Erroneous transfer advice required

jedmo

bit of a tricky one
Our supplier was EON. The people who were purchasing our property jumped the gun and switched our provider to scottish power without us knowing. 
All SP correspondence was addressed to the buyers so we didn't open it nor did they come and collect it so had no idea the switch had happened. In feb we found out and paid EON up to the 3rd Jan I guess believing that as the switch had been noticed then, that we would be switched back.
We were switched on 3rd Jan 2021 to EON, and then the house sale and move happened on 26th May 2021

Myself and my partner went our separate ways. Utilities were under his name. We took meter readings on the 26th May. I thought he'd sorted it. He had some unexpected serious health issues so unfortunately nothing was done

3 weeks ago the buyers contact me to say they are getting threatening letters from a debt collection agency about the bill Jan- May
I contact EON, who contact SP to ask for the account to be switched back to them so I can clear the outstanding bill

SP refuse. Say I have to enter as a new customer to EON and then I can pay EON back
Debt collectors are now texting me

As far as me and my ex are concerned, we have no relationship with SP and only with EON, but EON seem to be trying to wash their hands of us...

Any advice welcome!!

Thanks

jedmo

Good lord: so complicated I get mixed up about the providers

jedmo

EDIT:

bit of a tricky one
Our supplier was EON. The people who were purchasing our property jumped the gun and switched our provider to Scottish Power without us knowing believing the house sale was happening earlier than it actually did. 
All SP correspondence was addressed to the buyers so we didn't open it nor did they come and collect it so had no idea the switch had happened. In Feb we found out and EON asked for a payment as our Direct Debit had been cancelled. I guess at the time, we thought that as the switch had been noticed, that EON would sort it and switch us back.

We were switched on 3rd Jan 2021 to S.P. and the house sale and move finally happened on 26th May 2021

Myself and my partner went our separate ways. Utilities were under his name. We took meter readings on the 26th May. I thought he'd sorted it. He had some unexpected serious health issues so unfortunately nothing was done

3 weeks ago the buyers contact me to say they are getting threatening letters from a debt collection agency about the bill Jan- May
I contact EON who explain what has happened, they contact SP to ask for the account to be switched back to them so I can clear the outstanding bill

SP refuse and say I have to enter as a new customer to EON and then I can pay EON back for Jan - May. Debt collectors now begin texting me

As far as me and my ex are concerned, we have no relationship with SP and only with EON, but EON seem to be trying to wash their hands of us...

Any advice welcome!!

Thanks

victor2

Tricky one indeed!

Surely you had some notification from Eon that you were leaving, or did the purchasers switch your account over to them by first telling Eon they were the new tenants, then switch to SP?

Was the new account with SP always in the new owners name, even before they'd moved in?

If so, I'd guess it is technically their problem, but accept your desire to sort it out.

Did SP get meter readings from the actual changeover date?

Is a solution possibly you pay the new owners the actual utility cost up to May on SP's rates and they pay the debt collectors fees on top of that? After all, they applied for the switch, not you.

jedmo

its called an erroneous transfer and doesn't actually need the original customers consent. apparently frequently happens when neighbours give the wrong number house

the new account was always in the new owners name so we never opened any of the 'your switching' letters. at the time we also had their new router delivered (they were very keen to move!)

since i found out about this, I've given the meter readings to both EON and S.P taken on the day we moved out

I'm guessing they won't be overly keen on the thought of paying any debt collectors fees (i've no idea how much that would even entail) just as I have very little desire to pay them too. As far as I am concerned, my relationship is with EON 

Flight3287462

How are they chasing you?  Surely the owners/tenants are the ones being chased?  As you say you have no contract with SP so that is the new owners problem but assuming you want to sort it amicably get the new owners to pay the bill and you reimburse them?

victor2

The debt is being chased from the new owners presumably, so I'd pay them for the the utilities I'd used while still there (at the SP rate they negotiated, as a goodwill gesture!), then it's their problem to sort out the debt collectors.

Might sour your relationship with them a bit, but did you know them before they bought your house? They'll get over it, and can't legally chase you for anything, going by what you've posted on here.

Fred2712

Technically S/Power could bill you from Jan - May as you were using the energy, however you also then have grounds to dispute the bill or get a reduction as you didn’t sign up with them.
Obviously the best solution would be for S/Power to write off the bill for the this period, keeping their new customer happy & you.
All the time the debt is not in your name don’t worry.

Curiousgirl1

Can’t see how you can register as a new customer with Eon when you no longer live there. 

You should ring SP and ask for a copy of the bill from Jan to May. Think it is well out of order for the new owners to change suppliers nearly 5 months before completion. 

SP should have a copy of the new owners original contract & I would assume the new owners contacted them when they moved in as probably had a bill from January which they weren’t prepared to pay. 

The other side of things, did you not realise you hadn’t had a bill from Eon since a final one in Jan or paid them any money? 

[Deleted User]

If somebody knowingly takes over my energy supply without my permission then they have effectively become responsible for all the energy used from the contract start date. That said, I would have thought a bill marked FINAL might have raised a few ???s.

At least in the case of energy, the supply continues. I have had a buyer take over my telephone service; change the number and effectively cease my broadband service two weeks before I moved out.

FreeBear

jedmo said: its called an erroneous transfer and doesn't actually need the original customers consent. apparently frequently happens when neighbours give the wrong number house

An erroneous transfer also triggers a compulsory compensation payment to be made within 10 days of the breach occurring. Failure to pay compensation within 10 days triggers a second compulsory compensation (£30 in each case). Both suppliers are liable, so you could be in line for up to £120 - Maybe that is why both EDF & SP are trying to dodge doing "the right thing" (that and it would have to be reported to OFGEM).