Rebel Energy in administration

AJNorth_2

December 2024, switched energy supplier to Octopus from rebel energy. Rebel Energy went into administration in April 2025 taken over by British gas.  We are now being chased by Oriel Collections service to recover outstanding payment on behalf of Rebel Energy.  I always paid Rebel energy by Direct Debit. Why didn't rebel energy send a final bill in the post ? and should I believe that this debt collection agency should still ask for this payment after all this time.  Oriel collections service do not answer the phone or reply to my e-mails.  Is this company a scam ?.  

Keep_pedalling

If you owe the money then they have 6 years (5 in Scotland) before the debt becomes statute barred so yess you can be chased for it. 

Why you never received a final bill is anyone’s guess. Did you give them a final meter reading? Thime perhaps to send OC a prove it letter.

https://debtcamel.co.uk/prove-it/

Scot_39

Rebel energy were obviously in trouble before they collapsed - so re missed final bills - maybe likely your not the only one.

But that does worryingly however suggest that there could be money owing legitimately to the firm - or now their administrators.

And so assuming you have records - I'd check the demand - against the likely bill.

The 8 months is actually quick - no doubt in part because rebel were a small outfit - other past SoLR admin claims pushed the full 6 years for court action and beyond (note the 6 years doesn't end the debt - it can and does remain in many cases - it just stops the court being used to recover the funds).

However it is a useful target to keep all contractual records - including significant changes for that period - so for energy - that for me - is around all supplier, sometimes tariff and all meter changes.

So look at the readings on the first Octopus bills (note they might not agree with your final supplied) and calculate a final balance due to Rebel based on total funds paid and total costs for use.

Have you checked you bank statements - and if you left DD open for say a couple of months for them to take final payment (your legally entitled to a (first - yes they can be subsequently revised) final bill within 6 weeks - did they take any extra funds after you were being billed by Octopus.  In Dec / Jan / Fed type timescales.

I am not a debt expert - but I'd hope that you should only be liable for your component if you do find you do owe them for some use - and if were funds outstanding agree to pay that and only that - but perhaps not any court or debt agents fee likely included - as that arguably due to the companies failure not yours.

What I wouldn't do is trust any unsubstantiated £ and p figure they throw at you without a detailed calc.

You after all haven't refused to pay a produced and issued timely demand for payment - you were just never asked to pay it (electronically, paper etc etc).

And if you were in credit - check they didn't return it to your bank via your DD arrangement if you didn't cancel it yourself - again Dec - Apr timescales.

AJNorth_2

Thank you for all your advise, I will get them to prove this amount by letter as the Oriel collection service do not answer the phone or reply to e-mails. I did give them a final meter reading in December 2024, which co inside with Octopus meter readings.
Octopus energy are fantastic and would recommend them. 

brewerdave

AJNorth_2 said:

Thank you for all your advise, I will get them to prove this amount by letter as the Oriel collection service do not answer the phone or reply to e-mails. I did give them a final meter reading in December 2024, which co inside with Octopus meter readings.
Octopus energy are fantastic and would recommend them. 

If Rebel Energy are like Together Energy (who failed a couple of years ago) then their "systems" will be unavailable to the debt collectors ,so little chance of a final bill! Just be prepared for endless communications from Oriel demanding payment without proof.