Beware Enstroga Final Bill and debt collectors

WelshConsumer

Just a warning to Enstroga customers. I changed supplier from Enstroga in 2020. Due to a data breach at my former employer where my bank details were exposed, I cancelled all direct debits with companies I no longer deslt with. Enstroga being one of them.
What I had not realised was the final direct debit had not been taken from my account but I heard nothing from Enstroga. A month or so passed then I was contacted by a debt collection agency claiming that my outstanding debt had been passed onto it and I now owed a fee of £21 on top of the final bill. I was surprised as I had not heard anything directly from Enstroga. Not knowing anything about this I rang Enstroga as I do not deal with unsolicited requests for money. 
Enstroga told me to pay my final bill and that would conclude the matter. Enstroga sent me details of how to pay and I paid the full final bill amount.

I was the contacted continually by the debt collection agency. I explained to them that I had paid Enstroga and asked them to stop harassing me for money I did not owe. 
Unfortunately they explained I still owed them the £21 fee as they had been engaged by Enstroga to collect the debt on its behalf. Due to the significant volume of hassle I was getting I paid the debt collectors their fee under duress.
I then contacted Enstroga to reclaim this. I went through the Enstroga complaints process several times asking them to refund the money and each time they informed me my complaint had been resolved. I repeatedly asked them for a letter of deadlock. I started a complaint with the energy ombudsman service and only then did a get a refund into my bank account from Enstroga. No explanation at all. They are a frustrating company to deal with in my view and I would urge customers to avoid if they want a hassle free energy company. I am still talking that the company took no action to ensure I was made aware that a debt collection agency was involved or at least warning me they might get involved before handing a car over to them. I was and always have been happy to pay what I owe but objected to these fees which were eventually returned to me. It was a long drawn out process and one not for the front heated. 

niktheguru

Sorry to hear you went through all that. However didn't you actually look at your final bill and see you owed money? If you cancelled all your direct debits then surely you should check that your account was completely closed. What if your account was in 60 pounds credit and you were owed money?
Although I agree that going straight to a debt collection agency is drastic and they should have written to you first, it was money that you owed them. Too often people seem to "forget" after switching that money was owed. (though strangely when there is credit on the account they always remember that!!)  It is on us as users to check we don't owe money. It obviously doesn't help that some suppliers take their sweet time to generate final bills.

Eurobanbi

Enstoga recently took me to the County Court for non payment of their outstanding final bill.
I counter claimed against Enstroga for not informing me correctly of the end of the tariff and continuing to take increased payments by DD. Enstroga never turned up at the hearing nor followed any of the court procedures or requests. Their claim against me was struck out and Enstroga were ordered to pay me £640 which they have not paid and will not pay and this is proof that this is a scam.

Regardless of my case Enstroga or an entity using the Enstroga name are using the County Court as a fishing net to make a grab for money from ex customers. My advice should you wish to take it is.

1 take a look a claim and find any excuse to use to defend the claim.

2 request further information from Enstroga that will help the above process . I made a Subject Access Request for all information they hold. If they do not supply any this will go against them in court. It is also a duty of the claimant in county court rules that states failure to supply requested info will lead to them not receiving any claim even if the claim is proved. Do not be out of if they reply they are no longer in business or have no information. A letter requesting a SAR to the company address is all you have to do not to a specific person or department or in any specific form. See the ICO for more information .

3 if you feel you have no excuse against payment send them an offer far below the claim amount and to pay in low instalments. Again CPR rules state the claimant must look to avoid court at all costs and if they refuse your offer and still go to court it is likely the Court will only order what you have offered to be payed.

4 if you are an individual, Enstrogas claim will be heard in your local County Court . Enstroga will not turn up to pursue their claim which will go against them.

5 read other threads here and elsewhere regarding Enstroga and EWD it’s a scam set up by the German ex Director of Enstroga fishing for ex customers money while not paying any of his own debts owed by Enstroga .