Student Energy Group chasing for money

growler29

My daughter was at university and rented a flat with 3 other students. The original energy supplier was Student Energy Group but they switched to British Gas. Now Student Energy Group are claiming they owe them over £800 as they say because British gas didn't inform them, they still have to pay.  They have all the documentation but British Gas say they won't give any details because they are no longer tenants. 

They have been going backwards and forwards for a year now and getting no where. Each company saying it's not their problem.

They contacted the Ombudsman months ago and got no response and now Student Energy Group has passed the debt onto a collector who are sending threatening letters.

What can we do? They have already paid British Gas for the energy and now looks like they will have to pay again because of an admin error 

Brie

Did they continue to get bills from SEG after the switch to BG?

MWT

growler29 said:

They have all the documentation but British Gas say they won't give any details because they are no longer tenants. 

The only documentation your daughter needs is the British Gas bills that they paid which will show the meter readings.

If she did not keep those bills then this may prove to be an expensive life lesson unfortunately.

... but I would be inclined to go to the Ombudsman again 'no response' is not likely, they will either accept the case or reject it and say why, but no reason for them to reject it by now I'd have thought...

MeteredOut

I'm skeptical that they didn't get any response from the Ombudsman. How did they contact them? 

I wonder if they emailed OfGem - many get the two confused.

You say the have "all the documentation". What does that consist of?

Did they get a final bill from Student Energy Group and their bills with British gas, including the first one with the opening reading that should match the final bill from SEG?

If she no longer has the bills, look into whether she can submit a subject access request to BG to get copies of them. Whose name was the account in?

Short term, get her to send a "Prove it" letters to the debt collector? Do not under any circumstances accept the debt and ask for everything in writing from them.

lamao

Hi,

I have received debt letter as well, the more I look into it the more confusing it gets. I too, do not agree with the amount. 
I believe its part of a big fraud. Debt collectors claiming TSEG are some white label partner but it doesn't mean anything, deemed agreement was always between you and tomato legally, only debt chased should be though British gas now. I would suggest to ignore it as I will do from now on and wait for them to take me to court, but I really doubt it will happen. You cannot raise ombudsman case directly to TSEG so it says everything to me. Debt collection does not mean debt is valid and legit. Anyone in similar issue? 

Ectophile

If a debt collector chases you over a bill that's in dispute, then tell them that the bill is in dispute and they must refer the matter back to Student Energy.  That's all you tell them.  Don't engage in any other way.  Make no offers to pay anything.  Don't do anything that looks like admitting the debt is real.

Debt collectors have no legal power and can't do anything.

MWT

MeteredOut said:

I'm skeptical that they didn't get any response from the Ombudsman. How did they contact them? 

Having looked at this further I don't think the Ombudsman is going to be able to help as TSEG are not a licensed energy supplier so the Ombudsman isn't going to get involved, also the supplier at the time, presumably Tomato Energy , are of course now in administration so no help from the Ombudsman there either...

SacredStephan

MWT said:

Having looked at this further I don't think the Ombudsman is going to be able to help as TSEG are not a licensed energy supplier so the Ombudsman isn't going to get involved,

The Ombudsman website says TSEG are a broker and that the Ombudsman can get involved.

MWT

SacredStephan said:

MWT said:

Having looked at this further I don't think the Ombudsman is going to be able to help as TSEG are not a licensed energy supplier so the Ombudsman isn't going to get involved,

The Ombudsman website says TSEG are a broker and that the Ombudsman can get involved.

Excellent, then that is still the best path to follow I'd say...

grandadgolfer

I’m not surprised students get into debt so much 

https://thestudentenergygroup.com/

Everything they provide is expensive 

tv licence management £25 & water management £25 seem like an easy £50 a year money grab