7 year Energy bill dispute, bill keeps increasing - any advice?

Troublesum1

Require guidance dealing with a quite long-standing dispute between my parents and an energy supplier. The dispute began when my parents received a bill that they did not expect and consequently did not have enough money in the account for the direct debit to complete. Upon reviewing the bill my Dad decided he would not pay the bill until it could be explainedas he was certain it was wrong. The energy company at the time, First Utility, explained that the bill given was based on an estimate and if a more accurate bill was required the customer would need to get a meter reading. The problem with that is my parents live in an apartment block where the meter is centralised and not able to be read by the residents (as stated in the TA). My Dad advises that the landlord are the only ones who can read the meter and previously the energy supplier had read the meter themselves to remedy the situation. The energy suppliers disagree on this and my Dad, around Feb 2021, requested for the services to be cut so another energy supplier could be engaged. They have ignored that request and continued to run up a bill (based on estimates) which I believe is in the order of £12k now.

So I’m here to ask for some advice on how to deal with the situation. As a family we came together and put aside money in the case my parents got taken to court and lost, so we do have the money to pay the supposed debt. My Dad is very much against that – he maintains that we are protected by the consumer acts rights and that the energy suppliers are in breach of contract. He states that due to their practices of miss-selling, they obtain the contract for the property fraudulently. I don’t particularly agree with my Dad’s interpretation of the law but I do think there is something dodgy about the energy company not taking this issue to court over these last 7 years (at least) and just letting the “debt” build and build.

Any advice on the general situation would be really appreciated – something else that would really be appreciated is if there was anyway to isolate the debt on my Dad as he is the one who wants to take this case on (my Mum would have paid long ago), the account is in my Mum’s name but they refuse to change my name even though he is the bill payer and always has been.

WiserMiser

Is this gas, electricity or both?

Robin9

Are all the other apartments in the same boat?  ie can't access the meter 

FrugaiMacDugal

You say the meter is centralised, is that one meter for the block, and bill split?

How do other residents sort out the estimates?

You will need a meter reading to see how it compares to the estimates.

Is the meter in a power house or cleaners cupboard, some of those are easy to get into.

WiserMiser

Who is the current supplier?

Do your parents qualify for the Priority Services Register?

Robin9

When did your parents last have an actual bill ?

Troublesum1

WiserMiser said:

Is this gas, electricity or both?

Both

Robin9 said:

Are all the other apartments in the same boat?  ie can't access the meter 

According to my Dad yes

FrugaiMacDugal said:

You say the meter is centralised, is that one meter for the block, and bill split?

How do other residents sort out the estimates?

You will need a meter reading to see how it compares to the estimates.

Is the meter in a power house or cleaners cupboard, some of those are easy to get into.

I don’t know exactly but I know it is not in the flat. I don’t know how other residents are dealing with the issue.

WiserMiser said:

Who is the current supplier?

Do your parents qualify for the Priority Services Register?

Current supplier is Octopus Energy.
I had never heard of Priority Services Register before but my Dad is of pension age and my younger brother who lives in the house hold has a mental disability so I guess via one of those avenues they would be eligible.

Many thanks for all the replies

Troublesum1

Robin9 said:

When did your parents last have an actual bill ?

As far as I understand they are being billed as normal. I assume those bills are residing online but I will try to confirm this

Robin9

Once on the PSR the supplier has to attend to get actual readings.

Knock on the neighbours doors - one them will have a key to the meter room

WiserMiser

Good news that it's Octopus.  They're helpful and easy to contact by email or phone (it's even a free call), and the app is brilliant.

Get them on the PSR and Octopus will send out a meter reader.

Troublesum1

Robin9 said:

Once on the PSR the supplier has to attend to get actual readings.

Knock on the neighbours doors - one them will have a key to the meter room

WiserMiser said:

Good news that it's Octopus.  They're helpful and easy to contact by email or phone (it's even a free call), and the app is brilliant.

Get them on the PSR and Octopus will send out a meter reader.

Does it matter that my Mum is the account holder and she is not of pension age?