What is happening with Tonik Energy

richjb

Tonik Energy has been supposedly updating its billing system for about a month now in which time it has been constantly saying it will be sorted in 7 days. In this time I have received no bills and I am unable to withdraw my credit. I am wanting to switch but am afraid I will lose my credit. Are they going bust and playing a game here?? I have heard they are in financial difficulties, Should i cancel my direct debit?

JJ_Egan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5590793/add-your-feedback-on-energy-supplier-tonik#latest

Molassis

This dreadful company needs serious investigation.  They are breaking the energy code of practice. 
Switch was complete mess, billing statements are non existent,  they use over estimated readings & ignore customers correct readings, customers in credit cant get their money back.  Only automated replies to communications, hours on the phone - on hold or being passed around but getting nowhere.
So many complaints on social media  about Tonik Energy.
Perhaps it's about time that the Ombudsman & Ofgem took action against this company.

Munchkinboy8

Does anyone know much about data protection. I have emailed the help line to discuss my outstanding final bill which I dispute. Told them I no longer live at the billing address but they still post the credit recovery letters to old address which I now let out to a tenant.
They have my name however is this a breach of data protection as I have clearly informed them I no longer live there. 
Advice please

masonic

Munchkinboy8 said:

Does anyone know much about data protection. I have emailed the help line to discuss my outstanding final bill which I dispute. Told them I no longer live at the billing address but they still post the credit recovery letters to old address which I now let out to a tenant.
They have my name however is this a breach of data protection as I have clearly informed them I no longer live there. 
Advice please

Tonik has ceased trading and is in administration. It may take time for your email to be actioned, and the joint administrators may require further information before confirming the change of address. The details may need to be relayed to the debt collection agency they are using. Have they confirmed receipt of your email? Why do you believe the data protection act has been breached? Have you considered phoning them?

Munchkinboy8

I have a ticket number for the email I sent yes so they have acknowledged it. 
I'm asking if it is a breach of data protection on the basis I told Scottish Power I was moving who had taken the account over and also on the basis I have emailed them to tell them I don't live there anymore. They have sent a sensitive document about my finances to an address I have informed them I no longer live at. My new tenant as I rent my old house has opened it by mistake and is now concerned there will be an issue with the address in relation to credit. 
Is that not a data protection breach. 
I appreciate your views 

masonic

If you were in debt to Tonik, then that is nothing to do with Scottish Power and the debt would remain with Tonik. SP would not pass on your new address details to Tonik. So you've sent the Tonik administrators your new address by email, received an automated response, and therefore know it is with them in a queue waiting to be read and actioned by someone. If the matter is time sensitive, perhaps email was not a good choice given the company is in administration and will only have a bare minimum staff dealing with enquiries, I would phone them if I were you as it could potentially be sorted right away over the phone.

In the meantime they are entitled to use the last known address for you to chase the debt, and provide the same to debt collectors. This does not appear to be a breach of DPA. Even if it were, Tonik is insolvent, according to its statement of affairs posted in October, it has about £9m in realisable assets and it's nearly £61m in debt. I hardly think a fine from the ICO is going to make any difference. I doubt they would consider it productive to do anything, given the company will soon be wound up.

I can understand your fragile situation with the tenant, which is obviously unfortunate, but all you can really do is reassure that you are dealing with it. Addresses don't have credit records BTW, so it won't impact anyone else currently living at that address.

Munchkinboy8

OK thanks for your views. 
The letter I received relating to the final bill only gives an option to email.
The second letter I received was more forceful 7 days later.  I sent the email on 29.01.21. So I think it's a bit rich of them stating I haven't done anything. 
The outstanding bill is as a result of their incompetence when I was a customer. They cancelled my direct debit and when I realised and attempted to pay they kept messing that up as well. I'm mindful to go to court to dispute it as it is over a year old and I have previously asked for a bill to resolve it. 
Do you have any views around that

Thanks 

masonic

Munchkinboy8 said:

OK thanks for your views. 
The letter I received relating to the final bill only gives an option to email.
The second letter I received was more forceful 7 days later.  I sent the email on 29.01.21. So I think it's a bit rich of them stating I haven't done anything. 
The outstanding bill is as a result of their incompetence when I was a customer. They cancelled my direct debit and when I realised and attempted to pay they kept messing that up as well. I'm mindful to go to court to dispute it as it is over a year old and I have previously asked for a bill to resolve it. 
Do you have any views around that

If the final bill has only been issued recently, but relates to energy used more than a year prior to that (which you haven't been correctly billed for previously), then they are in a very weak position, especially if they you have previously requested, and they failed to provide, a bill. They should not be back-billing more than one year. See https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/who-contact-if-its-difficult-paying-energy-bills/energy-back-billing-guide-your-rights

It does look like the Tonik administrators are routing everything through email to avoid being barraged by phonecalls, but you'll find a contact number in the header pages of their statement of proposals: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09812673/filing-history/MzI4NDYwMjg2MGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

Munchkinboy8

Thanks for your help
I'm disputing the amount also. 
I would be prepared to go to court. 
Final question. If I lose am I correct in thinking the only amount I would have to pay is the bill amount. Would I be subject to any court fees. 
In view of the current court backlog are they likely to go that far in my circumstances. 

masonic

Munchkinboy8 said:

Thanks for your help
I'm disputing the amount also. 
I would be prepared to go to court. 
Final question. If I lose am I correct in thinking the only amount I would have to pay is the bill amount. Would I be subject to any court fees. 
In view of the current court backlog are they likely to go that far in my circumstances. 

My understanding is that if you lose and then satisfy the CCJ, then you would just be paying the debt. If you failed to pay at that stage and they obtained a warrant of execution, the court fee to obtain the warrant would be added to the amount owed. But don't quote me on that.

It is more likely they will eventually acknowledge the fact the debt is disputed and attempt to resolve the matter.