimated meter readings or the readings the new occupier has provided.

When I questioned them last week, they said they'd update my moving out date and change the meter readings to my recorded readings.

When I spoke to them yesterday they informed me nothing had been updated as the readings the new owner provided are different and they won't accept my readings over phone. Stating my bill will be based on her readings??

Not blooming likely. I have evidence that has embedded dates in the photos, proof from estate agents of handing keys over and proof from solicitors of completion. However they will not accept this unless in email.

They have said they will put a block of this account till a resolution is reached but tbh I don't trust them to have done this and fear I'm gonna get black marked for not paying the bill on time!

So angry that they can do this. And now I'm probably stuck with them in new house as I believe my switchover date is today or tomorrow!! (Even the tariff they agreed to switch me to isn't what I'm on now. It's changed to their standard tariff in last week):mad:

As long as you pay that portion of the bill you do not hold in dispute, then there should be no 'black mark' against you over the remainder the is disputed whilst it remains the subject of a formal complaint.

Any block placed on your account at the old address will not affect your account at the new address; they are two separate accounts.

elsien

Instead of ranting, why not just send the information in written form as requested?
It would probably have been quicker to email them than post on here.

[Deleted User]

Completion is nt the last date of ownership. The Exchange of Contracts is the time that ownership moves from one party to another. It could be later than completion. The new owner may not have been handed the keys days after completion so possibly meter readings could have advanced on the electric meter

System

Houbara wrote: »

Completion is nt the last date of ownership. The Exchange of Contracts is the time that ownership moves from one party to another. It could be later than completion. The new owner may not have been handed the keys days after completion so possibly meter readings could have advanced on the electric meter

Sorry - but you have got that wrong. Exchanging contracts on a sale/purchase takes place before Legal Completion. Yes, it is true that solicitors will advise purchasers to take out property insurance from the date of exchange, but Legal Completion is the date on which money and title change hands. The Legal Completion date is used for energy billing going forward as well as for Council Tax etc. No supplier has the right to expect the new owner of a property to pay standing charges for the property prior to Legal Completion. Agreeing handover readings is a different matter. That said, provided a customer advises the supplier of closing readings in the prescribed period then there is rarely an issue.

FWiW, I am also in discussion with Scottish Power about my liability for a new build property. They are demanding to see my tenancy agreement even though I have told them repeatedly that I am an owner occupier. I have considerable sympathy with the OP as Scottish Power's offshore customer service centre is a nightmare to deal with.

Raxiel

Could the 'estimated' meter readings be down to third party validation?
I know they're applied when a customer changes supplier at a property, but I don't know if they're applied when a property gets a new customer.


SP's poorly trained call centre staff being the reason this wasn't explained.

dansbigmama

Completion and keys handed over on 28th at 4pm. New owner in house by 4.15 so i am fully aware of legal obligations!

And i have emailed them, everything they want BEFORE i ranted on here. Just boils me that they will not except my numbers but do the new customer!

Anyhow, ive taken upon myself to switch today so hopefully once this is resolved i will have no more doing with SP