Bulb not seeing the light

sgun

D_P_Dance said:

It was difficult to put all together.

Perhaps, but there was no need to..  I was not seeking any help or advice wrt switching or supply,  merely how much people thought I should sue them for for the harassment and stress they were inflicting on my wife, 

Nothing. There is nothing to sue for. Either they have the right name (as is stated on the account) or they have a wrong name (in which case just tell them). There is no GDPR issue here. The debt is paid. I honestly can't see what the issue is.

welshmoneylover

I don’t see what the fuss is either apart from the one which seems to me due to the OPs making

Anunnaki

Glanced through the posts, so forgive me for anything missed. So to Recap, Sorry. 5 Pages.   Just so I understand this.

The original poster stated they gave a reading and informed the company they were now responsible for the account/contract?

The company contacted the wife, whose name was not on the new account/contract. The posters was.

They submitted an estimated bill, £130. Presumably from when the poster gave actual readings until a specified date?

This was contested and agreement was made to pay £30.80 based on actual usage. Job done, all rectified?

But previous to this, after only a few/2 months? That was quick?
Debt Agencies were involved and contacted the wife, whose name was not on any account/contract regards payment of the now paid bill.

Prior to this the wife who was not on the account contacted the company and was Dunned. Had to look that up? "made persistent demands on her for payment of the debt."

The opening poster has now stated, his wife has requested an SAR under GDPR? And if any wrong doing will go to courts for the sum of £500 Compensation?

"I am sending them  an SAR in my wife's name and also a letter before County Court Action seeking compensation for stress and harassment. My wife is 75 and suffering  from Parkinson's Dementia."

The poster may get an outcome, If she decides to go to court or even perhaps a small goodwill gesture from the company before that. Personally if any goodwill gesture offered I would take it. Before any money is perhaps lost?
 
But this from the start should have been very easily rectified? What went wrong?
It does actually appear to be badly mismanaged from the start,  

The poster has stated that they are experienced Landlords? This must be a usual occurrence to Landlords?

Tenants  move in the supply/responsibility is in their name. They move out the supply/responsibility is in the Landlords name. New tenant moves in the supply/responsibility is in their name.
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DP Dance: Sorry still do not understand how all this occurred? But anyway hopefully you and your wife do get an eventual outcome on this, that you both will be happy about.

And perhaps it is a good idea that you have decided to start selling your property portfolio off at this time, as you and your wife's ages/vulnerabilities and especially the current restrictions/legislation/rights will obviously take their toll at this unprecedented time.

Hope all goes well.

D_P_Dance

An excellent summation Anunnaki,  almost 100%, except for this

Prior to this the wife who was not on the account contacted the company and was Dunned. 

No, my wife has had no contact with Bulb, which is why I am SARing them, how did they get her name?  .  I wish everyone who offers advice on these boards was as perspicacious. 

You are right this is not the first time I have dealt with stubborn incompetence.   

Recently my local council issue a summons against me over a Council Tax dispute and had to make a humiliating apology.  Over the years there have also been problems with a letting agent, a locksmith, SSE, and Thames Water, all, (eventually), resolved in my favour.  I have no doubt that Bulb will see the light and repent.  I shall give them enough rope to do so.  

D_P_Dance

Nothing. There is nothing to sue for.

My solicitor thinks it may be otherwise. Either for harassment under the 1997 Act. or data protection legislation, or both.

Why do you think that she is wrong?

Energyinsider

When someone's moving out Bulb will ask who is taking over responsibility for the property, as you mentioned your tenant spoke mostly with your wife I assume your tenant gave Bulb her details. 

An account will have then been set up for the property with her name on. This is because suppliers actually supply properties not people, so whoever is responsible for the bills at the property is automatically entered into a deemed contract with this Bulb.

At this point the person responsible for the bills at the property should get in touch with Bulb to set up their account and a payment plan to cover standing charges and whatever usage there is.

I believe you've now sold the property and so have contacted Bulb to settle the bills, but you want to do so based on the meter readings your tenant provided when they moved out in December, and not the estimated readings I assume Bulb have generated up to the point you sold the property?

In regards to the billing issue, if you don't have readings from when your responsibility ended I would recommend contacting whoever the property was sold to, to see if they took a reading when they took on responsibility or share their details with Bulb, so they can contact them for readings.

Bulb can't bill to the readings from December as that would open them up to substantial risk. 

And in regards to pursuing your wife, have you asked them to set up an account with your detail and have your wife's removed? If you've requested that they do that and subsequently your wife has continued to be chased by debt collectors I can understand your issue with this, though my first port of call would be the suppliers complaints process. complaints@bulb.co.uk would usually address this.

Otherwise you could have your case escalated to the ombudsman and receive compensation there. This is the typical path for issues such as you're having and I believe would be much simpler and less costly in time and money for you.

D_P_Dance

as you mentioned your tenant spoke mostly with your wife I assume your tenant gave Bulb her details.

Perhaps, but she has not had any contact with them, all matters have been dealt with by me.  Any assumption by Bulb that they were contractually involved with my wife has no basis in law. 


Otherwise you could have your case escalated to the ombudsman ...  I believe would be much simpler and less costly in time and money for you.

Probably simpler,  but less rewarding. I would not pursue course of action which I thought would be unprofitable. 

Anunnaki

D_P_Dance said:

An excellent summation Anunnaki,  almost 100%, except for this

Prior to this the wife who was not on the account contacted the company and was Dunned. 

No, my wife has had no contact with Bulb, which is why I am SARing them, how did they get her name?  .  I wish everyone who offers advice on these boards was as perspicacious. 

You are right this is not the first time I have dealt with stubborn incompetence.   

Recently my local council issue a summons against me over a Council Tax dispute and had to make a humiliating apology.  Over the years there have also been problems with a letting agent, a locksmith, SSE, and Thames Water, all, (eventually), resolved in my favour.  I have no doubt that Bulb will see the light and repent.  I shall give them enough rope to do so.  

Ah sorry! I had to look back through the posts, I had read to find that.

"However my concern  is that my wife, who was never a party to the contract, has been dunned by their agent five times.  To this end she has requested an SAR under the GDPR."  

Apologise for my misinterpretation. I falsely assumed she had contacted them, not vice versa. Do apologise.

It appears you will get some good advice here and perhaps some not so good. Levels of expertise will vary depending on subject/circumstances

But you are probably more experienced than some here, and also both yourself and your wife has suffered through this. Then go ahead with what you think and know is true! and push for a compensation amount that you and your wife will consider to be appropriate.

sgun

D_P_Dance said:

Nothing. There is nothing to sue for.

My solicitor thinks it may be otherwise. Either for harassment under the 1997 Act. or data protection legislation, or both.

Why do you think that she is wrong?

Because sending 4 letters to someone who is named as an account holder (and hasn't paid a bill) isn't harassment. If they had turned up at the door demanding to be let in 4 times or phoned constantly at unsociable hours that would be harassment. If your wife's name is on the account she is the account holder. You should have corrected the tenant's error back in December and then you wouldn't have had the problems with letters being sent out in your wife's name.

Hasbeen

In my humble opinion anyone now posting trying to give the op further advice on rights or wrongs is perhaps not required?

The op asked one question which has already been  answered

" My question is, how much should I be suing for, my guess is £100. but I know nothing of these matters."

The OP has perhaps read some of the advice? But it basically is no consequence to the initial question?

The Op has made his mind up on his actions. So wish him well!