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Energy company sharing tenants data with landlord and putting default onto wrong credit file (Merge)

Just_An_Opinion
Just_An_Opinion Posts: 27 Forumite
10 Posts First Anniversary
edited 5 February at 12:59PM in Energy
Good afternoon, 

I am a landlord (small house, less than £100k and used my military leaving payment for a mortgage deposit). SO Energy have breached GDPR rules and somehow put my tenants 6 months of defaulted payments of £1300, her name, account number and address onto my credit report even though there is no connection whatsoever. These 6 payments are the only payments I have missed in the last 20 years and it has had a drastic affect on my credit rating with MSE, ClearScore and TotallyMoney. 
I have tried contacting them for over a month and finally spoke to someone yesterday who said "I will look into it" and that is the only response i have received. 

Is there any advice or points of contact anyone knows that would allow me to speed this up or get a valid response. Also, would I be entitled to compensation as this has affected my relationship with the tenant as I now morally can't increase her rent knowing she is in debt and it has affected me getting finance elsewhere (which is why I checked my credit report and found the error). It is a breach of GDPR and I have spent several hours of my own time chasing this up. 

Any help would be fantastic, Thank you in advance

Comments

  • Just_An_Opinion
    Just_An_Opinion Posts: 27 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    edited 5 February at 12:57PM
    Good afternoon, 

    I am a landlord (small house, less than £100k and used my military leaving payment for a mortgage deposit). SO Energy have breached GDPR rules and somehow put my tenants 6 months of defaulted payments of £1300, her name, account number and address onto my credit report even though there is no connection whatsoever. These 6 payments are the only payments I have missed in the last 20 years and it has had a drastic affect on my credit rating with MSE, ClearScore and TotallyMoney. 
    I have tried contacting them for over a month and finally spoke to someone yesterday who said "I will look into it" and that is the only response i have received. 

    Is there any advice or points of contact anyone knows that would allow me to speed this up or get a valid response. Also, would I be entitled to compensation as this has affected my relationship with the tenant as I now morally can't increase her rent knowing she is in debt and it has affected me getting finance elsewhere (which is why I checked my credit report and found the error). It is a breach of GDPR and I have spent several hours of my own time chasing this up. 

    Any help would be fantastic, Thank you in advance

    AT
  • FlorayG
    FlorayG Posts: 1,535 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 5 February at 12:58PM
    "I now morally can't increase her rent knowing she is in debt "
    yes you can. Her financial situation is nothing to do with your business as a landlord. Do you see energy companies not putting up their prices because people can't afford them? NO.
    As for the problem, energy companies are notorious for just trying to get money out of anyone in any way connected with a property and you just need to keep on at them until they capitulate - it can take months, I know, I've had it.
    No idea about the GDPR though sorry
  • Just_An_Opinion
    Just_An_Opinion Posts: 27 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    edited 5 February at 12:58PM
    FlorayG said:
    "I now morally can't increase her rent knowing she is in debt "
    yes you can. Her financial situation is nothing to do with your business as a landlord. Do you see energy companies not putting up their prices because people can't afford them? NO.
    As for the problem, energy companies are notorious for just trying to get money out of anyone in any way connected with a property and you just need to keep on at them until they capitulate - it can take months, I know, I've had it.
    No idea about the GDPR though sorry
    Thanks for the response and the timing is what I am worried about. I see what you are saying about how I can increase the rent, but there is also the issue that she pays me the rent every month without problem, I don't want her getting into more debt by paying me more which could then in-turn mean she doesn't pay me at all. If she isn't scared of defaulting against a large corporation, I doubt she would be against me. That aside, I am not too worried about the tenant not paying, but that is the difference between a small business/single person and a corporation
  • born_again
    born_again Posts: 18,320 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Who's name in the account in?
    Life in the slow lane
  • Who's name in the account in?
    The account it fully in her name, her address and has nothing to do with me whatsoever. I have never had an account with SO Energy and have never had bills at that property. When I finally spoke to them yesterday they dont know how it has happened and will look into it, which doesn't really do anything for me
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 15,165 Forumite
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    If she isn't scared of defaulting against a large corporation, I doubt she would be against me.
    If your tenant gets two months behind on her rent, you can begin eviction proceedings.
    If she gets behind on her energy bills, the worst they're likely to do is switch her to prepayment.

    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Shell (now TT) BB / Lebara mobi. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
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  • QrizB said:
    If she isn't scared of defaulting against a large corporation, I doubt she would be against me.
    If your tenant gets two months behind on her rent, you can begin eviction proceedings.
    If she gets behind on her energy bills, the worst they're likely to do is switch her to prepayment.

    I understand that, but the tenant has always paid on time without issue for 5 years. I do not want to kick the tenant out as she is a good tenant. My issue is with the Energy supplier affecting my credit rating without the right to do so
  • Chrysalis
    Chrysalis Posts: 4,480 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    FlorayG said:
    "I now morally can't increase her rent knowing she is in debt "
    yes you can. Her financial situation is nothing to do with your business as a landlord. Do you see energy companies not putting up their prices because people can't afford them? NO.
    As for the problem, energy companies are notorious for just trying to get money out of anyone in any way connected with a property and you just need to keep on at them until they capitulate - it can take months, I know, I've had it.
    No idea about the GDPR though sorry

    He/she did say morally, not business reasons.
    Nice to see a LL that cares for their tenant.
    I do agree with you on resolving it, just keep at it, a threat for damages might move them a long quicker.
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