I think I'm being scammed by EON

anonymous_poor_lady

EssexHebridean said:

I’d say you can just ignore that, but I suggest posting in the thread already running over on the DFW board for further advice from one of the experts there. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6318050/energy-provider-passed-a-debt-my-father-doesnt-owe-to-debt-collector#latest

Posted it there! Thanks

Gwheston

Hello Lovely People!
I also received a letter from EON, PRAC & bwlegal, saying I owe £53.85 for my energy consumption for the period in Aug 2018 to Oct 2018. I moved out of that flat in May 2014!!!!! And have proof of everything. Should I reply to them? or not indulge these cowboys? Any advice would be much appreciated! 
Thank you! and wish you a Merry Christmas! 
GG

EssexHebridean

Gwheston said:

Hello Lovely People!
I also received a letter from EON, PRAC & bwlegal, saying I owe £53.85 for my energy consumption for the period in Aug 2018 to Oct 2018. I moved out of that flat in May 2014!!!!! And have proof of everything. Should I reply to them? or not indulge these cowboys? Any advice would be much appreciated! 
Thank you! and wish you a Merry Christmas! 
GG

Precisely the same advice as given to everyone else. Send the “Prove it” letter - only that, no other paperwork, no “evidence”. The link for the letter is further back in the thread, or can be found in the DFW board sticky threads. If they come back with anything else post over on DFW for advice from the experts there. 🙂

gbhxu

Patr100 said:

brewerdave said:

Patr100 said:

anonymous_poor_lady said:

Patr100 said:

Debts must apply to individuals not properties.
If you were the only person who had an account with EON (you said only your name was on the bills)
then why are they now  targeting your husband? Did you ever hold a joint account with EON?

We didn't have a joint account together with EON. I was the only one to have my name with them. 

I guess I learned my lesson, next time I will include both names to save us from this trouble. 

I wasn't advocating having joint names. Just trying to ascertain the facts .
Doesn't look like joint names would help in this situation.
EON must have got your husband's name from somewhere.

Last time I dealt with EON, you couldn't have a "joint" account for utilities, only one name allowed - but they still can go after other occupants of the property by means of the "jointly and severally liable" approach.

Not if there is only one name on the bills as appears on this case.
The other person never entered into a contract to be liable.

That was my argument too

EON changed their T&Cs in April 2020 making anyone in the household liable. 

I did bring this up on the forum back in March 2020

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6112104/e-on-now-making-everyone-in-the-household-liable-to-pay-the-bill-is-this-legal/p1

Patr100

gbhxu said:

Patr100 said:

brewerdave said:

Patr100 said:

anonymous_poor_lady said:

Patr100 said:

Debts must apply to individuals not properties.
If you were the only person who had an account with EON (you said only your name was on the bills)
then why are they now  targeting your husband? Did you ever hold a joint account with EON?

We didn't have a joint account together with EON. I was the only one to have my name with them. 

I guess I learned my lesson, next time I will include both names to save us from this trouble. 

I wasn't advocating having joint names. Just trying to ascertain the facts .
Doesn't look like joint names would help in this situation.
EON must have got your husband's name from somewhere.

Last time I dealt with EON, you couldn't have a "joint" account for utilities, only one name allowed - but they still can go after other occupants of the property by means of the "jointly and severally liable" approach.

Not if there is only one name on the bills as appears on this case.
The other person never entered into a contract to be liable.

That was my argument too

EON changed their T&Cs in April 2020 making anyone in the household liable. 

I did bring this up on the forum back in March 2020

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6112104/e-on-now-making-everyone-in-the-household-liable-to-pay-the-bill-is-this-legal/p1

EON do appear to be pushing this regardless, but who knows if it is enforceable in court , if pursued?

BobT36

I understand that people on the same tenancy agreement / mortgage / ownership could be held liable, as they're the "owners" / tenants of the property, have a stake in it and are also liable for everything else. 

But the line "anyone who uses energy" is bloody stupid. Say my GF's mum stays over and uses the microwave, is she now liable for my bills if I don't pay? Or a friend who sofa surfs for a couple of weeks. What about 18+ year old kids who are registered there for post, but do not own anything or have their name on ANY bills? Good luck trying to pursue them. 

Somewhat_Disgruntled

anonymous_poor_lady said:

Also, should I send via email? Post? Or both?

Obviously, don't send the original. Send a copy.

Somewhat_Disgruntled

Apparently, I just got moved from E.On to E.On Next and I cannot access my old account, give a meter reading or see all my old bills.

Which seems mightily convenient for them since I am disputing spurious charges through the Ombudsman. Good thing I saved them all as pdf and Word files.