Tonik owes me money

lad22

Unfortunately Tonik has now gone bust. I've contacted them probably 20x since January when I switched to them, as they were utterly hopeless. I'm a landlord and they failed to log my new tenants going in in January, and never billed them. I didn't realise they were still actually billing me, as the direct debit was from an account that I don't use much, not my usual bank account. When I finally realised, I ended the direct debit, but had paid them around £450 which should have been billed to the tenants. The tenants moved out in July and were never billed. Tonik kept saying they would sort out my repayment but never did. I had by then complained to the Ombudsman. No chance of getting the money back from tenants even though it was their energy used. Is there anything I can do, or have I lost my £450?

macman

Scottish Power have taken over the customer base, your resolution will be with them. 
Its not up to you to chase the tenants, that is up to the supplier. All you need to do is prove that the property was occupied by tenants between the disputed dates.
Suppliers don't 'log' tenants: it's up to the tenants to register when they occupy. And for you, as LL, to ensure you get a final billing within 6 weeks of occupation. 

MWT

macman said:

Its not up to you to chase the tenants, that is up to the supplier. All you need to do is prove that the property was occupied by tenants between the disputed dates.

Needs a bit more than that, the Landlord should have notified Tonik that he was no longer responsible for the energy when the tenants moved in, that was his 'leaving date'.

Just like anyone moving house, you do need to inform the supplier that you are no longer there...

If he didn't notify Tonik then it may be harder to get a refund now...

lad22

I informed them that I was no longer liable (many times) and gave them out the outgoing/incoming meter readings and the names of the tenants. But they never took me off the bills, and never contacted the tenants. 

lad22

And I gave them all the relevant dates too.

brewerdave

lad22 said:

I informed them that I was no longer liable (many times) and gave them out the outgoing/incoming meter readings and the names of the tenants. But they never took me off the bills, and never contacted the tenants. 

Hopefully you have a tenancy agreement in support of the dates ?

lad22

Tonik appears to have accepted they messed up (although never said it in writing) - they asked me for the forwarding address of the tenants, but I informed them I didn't have it. I believe that one of the tenants contacted Tonik, though I'm not certain. 

lad22

brewerdave said:

lad22 said:

I informed them that I was no longer liable (many times) and gave them out the outgoing/incoming meter readings and the names of the tenants. But they never took me off the bills, and never contacted the tenants. 

Hopefully you have a tenancy agreement in support of the dates ?

Yes, this was sent several times to Tonik and to the Ombudsman. 

Maxwell008

Tonik Energy- Scottish Power Hotline 08000407181