Help needed on Erroneous transfer of electricity supplier.

sandeepamar

Phones4Chris said:

Hmm. I'd be inclined to look at initially going with Octopus once you get to the bottom of what's going on as they are cheaper BUT only after this is resolved. Also look at other suppliers and get the best deal.

It would be worth checking out what the Network Operator's site says for who the supplier is for your address and that the meter details/serial number are showing correctly. Go to https://www.energynetworks.org/operating-the-networks/whos-my-network-operator to find out who the operator is.  No need to ring them, most have a webpage and with some (all?) you can them request the details be sent in an email to you.

As for SSE saying that the Back Billing doesn't apply, I don't know how they justify that , sounds like Bull to me. 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
The same would apply to Octopus if you subsequently accept them as your supplier.

SSE are probably the innocent parity in this erroneous transfer, but I'd still steer clear of them atm until this is resolved.
Have you got back to Octopus to tell them to stop the letters and investigate or else?

Edit: You might also like to tell Octopus that they can check the Electoral Role to see that Mr.X has nothing to do with your address.

Good tip on the electoral role.  Octopus are definitely supplying my property.  Octopus have also confirmed that the meter they are supplying matches with mine, I sent them a photo of the meter.  Nevertheless, will double check through the links you've sent.

Was on hold with SSE for over an hour so will speak to Octopus tomorrow, email them and make sure i'm clear about the letters they are sending and to resolve the matter.   Thanks!

MWT

Phones4Chris said:

As for SSE saying that the Back Billing doesn't apply, I don't know how they justify that , sounds like Bull to me. 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
The same would apply to Octopus if you subsequently accept them as your supplier.

The protocol for a reversal of an erroneous transfer is that the 'wrong' supplier refunds all payments to the customer and the original supplier bills the customer for all usage, 'back billing' isn't a factor in that process as the original supplier has not failed to bill correctly but is billing at the first opportunity to do so.

If you want to make use of the back-billing rules I'd say that is only possible by accepting Octopus as the supplier and then pointing out that they have failed to bill the OP at any point to date.

Of course Octopus would probably be very happy to have the erroneous transfer reversed...

sandeepamar

MWT said:

Phones4Chris said:

As for SSE saying that the Back Billing doesn't apply, I don't know how they justify that , sounds like Bull to me. 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
The same would apply to Octopus if you subsequently accept them as your supplier.

The protocol for a reversal of an erroneous transfer is that the 'wrong' supplier refunds all payments to the customer and the original supplier bills the customer for all usage, 'back billing' isn't a factor in that process as the original supplier has not failed to bill correctly but is billing at the first opportunity to do so.

If you want to make use of the back-billing rules I'd say that is only possible by accepting Octopus as the supplier and then pointing out that they have failed to bill the OP at any point to date.

Of course Octopus would probably be very happy to have the erroneous transfer reversed...

MWT said:

Phones4Chris said:

As for SSE saying that the Back Billing doesn't apply, I don't know how they justify that , sounds like Bull to me. 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
The same would apply to Octopus if you subsequently accept them as your supplier.

The protocol for a reversal of an erroneous transfer is that the 'wrong' supplier refunds all payments to the customer and the original supplier bills the customer for all usage, 'back billing' isn't a factor in that process as the original supplier has not failed to bill correctly but is billing at the first opportunity to do so.

If you want to make use of the back-billing rules I'd say that is only possible by accepting Octopus as the supplier and then pointing out that they have failed to bill the OP at any point to date.

Of course Octopus would probably be very happy to have the erroneous transfer reversed...

That's good to know, thanks.  What is OP?

sandeepamar

MWT said:

Phones4Chris said:

As for SSE saying that the Back Billing doesn't apply, I don't know how they justify that , sounds like Bull to me. 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
The same would apply to Octopus if you subsequently accept them as your supplier.

The protocol for a reversal of an erroneous transfer is that the 'wrong' supplier refunds all payments to the customer and the original supplier bills the customer for all usage, 'back billing' isn't a factor in that process as the original supplier has not failed to bill correctly but is billing at the first opportunity to do so.

If you want to make use of the back-billing rules I'd say that is only possible by accepting Octopus as the supplier and then pointing out that they have failed to bill the OP at any point to date.

Of course Octopus would probably be very happy to have the erroneous transfer reversed...

If I opt for a new supplier altogether, how would a transfer work being that my property and Mr X are mixed up? And do you know where that would leave Octopus with the amount outstanding?  Right now I (being me the person) am in contract with no supplier but we know Octopus are supplying my property.

[Deleted User]

You cannot play the Erroneous Transfer rules to your personal advantage as suppliers are required by Ofgem to put the consumer back into the position that he/she was in had the erroneous transfer not taken place.

sandeepamar

Dolor said:

You cannot play the Erroneous Transfer rules to your personal advantage as suppliers are required by Ofgem to put the consumer back into the position that he/she was in had the erroneous transfer not taken place.

Thanks for your point.  Considering the following, what do you suggest.
Octopus are saying they can't send me back to SSE because it's over one year.   SSE say they can transfer me back but only if I am willing to pay the last 18 months of usage which hasn't been paid for.  SSE are not taking control of the matter to rectify the error.  So where does that leave me?  And as mentioned before, where does that leave Octopus and the outstanding amount due by Mr X, against my property?  

Swipe

I'd go with Octopus and ask them to change the name of Mr X on the bill to yours and pay the outstanding £555 if that works out the cheapest option for you. Have you given octopus a recent reading and is the £555 bill based on that? Why over complicate things with a reversal?

sandeepamar

Swipe said:

I'd go with Octopus and ask them to change the name of Mr X on the bill to yours and pay the outstanding £555 if that works out the cheapest option for you. Have you given octopus a recent reading and is the £555 bill based on that? Why over complicate things with a reversal?

Thanks.  Don't have a recent reading with them, they've been reluctant to tell me much as I'm not Mr X.  Will need to speak to them.  But yes, why over complicate matters is a very good point.

Swipe

sandeepamar said:

Swipe said:

I'd go with Octopus and ask them to change the name of Mr X on the bill to yours and pay the outstanding £555 if that works out the cheapest option for you. Have you given octopus a recent reading and is the £555 bill based on that? Why over complicate things with a reversal?

Thanks.  Don't have a recent reading with them, they've been reluctant to tell me much as I'm not Mr X.  Will need to speak to them.  But yes, why over complicate matters is a very good point.

What is the meter reading on the Mr X bill and is it close to your actual one?

sandeepamar

Swipe said:

sandeepamar said:

Swipe said:

I'd go with Octopus and ask them to change the name of Mr X on the bill to yours and pay the outstanding £555 if that works out the cheapest option for you. Have you given octopus a recent reading and is the £555 bill based on that? Why over complicate things with a reversal?

Thanks.  Don't have a recent reading with them, they've been reluctant to tell me much as I'm not Mr X.  Will need to speak to them.  But yes, why over complicate matters is a very good point.

What is the meter reading on the Mr X bill and is it close to your actual one?

For Mr X, they simply identified the outstanding amount £ in a letter (no bill/statement), no meter readings, no dates, no history, no sense!  They haven't offered me any further information as the contact isn't in my name and privacy laws, etc.