Default Notice - Scottish Power

Jen_09

Hello All, 

Trying to understand my rights on a default notice, which I believe is potentially an error. 
I moved into this a property at the end of 2018 and till Aug 2019 I had not received any energy bills. At this point, there was a hand delivered debt collection notice in my PO Box. I was surprised that it had escalated without any communication at all. I rang the number provided, requested for the bills and paid them. During that call where I made my first payment we figured out that the no communication was making it to me because the address was incorrect. The customer service agent was unable to fix this but instead we agreed I would get the bills via email. The bills never arrived and still haven't. 

Fast forward to 2020 and my credit report now says I had defaulted in July 2019 and that the payment was settled in April 2020 rather than the original August 2019. I have raised a dispute with Experian and submitted a written complaint to Scottish Power.

Firstly, surely I have some rights over the fact that they've been sending the bills to the wrong address and even when asked to correct this they were unable to?
Secondly, I should have emailed, but over the phone I made a complaint that they had the address wrong and so should have not charged me for the debt collector when I was never notified. This complaint has not been recorded in their system even though I have now raised it 4 times.

I 've never defaulted on any payment and I feel utterly powerless against them. The customer service lady I spoke to yesterday was incredibly unhelpful and I quote "You're unreliable so it will go on your credit report". The second person I spoke to claims there was no default on my account. Regardless of the situation, I feel personal comments such as that are unprofessional.  Is there anything I can do to get this default removed?

Any help at all would be so greatly appreciated!!
- Jen

Neil_Jones

When you moved in did you contact the provider who was supplying the utilities at the time and say hello I've moved into this house, 221B Baker Street, can I have a new account please, my electricity meter says 73924 and my gas says 18349 (or whatever the figures happen to be).  Or at the very least said you've moved in.

If not, this is almost certainly going to be part of the problem.

Jen_09

Thanks for your response Neil,
I never received that letter but my details were passed on via the landlord/estate agency who transferred the bill to my name, hence why they (Scottish Power) had my details. After that, its quarterly bills and it didn't really come to mind until they sent the debt collector. So by the point they defaulted me I would have missed two bills and just generated a third bill. 
And I wish I lived at Sherlock Holmes' house! 

JJ_Egan

How much have you been paying and to whom ??

Jen_09

I have been paying Scottish Power, quarterly based on the bills they have sent me and paid over the phone using the number on the bill. I have since (in April 20) switched to direct debit.

macman

Back billing will not apply, as you made no attempt to contact the supplier yourself, as the occupier. Never trust an LL or LA to do this. Not their responsibility, not their bills.