EON - problems for a change

kazzaj

Hi
I wrote a thread about these villains a few months ago as they were threatening to stop my direct debits and insist on payment in full or a pre-payment meter, however, this was resolved and it was agree that my direct debit payments of £159 would remain for 37 months.

They have now written to me to say this will be increased from 30 June to £307 per month!!!!!!! It's nearly as much as my mortgage!!! I have contacted them to remind them that they agreed to keep the payments as they were for 3 years so long as my balance was reducing (which it is). They have replied to say there is no record of this and my payments will increase from the end of the month. The only alternative they have suggested is to cancel it and fit a pre-payment meter, which I definitely do not want.

Can anyone advise me how to proceed. This was so stressful for me before and with other problems I have I really dont need this right now. Its bad enough having to pay 159 each month, I cant afford to double it.

Thanks for any help you can provide. (I have written them a stroppy email back in a fit of temper which probably wont get me very far!!!)

x

Premier_2

I think I've found your earlier thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=591132

I've had a read through and note that you stated you wanted all correspondence in writing so that you had evidence of what was agreed. Whilst it's clear some communication took place after that by telephone, did you get the final agreement in writing?
If not, I would have certainly put the agreement in writing to them, using recorded delivery, expressing the terms as you understood them so that the company could either have have had an opportunity to correct any misunderstanding at the time or otherwise not dispute the agreement reached later.

Without proof of the agreement reached then, unfortunately there is little you can do but try to negotiate a new agreement - and this time ensure it is put in writing.

I suspect such a long and non-specific ("so long as my balance was reducing") agreement would be hard to replicate. Under those terms, you could effectively have been getting a £2900 interest free loan for 3 years and as long as that outstanding balance was reducing by a minimum of 1p per month (36p over the entire 3 year duration) you could have argued that the amount being charged could not be altered - so even after 3 years you could still be left with an outstanding debt of £2899.64.

I would suggest you contact them and try to negotiate a mutually acceptable resolution - but this time ensure any resolution reached is put into writing so that neither party can dispute it at a later date.