Scottish Power Disputed Bill

Jimmy_Bob

Hi

This is my first post so I hope this is in the right place!

So my problems started with Scottish Power when I moved into a property (one bed flat) in November 2019. I submitted my first meter reading and received a bill of approx. £50.00 which seemed reasonable which I paid.

The following bill was £1400.00!!! I contacted Scottish Power who initially stated that this was correct and tried to blame my wife using hair straighteners (I know). After lots of back and forth, they admitted that the bill was incorrect and I submitted a Burns Test (meter readings every day for 14 days) and this showed really low usage on the account.

After some time, Scottish Power came back and stated that the issue was that they did not have a meter reading on the property since 2014 which explained the high bill. They then had the complaint for 16 months (I gave them ample opportunity to sort this out as I didn't want to go right to the Ombudsman) and during this time, I was making payments of £100.00 per month so I didn't receive a large debt. I submitted several meter readings by email and verbally when speaking to different complaint handlers.

When I left the property in June 2021, they then closed the complaint as a 'deadlock' and sent me a bill for £450.00 which is completely estimated for the the length of the tenancy, does not contain any of the meter readings I submitted and have threatened me with legal action.

I have submitted a SAR as I want all of my data before appealing this decision and, more than likely, sending this to the Ombudsman.

The question I have is, should I pay the disputed bill to keep them off my back and then try and reclaim this following the Ombudsman decision (which is hopefully in my favour) and take them to court if necessary?

The estimated bills received from Scottish Power for the one bed flat is more than what I pay for my three bed house with E-ON!

Apologies this is so long, any advice would be greatly apprecaited!

Puddles1983

The simple answer is yes…
So many systems are automated these days that it’s simply not worth the hassle of withholding payment…
On the info that you provide Sounds like you have a valid complaint that will probably be upheld by the ombudsman who’ll make sure you get made ‘whole’ again via a refund once everything is completely resolved.

If you dont pay, you run the risk of missed payment markers, potentially a default further down the line - regardless whether the company says nothing will be reported (as I say, these things are automated and manual intervention to prevent it is sometimes missed etc).

Jimmy_Bob

Puddles1983 said:

The simple answer is yes…
So many systems are automated these days that it’s simply not worth the hassle of withholding payment…
On the info that you provide Sounds like you have a valid complaint that will probably be upheld by the ombudsman who’ll make sure you get made ‘whole’ again via a refund once everything is completely resolved.

If you dont pay, you run the risk of missed payment markers, potentially a default further down the line - regardless whether the company says nothing will be reported (as I say, these things are automated and manual intervention to prevent it is sometimes missed etc).

Yep that was my thought to be honest, pay it and then challenge it via appealing their decision once my SAR comes back and then off to the Ombudsman.

Thanks again.

PRAISETHESUN

I agree - if you can afford to pay it then do so and follow up on your complaint. It'll be a bigger hassle to contest the defaults that will inevitably come from refusing to pay the bill. Sounds like they are trying to charge you for the previous usage, but since you've provided regular meter readings since you've moved in I feel you're on pretty solid ground.

Don't bother appealing the decision. Take the deadlock letter straight to the ombudsman.

Jimmy_Bob

PRAISETHESUN said:

I agree - if you can afford to pay it then do so and follow up on your complaint. It'll be a bigger hassle to contest the defaults that will inevitably come from refusing to pay the bill. Sounds like they are trying to charge you for the previous usage, but since you've provided regular meter readings since you've moved in I feel you're on pretty solid ground.

Don't bother appealing the decision. Take the deadlock letter straight to the ombudsman.

Ok I will, thank you!

PRAISETHESUN

Also, duplicate thread on the energy board: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6285062/disputed-scottish-power-bill