Disputed Scottish Power Bill

Jimmy_Bob

Hi everyone.

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 appreciated!

jbuchanangb

If you have the opening readings from when you moved in, and the closing readings from when you moved out, and you know the unit rate and the daily rate, you can calculate how much you owe them, subtract the total of all you have paid them, and make them a proposition. Either you pay them what you owe them, or they pay what they owe you.

As you have a deadlock letter you can refer the matter immediately to the Ombudsman anyway, providing that office will all your evidence.

[Deleted User]

A warning to the wise. Before you escalate any complaint to The Energy Ombudsman you need to make sure that you provide them with ALL the facts as they are not an investigative service. The supplier will also provide The EO with a detailed case file that the complainant does not get to see.

Items that I would include:

1. Confirmation of the date when you became responsible for the property.

2. Opening reading provided to SP and when.

3. Meter readings provided to supplier and when.

3. Closing reading when you left the property.

4. End of tenancy date.

Two concerns that I have. Suppliers have 8 weeks to close a complaint. Given the time that has elapsed, The EO may not accept the original complaint as they normally expect all complaints to be escalated to them within 12 months from the date of the original complaint. 

Secondly, you need to take into account the fact that the EO Decision may not always be in your favour. As I said above, all they do is weigh up the facts/evidence presented to them and then they come to a Decision. The Decision is binding on the supplier; however, if you reject it then all future discussion about the alleged debt will stop. The supplier can then take you to Court with a Final Decision that it has in its favour.

Finally, what do you get from taking the supplier to Court? We all threaten this as if it is a simple thing to do. The Small Claims Court will deal with monetary loss; ie, money owed but not paid, but it won’t give you anything for hurt; outrage etc. You could of course sit on your hands and do nothing until the supplier takes you to Court for the outstanding debt which you then defend. You may win but, if you lose, you could end up paying the supplier’s legal costs.

All I am saying is do your homework before you decide what action to take.

Jimmy_Bob

Hi Dolor said:

Two concerns that I have. Suppliers have 8 weeks to close a complaint. Given the time that has elapsed, The EO may not accept the original complaint as they normally expect all complaints to be escalated to them within 12 months from the date of the original complaint. 

Finally, what do you get from taking the supplier to Court? We all threaten this as if it is a simple thing to do. The Small Claims Court will deal with monetary loss; ie, money owed but not paid, but it won’t give you anything for hurt; outrage etc. You could of course sit on your hands and do nothing until the supplier takes you to Court for the outstanding debt which you then defend. You may win but, if you lose, you could end up paying the supplier’s legal costs.

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

In relation to your first point, I have received the deadlock letter which states I have 12 months to forward the claim to The EO from the date of the letter so I should be fine sending to The EO.

On the second point, as I was paying £100 a month without ever receiving a bill so they have a substantial amount of my money without being able to justify the amount they claim to be charging me which is what I intend to claim back once I receive my SAR with meter readings evidenced on file (I have some of them however some I gave verbally and some I submitted on the app which they should have on file).

According to Scottish Power I never submitted an opening reading which is simply not true.

QrizB

@Jimmy_Bob do you know:

• The meter reading(s) on the date you moved in;
• The meter reading(s) on the date you moved out;
• The tariff(s) that applied, both pence per kWh and daily standing charge?

If you know those numbers you can work out how much you owe. If you wish, post the numbers here and we can check the sums.

Jimmy_Bob

QrizB said:

@Jimmy_Bob do you know:

• The meter reading(s) on the date you moved in;
• The meter reading(s) on the date you moved out;
• The tariff(s) that applied, both pence per kWh and daily standing charge?

If you know those numbers you can work out how much you owe. If you wish, post the numbers here and we can check the sums.

Stupidly, I didn't keep a note so I am hoping that they will be in my SAR which I requested two weeks ago.

PRAISETHESUN

Duplicate thread here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6285023/scottish-power-disputed-bill