electricity supplier, new account and debt collection

tifo

Deleted_User said:

the supplier has pretty much followed the usual and accepted process.

The supplier has not followed process for debt collection. Sending field agents when debt collection is on hold, only for them to say "oh, yeah, we didn't check" isn't the usual process. And then charging £55 for something that shouldn't have been done.

The supplier has not followed process for warrant of entry. Asking for the form for an entry warrant hearing to be returned by a given date, then applying for the warrant in their local court 10 days earlier than this date isn't the usual process. The form asks which court I want the hearing at.

Their actions show that on 3 occasions they tried to obtain a warrant of entry without telling me the court date despite my asking them for a hearing. And the 3rd occasion when they did give me the chance of a hearing, they applied early in their local court anyway. This is either deliberate or, more likely, plain incompetence. I'm entitled to a hearing, that is a process too. I only found out because I got the letters 'we've applied for a warrant' the 2 days before the court hearing and because I've kept asking, knowing what they do.

tifo

SAC2334 said:

tifo said:

And they have misused the warrant process to try and deny me a hearing which i've a right to, and sent field agents when there was no need at that time because other actions were done.

I've a mind to take them to court for harassment. I feel i've been treated very badly, esp during my illness when at times I was incapable of dealing with them and still paying the bills.

Please can you stop this nonsense of threats of  "taking them to a court " or stopping a prepayment meter being fitted.

Hundreds of thousands have gone through this process before you and it nearly always ends in tears and extra costs which are applied to the original debt .

I may have no choice, the Ombudsman is supporting the supplier despite what's happened. A judge should see things for how they are. I'm not getting out of paying, I just want them to follow the correct processes which they clearly haven't. I'd make an offer for my circumstances. I can't pay more than I can afford towards the debt.

MWT

tifo said:

SAC2334 said:

tifo said:

And they have misused the warrant process to try and deny me a hearing which i've a right to, and sent field agents when there was no need at that time because other actions were done.

I've a mind to take them to court for harassment. I feel i've been treated very badly, esp during my illness when at times I was incapable of dealing with them and still paying the bills.

Please can you stop this nonsense of threats of  "taking them to a court " or stopping a prepayment meter being fitted.

Hundreds of thousands have gone through this process before you and it nearly always ends in tears and extra costs which are applied to the original debt .

I may have no choice, the Ombudsman is supporting the supplier despite what's happened. A judge should see things for how they are. I'm not getting out of paying, I just want them to follow the correct processes which they clearly haven't. I'd make an offer for my circumstances. I can't pay more than I can afford towards the debt.

The problem is though, you don't get to keep consuming whatever you want and then just say you are paying what you can afford.

They are entitled to put a pre-pay meter in place, at which point you will be able to consume whatever you can afford to pay for, while making whatever repayments towards the debt have been agreed...

tifo

MWT said:

The problem is though, you don't get to keep consuming whatever you want and then just say you are paying what you can afford.

They are entitled to put a pre-pay meter in place, at which point you will be able to consume whatever you can afford to pay for, while making whatever repayments towards the debt have been agreed...

I didn't say that i'm consuming and want to pay what I can afford. I said i'm paying for usage and want to pay what I can afford towards the arrears.

QrizB

tifo said:

MWT said:

The problem is though, you don't get to keep consuming whatever you want and then just say you are paying what you can afford.

They are entitled to put a pre-pay meter in place, at which point you will be able to consume whatever you can afford to pay for, while making whatever repayments towards the debt have been agreed...

I didn't say that i'm consuming and want to pay what I can afford. I said i'm paying for usage and want to pay what I can afford towards the arrears.

It sounds like a prepayment meter might suit you, then.

sunnyhampshire

did this ever get resolved??

tifo

sunnyhampshire said:

did this ever get resolved??

Yes, in a way. But before this they just ignored everything I said though they didn't chase the debt up much. Occasional letters and threats to visit.

I'm now (November) on the Winter 50 scheme and the debt will be written off in April 2024, until then 50% off bills.

rp1974

I must remember not to pay my bills moving forward then,if the end result is half price energy and debt written off.
Hardly much of an incentive tor those that do pay vs those that apparently can't,won't or don't really is it?.

Not having a go at anybody qualifying or using this arrangement,more power to you,pun intended.

northernstar007

and end up with ccj in normal cases

Spoonie_Turtle

rp1974 said:

I must remember not to pay my bills moving forward then,if the end result is half price energy and debt written off.
Hardly much of an incentive tor those that do pay vs those that apparently can't,won't or don't really is it?.

Not having a go at anybody qualifying or using this arrangement,more power to you,pun intended.

The word 'if' is doing a lot of heavy lifting there!

If this were a scheme routinely offered to everybody every year, I might agree with you - but you're evidently unaware of the criteria, and of the fact that many people who do appear to meet the criteria have been told they're not eligible and have had to fight to get on the tariff (which is 25% discount for those not in debt).

Not paying your bills on the off-chance your supplier might offer a scheme like this one year AND that you'll qualify would be extremely unwise.