Powergen and the 2 year rule?

[lizvp]

hi all,

i wonder if someone knows anything about the 2 year rule (From July 2006 they should no longer seek payment from consumers where they have not billed a customer for two years. From July 2007 this period should reduce to one year).

briefly, in december last year we had a call from a DCA (1st credit) to tell my OH he owed money to powergen on a property he moved out of in jan 2004. we queried the amount, sent a S.A.R - (Subject Access Request), and discovered that (through a series of admin mistakes on both sides) he did indeed owe around £400...though why they sent the final account to the address he had vacated instead of his forwarding address still remains a mystery.

fair play we thought, the money is owed, so i wrote to powergen making an offer of payment. i cribbed an idea from reduks marvelous thread, and sent a cheque with the letter as a first payment stating that should they cash it then i would take it as their agreement to my repayment schedule.

now we have received a letter saying they have cashed the cheque and credited the account, but that we must deal with DCA as they are no longer able to agree payment arrangements with us.

they really have been quite unpleasant to deal with and, frankly, im fed up! dont really want to deal with DCA so we were planning on just paying powergen by standing order regardless. but what about this 2 year rule? does anybody know any more than is on the energywatch website?

any help/thoughts/ideas very gratefully received,
liz

[half ax I]

Don't know about 2 yr rule, but it would seem they have already agreed to your payment plan by cashing your cheque. I would tell them I have no intention dealing with a DCA due to their maladministration. Send the next payment as per your plan with a letter re-iterating the terms on which the last payment was sent.

[Ruthie P]

The two year rule means that a utility supplier cannot back bill a customer for a period longer than two years. So if you have been unbilled for 3 years when they do send you a bill the billing code means that they can only bill you for two years of the three. However, powergen have billed you as you sy they sent you a final bill (albeit to the wrong address) so the two year rule doesnt apply to you. The problem you face now is that it has been sent to a DCA so powergen have sold the debt. You have done the right thing to write to them, although you could give them another ring and ask for a manager if you get no joy in speaking with an advisor, although in my experiance, the peope in credit operations are usually very helpful.

Hope this helps, get clicking those scales if it did!

[lizvp]

thanks for the input guys.
think i shall just write them a letter then, thanking them for agreeing to our repaymeny schedule and advising them tht we shall pay by standing order on such and such a date,
thanks again

[nick49]

the 2 year rule is being changed this year to a 1 year rule. i work for powergen so if i can help at all pls let me know.

[Ruthie P]

nick, as you will see from Liz's previous post the account was NOT unbilled and therefore the 2 or 1 year rule does not apply as i have previously advised.

[demon_x_slash]

Ruthie, nick wasn't suggesting that the rule applied here, he just gave some info he thought might be useful. Nick, I'm glad we've got another insider for the Utilities forum; since ozzywizard lost net access at work, I've been worrying about how this forum would get along! Boy made himself so indispensable! Welcome.

[mree]

Didn't realise 'insiders' were so useful lol - I work for EDF, if I can help anyone, please let me know!

[demon_x_slash]

Often, people who actually work in the industries/occupations that each forum is concerned with can give a different perspective on how a company runs itself. Or, if not a different perspective, useful information on telephone helpline numbers, complaints addresses, or company procedure. Welcome

[emmaf01]

Its nice to have insiders- but thats not an excuse to berate them for their employers misdeeds!

And I mean EDF- its not the people, well its not ALL the people

[Ruthie P]

I wasn't being funny, I just thought that Liz may have been mislead by that information, I too work for powergen and have done for the last five years and have a lot of help to give in these forums, I wouldn't want people going off half cocked about things though. Hence the reply. I am more than happy to help anyone with anything especially where I have a lot of knowledge, I just wanted to make sure that Liz didn't think this was relevent to her. Sorry if I offended anyone

[emmaf01]

Putting your opinion, especially when you have "inside" knowledge, can never be offensive.

We all need to share our collective information- its all valuable!

[demon_x_slash]

Originally Posted by Ruthie P

Sorry if I offended anyone

Of course not Just wanted to make sure 'newbie' nick wasn't scared off after posting advice

[nick49]

hi,
dont worry i'm not scared off and didnt take offence. i don't really use the internet everday especially now i can't use it at work, but everyday i do use it i'll come on here to offer any help i can.

[Ruthie P]

haha yes Nick, now we have had it removed how am i supposed to check my MCOL at lunch? the suspense kills me during the day... lol...

[nick49]

i know haha. i have to find something else to do at lunch now. i'm lost without it. lol. the thing that confused me was that they barred some of their own sites!! lol.

[lindsay22]

hiya i also work for powergen so can help if i can.

[gherkin69]

Can someone kindly elaborate what this 2 year rule is please?

I've received a letter from a creditor saying I owe payment to Powergen for electricity used between 2001 & 2005.

I left the property in 2003 and I can't really remember who the supplier was back then as a new supplier signed you up every few weeks with promises of cheaper rates!

If anyone can help I would be very grateful! Also I work for Edexcel examination board if anyone needs any help there!