Ofgem's proposals to shake up the energy market put "too much onus" on the customer and "do not go far enough", says one energy company boss. The energy regulator said four million pre-pay customers would be protected by an interim price cap from next April. It added it would work with suppliers to help "disengaged" customers to search for cheaper deals. But First Utility's managing director, Ed Kamm, told the BBC the plans were in danger of helping the wrong people. "Ofgem itself admits that consumers who are already engaged in the market will see the first benefits," he said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36961798

Hello all, I apologise in advance if this is not the correct forum for this problem and hope that someone can point me in the right direction. The problem is I am being harrassed for an energy bill that I do not own. In June of last year (2015) due to my husbands ill health, we closed our business down. The energy was supplied by Opus Energy and up until we closed, the bills were paid monthly by DD. To cut a very long story shorter, Opus were advised, the meter readings were given and I forgot about them a few months later they started calling saying that there was an outstanding debt and my bills were not being paid (I had cancelled the DD when I closed the business) I explained to them again that I was no longer trading and sent them the readings again. It all went quiet again for a few weeks then they started again phoning me saying the bill was getting bigger and I needed to pay it or they would disconnect the supply. In the end I just ignored the calls as it was starting to get me down and I was extremely frustrated they didnt seem to get it that I did not owe them anything, there was in fact a new tenant in the premises. over the past 9 months they have continued to phone me most days, usually 3 or 4 times a day from different phone numbers leaving messages saying they were going to disconnect the services. i just ignored them all. I then got a letter saying that they were instructing advanced collection systems to collect the money and I started getting phone calls from them. I explained the whole story to this woman and I told her that I was seeking legal advice against them for harrassment . I then at her request got a letter from my ex landlord confirming when I vacated the premises and I gave her the meter reading I had. I also told her to pass on the message to her client to leave me alone and that if I heard from either of them again I would sue them. I have heard nothing from her I have today had a phone call from a Bluestone Credit Management regarding the debt which apparently is now £3,500. I havent spoken to them but they left a message. I am at my wits end with this. I really just dont know how to deal with it. My ex land lord confirmed that there had been 2 tenants in the premises since I had left and neither of them had registered for energy. Any help would be so appreciated.

Hello Friends, I have just come to know that OFGEM introduced several new regulations, back in 2014, to enforce simpler tariffs and clear information to be given to consumers. Was this made into a law and if so what is the Act number ( just like we have Housing Act 2004 ). Many Thanks for this. -NewLyyn.

Energy companies have drawn up a list of pledges aimed at helping customers to shop around for the best deal. Energy UK, which represents the major suppliers, has launched its Energy Switch Guarantee - to make it easier for customers to know how to switch. The switching commitments are: Your supply won't be disrupted. Switching is free. Switching will take no more than 21 days from the date your new provider receives your application. Your new provider won't need to visit your home to complete the switch (unless you agree otherwise). Your new provider arranges the switch, including contacting your current provider. Your new supplier will send you details of your new supply agreement for you to check. You'll have 14 days to change your mind. Your new and current providers will work together to ensure you're not charged twice for the same energy. If there are any problems with the switch, your new provider will contact you as soon as possible and will be responsible for resolving problems. Your current provider will send you your final bill no later than six weeks after the switch. If your current provider owes you money, it will refund you no later than 14 days after sending you the final bill. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36501605

After a two-year investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a series of recommendations for the energy market, including a cap on how much prepayment meters can charge. The watchdog has unveiled a package of 30 measures it claims will help drive costs down by increasing competition between suppliers and helping more people switch. Key changes are: A temporary price cap on prepaid tariffs. Opening up customer databases to rival firms. Removal of the 'four-tariff rule'. http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/money/mortgages-bills/energy-market-review-promises-prepayment-meter-price-cap-11364069708329

So, despite all of the bleating, the hype, the threats, the smooth posting on these forums and elsewhere, BES utilities have been found to be in breach of several obligations of required industry standards. This will come to no surprise to a large number of people who had dealings with this shabby company and in particular it will come as no surprise to the victims who have suffered from the unjust bullying that they have received at the hands of BES utilities and which in some cases have even destroyed their businesses and their hopes and ambitions. I see that as usual, not only as a regulator taken his time in sorting this out, but the resulting sanction amounts to a mere slap on the wrist and produces no real motivation that any utilities company to do any better. Part of the reason for the limited sanction is that apparently BES utilities cooperated and also admitted the breaches – even though, there were only denials elsewhere. Of course, it makes business sense that when you've been caught out that it is best to put your hands up as quickly as possible and it seems as if this is what BES utilities have done to the regulator despite being in denial to their customers and elsewhere. It has now been left to BES utilities to approach their own customers with proposals of redress. Will they go about this in an honest and decent way? I'm sure that we will find out eventually on this forum and we invite all victims of BES utilities to come here and tell us whether they have received an approach and whether they are satisfied with the way that it is being handled. For people who are looking around for somebody to manage their energy supply, frankly we suggest that you avoid BES utilities for at least two or three years until they have established a track record of straightforward straight-dealing. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/investigation-bes-and-its-compliance-its-obligations-under-gas-and-electricity-supply-licences-standard-licence-conditions-7a-7b-7-14-and-21b-and-consumer-complaints-handling-standards-regulations-chsr-2008 BES utilities have previously come onto this forum in denial and also to assure us of their best intentions regarding their customers. I wonder if they have the bottle to come onto this forum now and to apologise and to explain to their victims what the next step is.

Some two years ago cooperative energy received a request to switch us to a single tariff not a day and a night tariff. Over two years they have failed to carry it out despite numerous phone calls and letters. Not only that their staff seem to think that their responsibilities cease when they pass on the matter to somebody else. I have a computer printer out probably three ft long concerning the written requests and responses and I never get anywhere or find anybody to act responsibly over the issue. Letters to the managing director have gone unanswered and each member of staff thinks the issue is closed when they pass it on to somebody else. Naturally we have changed our energy supplier. it's an appalling situation and they seem to treat their customers with total contempt and indeed some of their staff appear to radiate complete indifference when you speak to them.

Hiya, we moved into our current rented property in October 2015 and were told that Spark energy are the gas and electric suppliers. Ever since then they have sent us a monthly bill of which we've always paid. This morning we received a bill for 315.64 for electric and gas, 288 of that just electric, upon ringing them up we were told it's because all our previous bills were estimated and we should have been giving monthly meter readings (of which we were NEVER told) and that we have to pay that plus any future bills (set up a dd for a minimum of 150 a month) after telling them no one has ever told us we're supposed to give readings and that they never come to read the meter like a 'normal' energy supplier they've just been worse than useless, not even took my complaint about them not telling us about the estimated readings etc. Long story short do we have a leg to stand on? We're a low income family of 2 adults and 3 children (one being 5, another having suspected adhd) We don't have any disposable income, we've always budgeted to pay these 'estimated' bills and they're ramming this bill down our throat. Thanks in advance, kylie

Hi all, Could really do with some advice on this - apologies if it's a bit long! Several years ago I was with Scottish Power, I have electric only on an Economy 10 meter and they were going to put my monthly charge up to £70 a month. This seemed high so I started shopping around and was offered £50 a month from Co-op energy. It seemed good, I signed up. The switch-over took about 6 months to go through, during this time Scottish Power lodged an objection saying the Co-op couldn't deal with Economy 10 meters - I spoke to Co-op about this, they assured me they could and it eventually all went ahead. Straight away there were issues - because the switch over took so long then for a while I was unsure which energy provider I was actually with, then Co-op had a problem with my direct debit and that was cancelled and I was moved onto quarterly (without asking me). I kept waiting for bills, chasing them up etc. In the end it was nearly a year before I got my first bill from then. At this point I realised that rather than the £50 a month they'd quoted me, they had been charging me almost £90 a month! When I queried this several times I just got fobbed off - it was just a quotation, they couldn't be held to it etc. When I asked for a break-down of the bill, again I got fobbed off. So I was now stuck with a bill almost double what I had been expecting and unable to pay it. I told them I was extremely unhappy with both their service and their prices - their reply was that tough, I couldn't move until the debt was paid off. Anyway, long story short, the debt is now paid off and I am moving away from them (thank God!). I want to know if there's anything I can do about this though. I'm fairly convinced that they have no idea how to deal with an Economy 10 and haven't been charging me right for the entire time I've been with them - they should never have agreed to take it if they couldn't manage surely? My bill from them says that I have used 2550 units a year - and my 'estimated' cost should be about £450 - yet I'm getting charged well over double that. On my last quarterly bill my electric usage and service charges are all itemised at the bottom as £123 yet my bill total at the top is £260? I have asked them several times to explain this to me but get no answer. In addition, they have been extremely harrassing to me about the debt - towards the end I was getting numerous letters every week, even though payments were being made every month towards the arrears and I had advised them numerous times by email that I was paying it off as fast as I was able. I haven't checked my credit file yet but am pretty sure this will have negatively affected it. I'm just extremely frustrated with them but not sure how to proceed. I feel like they have misinformed me from the very start. Should I take to the ombudsman? Is there a way to work out if they actually have been mischarging me, and if so, can I claim that back? Thanks for any help - it's really appreciated.

A staggering 96% of complaints resolved by the Energy Ombudsman last year resulted in an award to consumers, far exceeding other sectors. The figures reveal that more consumers are taking action against poor service, with a growing awareness that you have somewhere to turn if things go wrong. The Ombudsman tackled 61,019 cases – compared with 26,760 in 2013/14. Almost 9 in 10 complaints referred to the Ombudsman involved billing issues, with bungled supplier transfers and misleading sales contributing to most of the other complaints. Read more: http://www.which.co.uk/news/2016/04/energy-ombudsman-complaints-hit-new-high-440901/ - Which?

Received a letter today from a dca. According to them I owe Scottish Power £170 for a prepayment meter debt. The address to which this 'debt' applies is a flat I rented and left four and a half years ago. They say that the debt is due either because i had a debt to clear on a prepayment meter or because I used another suppliers card in the meter. Neither of these apply! There are no dates as to when this supposed debt occurred, no info on Scottish power account or reference numbers, no idea on whether this was gas or electricity, no info I can use to find out what this debt is all about. As far as I'm concerned I paid my energy bill in advance by meter card. I don't understand how this could equate to a debt when I left. I lived there for two years and in that time there was no indication of any debt left by previous occupiers. The letter has 'this could affect your credit rating' in big red letters and this is repeated in the main body of the letter. This is the first I've heard of any debt. I lived at another address less than a mile away for four years. Then moved here to my current address, same town again. And until today, I never received any letter about a debt. I just don't know what to do. Afaic there is NO debt and I can only think that this is something to do with someone who moved in after I left. Could anyone advise me on what to do? Thank you

Npower, one of Britain's biggest energy suppliers, will outline plans this week to axe thousands of jobs ‎as its German owner attempts to revive the company's weak financial performance. Sky News has learned that Npower will tell staff in the coming days that approximately 2,500 roles at the company and its‎ partners are to be axed. Sources said the proposals were still being finalised, with some of Npower's directly employed workforce of 7,500 at risk and the remainder of the cuts taking place at internal suppliers elsewhere in the RWE group and at outsourcing partners. Including indirect employment, Npower's operations support about 11,500 jobs in the UK - meaning that its workforce is braced for a reduction of over 20%. The grim news will be delivered just days before competition regulators announce a series of measures aimed at making the UK's energy market more transparent. Npower, which is part of the German utility RWE, and rivals such as British Gas and SSE have announced a round of price cuts ‎in recent months, but have been criticised by ministers and consumer groups for failing to go further. The rapid decline in oil prices during the last year has prompted calls for much bigger cuts. Npower said last month that it would reduce gas prices for residential customers by just over 5% on 28 March, equating to a £32 annual bill cut for households using a standard domestic ‎tariff. Npower's plans to cut so many jobs will ignite concerns about its ability to improve a customer service record which is already judged to be among the worst in a tarnished industry. Insiders pointed, however, to the beginnings of a turnaround in its performance, with the number of complaints halving in 2015. Last year, RWE ousted Paul Massara, Npower's former boss, and installed‎ Paul Coffey, the British company's chief operating officer, in his place. The management changes followed a decline in Npower's customer base following a string of billing problems. In December, the company was ordered to pay a £26m settlement by the energy regulator, Ofgem, for "failing to treat customers fairly" - the second such fine it has had imposed on it. Npower now has roughly five million customers, making it the smallest of the "Big Six" suppliers. The company lost £48m in the nine months to the end of October, largely as a consequence of the billing system problems. The job cuts will be the latest piece of bad news affecting RWE in the UK, following last month's accident at the power station it owns in Didcot, Oxfordshire, which is thought to have left several people dead. The redundancies at Npower are unrelated to the Didcot tragedy. It is not only in Britain that RWE, Npower's German owner, has been experiencing challenges. It announced last month that it was scrapping its full-year dividend, blaming sliding earnings from its electricity generation business and the changing political sentiment towards nuclear power in its home market. The dividend move will save around €600m (£464m). RWE will announce annual results on Tuesday, and is expected to set out further details of its plans for Npower alongside them. Two days later, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will unveil its final proposals arising from a two-year inquiry into the energy sector. Npower declined to comment on Sunday. SKY

Surprise surprise http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35129788 But will it make any difference? No sign of it so far. I wonder what Kenneth Radley Davies Smadley Bradley Madley Mavies - their alleged in-house legal assistant and Npower's tame solicitors Wilkins Chapman will make of this. I wonder how many of Npower's victims have they frightened and bullied over the year simply in order to keep Npower's shameful dishonesty and incompetence from being revealed to the public. Of course, £26million is a drop in the ocean and no doubt their execs are all enjoying their bonuses and Christmas parties. Spare a thought for Npower victims? Not likely

These are good and use 25% power for equivalent filament lamp BUT They don't like being switched on/off frequently and will quickly fail. Be wary of using them on automatic night light switches. These use a light sensor to detect the onset of darkness and switch the lamp on. Unfortunately some of them can tend to flutter around the switch over point and this is very bad for a CFL. Indeed there have been cases where a householder left one of these on while she went on holiday and came home to find her house burnt down. Fire caused by an overheated CFL using one of the threshold switches. Older CFls cannot be used with dimmer switches. A proper dimmable lamp must be used x2 cost) I now have gone over to LED lamps for outside security lighting 6W vs 15W and I leave them on permanently (porch side and back), no threshold switch to go wrong. Should last 20 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cost per year £10 pa Last year had 2 CFLs failed (£10) plus annoyance of getting ladders out.

I found this info on the interestrateripoff thread http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/28/us/politics/bill-gates-expected-to-create-billion-dollar-fund-for-clean-energy.html?ref=business&_r=0 I hope we are seeing the start to tackling the reliance on fossil fuels which means we could have cheap energy which is cohesive for society. It also addresses the conflicts in the name of oil and gas and countries ultimately holding us to ransom.

Hi Need advice please, with Sainsburys for gas and elec. After a fiasco with Scottish Power where we were over £1000 in credit, due to wrong billing we moved to Sainsbury Energy who have admitted they should have taken £50 + £80 per month from us. A total of approx £130. They took £59 !! Because of delay in changeover of gas - they couldn't find they were taking £50 for elec and £9 for gas - they have admitted this fault - and said Sorry . Now we are over £830 in debt, and they want £250 per month for 12 months to clear debt, or pay £830 off to start anew. We have contacted them twice - and been ignored. I am an OAP and disabled and was told - don't worry - now they want us to pay up - any ideas as I don't think this is fair. We sent email and now have a complaint manager who is phoning back Thursday ? HELP !!!

Just received a energy credit voucher for £12.00 and states that I need to show ID to the retailer for this to be added to account. I am some what uncomfortable in producing ID to a 3rd party on the high street confirming any personal details. What do others think ?

I would like to share this to help you campaign, it is something I am experiencing at present but I would like to call for solidarity rather than advice for now. Energy debts are a big problem, often a knock on from gov cuts. But energy resources occur freely in nature, and yet they are being sold back to us, and then we are bullied if we can't pay ever rising prices. The 'green' companies never deal with the first issue! Even and especially ethical companies such as Co-op and Ecotricity are harsh with debts. I've had threats to have 'debts' sold - what does that say about their ethics? They are happy if you autopay without query, but if you want your usage checked and you think you're paying too much, the service is very different. And if you need help to spread your costs, that's different again. We can't get utility benefits, and yet it's not something we can get out of paying - unless we do harness the growing free utilities movement. Government discount schemes miss many vulnerable people - eg only those on certain benefits, not those who've lost them. I know an example personally of someone who a non big 6 company failed to put on a discount scheme they applied to several times; the bills accrued whilst a complaint was processed, exacerbated by the ombudsman who tried to do an unofficial deal with the customer that cut corners for them and benefitted the energy co (an enforced payment plan when they had no money) whilst sounding as if they'd given a little compensation to the customer - a paltry ammount compred to the bills that continued to rise. I've noticed generally that ombudsmen throw out more cases, award less (often nothing) to customers even in serious cases of poverty caused by the company, and elongate things for up to three years - meanwhile, demanding 5 day turnarounds from the customer who complained. Ombudsmen need to be fair, accountable (ie have their own assessor to look at their behaviour) and to have the right to appeal against their decisions. Debt companies confessed to me that their letters etc go out automatically - even emails to call them within 4 hours! They do not check the story of the account, the wording is generic (so it says 'despite our many letters' when there's been no communication). Collections depts and companies are interested in clearing a "debt" and gaining from it, not in asking what the outstanding amount is and why or even if it's really there. They encourage contact by phone calls - where the customer does not retain proof of what's said. I always insist on writing. We use 'debt' emotively, even on here - but it's a term that needs unpicking, for supposedly owing is not the same as actually being obliged to pay something, fairly and morally. We have a system based on owing and fear, and the legitmacy of pursuing "debts" in a manner befitting crime; of our status being dependant on whether we're a debtor or creditor. Whether it's over your water bill or other matters, this system needs to stop and we need to reframe our thinking and practices on this matter.

I was recently tricked into agreeing to a new three year energy contract with Opus Energy by a broker who led me to believe they were calling on behalf of my energy supplier, e.On UK Energy Services Ltd. When someone called and identified themselves as calling from UK Energy Services Ltd (note the similar name; my hearing isn't good), told me I was on a residential contract (true) and should be on a business one (true), I went along with them and agreed to switch to the business contractor, Opus Energy, thinking they were still part of e.On. I was wrong. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding persisted long enough for me to agree to the switch; by the end of the call I had realised something was wrong and started to protest so they put me through to their manager who informed me there was no cooling off period whatsoever and nothing I could do. I emailed them the moment I received their confirmation email stating I wasn't happy. No response; they had their recording of the moment I accepted the contract and as far as they were concerned I was now going to be with Opus Energy for the next three years. I was well and truly tricked. After doing some research online, the next thing I did was call Opus Energy that afternoon, who spent a long time arguing that 'their lawyers' knew that this method of selling was completely airtight, fair, and reasonable, and there was nothing I could do. They were extremely pushy and unreasonable, but in the end I spoke to someone who said that there was one possible solution: I could call my current supplier and object to the transfer. Since it was scheduled for 8th August (the date of this sorry business was 27th July) I would have enough time to raise an objection before they tried to take over my supply - but it would be best to call them that week because they would make their first request in August. I did not know at this time that the transfer request had already been made. Opus vindictively wasted my time by telling me a lie and letting me think I was able to stop the transfer, when they knew that it was already going to go through. This is disgusting behaviour. I consequently called e.On - at 17:15 the same day I spoke to the broker - and made a formal complaint saying I had been tricked into a new contract by a broker with a similar name. I also asked to be moved to a business contract with them, because I was advised that this would help support my complaint. Fine, they were less pushy than Opus so I'd be happy to be in a contract with them (especially as I thought that was what I was agreeing in the first place). I called them again the day after (28th July) to follow up and confirm the contract. This would give me plenty of time, I thought, before Opus requested the transfer of my supply. A few days later an engineer came unannounced to our premises from Opus Energy to fit a new meter. No need, I told him, we were staying with e.On. He left after making a note following the visit. Flash forward to today - we received an invoice from Opus. Surprised, I called e.On only to be told that we were no longer their customer; they had tried to protest the switch but because it was requested before I called them on 27th July the objection failed and Opus were allowed to take over our energy supply. Their records say the loss notice was received on 0:00 that morning before the broker even called me, Opus says their records put it as mid-afternoon (not sure of the exact timing of all the calls I made that day), but either way the result is the same. e.On apologised and listened to my complaint but because they were no longer the supplier it was impossible for them to take us back without Opus Energy's approval. So I called Opus again, pretty annoyed at this point. The amount of time I have wasted on this problem had already been significant. This time, I ignored their sales team and said I wanted to make a formal complaint. I was put through to the customer care team who seemed very pushy (a trait I am rapidly coming to associate with the brand) and assured me that a full investigation would take place and I would hear from them over the next five days. A delaying tactic, no doubt, when they already know how upset I am and I have never disputed that the original call recording of the agreement exists. I know I was tricked. That's not the point. I still believe that the contract was mis-sold and wish to stay with my original supplier, all the more now that I know their sales team lied to me about preventing the transfer in order to shut me up. They protest every time I refer to UK Energy Services Ltd as 'their broker' but the actions of the actual Opus staff have been little better; as long as they have this recording of me blearily accepting this contract they insist that there's nothing I can do and feed me time-wasting lies to try to discourage me from complaining. The customer care rep was forceful and 'reassuring' but her words were calculatedly chosen to promise nothing, and I fully expect to wait the requisite five days only to hear that actually, 'the lawyers' say the contract is solid and there's nothing I can do but wait out the three year contract and grind my teeth. Nothing they have done so far has led me to believe otherwise. I do not deny that I was stupid for agreeing to the deal and not checking who Opus Energy were (Monday mornings aren't my most alert times), but the way I'm being treated by Opus has been manipulative and calculated to break my spirit so I'll stop protesting and stay with them. Forcing customers to stay with you is a terrible way to do business and I am at the end of my tether after wasting so much time already trying to get them to exercise basic common sense. The stupid thing is that I would have been perfectly happy to have moved my contract to them if they had treated me better from the start. As it is, whether I have to stay in the prison of this mis-sold contract for three years or not you can bet I'm never going back afterwards. A terrible, terrible experience with a terrible, terrible supplier. And don't get me started on the broker who caused this sorry chain of events in the first place. I shall of course be escalating this complaint as far as I can in the next three years, but I implore Opus to step in and set things right as soon as possible. Since their internal system is designed to stifle complaints, I'm airing mine here instead.

My fixed term energy contract ends later this month & I have initiated a switch. The existing supplier has not supplied a bill in the 11 months I have been with them but it is a relatively simple fixed rate tariff & so I am confident that my own spreadsheet calculates what I owe. In fact I calculate that I am currently slightly in credit but by switchover date I will owe about £10. Coincidentally my DD for £60 will probably go out the day before the switch - so they will then owe me £50. Unfortunately the company seems to have a terrible reputation for getting round to refunding credits. It seems their computers systems are in a mess. I have considered cancelling the final DD and settling the outstanding £10 separately - but I understand that this might give them grounds to halt the switch (if they notice in time). So I am considering speaking to them before the switch and making it clear that I am only authorising them to take such an amount as is necessary to clear the account. If they then take £60 & don't refund the over-payment promptly would I then by justified in claiming that the final £60 was not taken in accordance with my instructions & re-claiming it via the DD guarantee?

Hi, I've decided to switch from my current (Atlantic) gas+electric supplier to COOP using moneysavingexpert. I have received letter month later from COOP to provide meter readings. I did that and noticed I was charged direct debit from them but also was charged by Atlantic. I have called Atlantic to ask why they charging me as COOP is my new provider. They said that they don't know nothing about any switch and that they are current supplier and advised to call COOP. I have called COOP and after long conversation I was told that this is correct. That there was some mistake and they charged me 49 pounds for services they do not provide. I have asked to cancel my account and refund money and confirm everything by email. I have received email saying all that. Today 10 days from speaking to COOP I have noticed that I was charged another 49 pounds for services they do not provide. I'm not rich person and every pound counts for me and here they taking 49 quid for nothing. I have planned my week spendings and now I have 49 pounds less . I did not received refund yet as COOP said it will take 10-14 days! How they can take money off me for nothing and refund it in 10-14 days! I need them now Please advise what to do. Thank you.

Hi Guys I use to run a pub (left over a year ago) under Ltd Company. I wrote to creditors and told them that I ceased trading and closed down at Companies house. There were no objections from any of the creditors. I now have a letter addressed to my home saying they are going to send someone round and take legal action for the debt on the Ltd company. The house is not in my name and I have no assets. Any help would be appreciated. Pauline

I complained to the Energy Ombudsman last June about British Gas Business. We had been in dispute since 2010. I've had a "report" which is totally inaccurate and based on a telephone conversation that the EO had with BGB the same morning as the verbal report was given. BGB had not supplied any correspondence to support their answers to my complaint which was supported by correspondence. I have been informed by the EO that it has no power to enforce disclosure of correspondence. Apparently the "report" is not a final decision, I or BGB have to take it a step further by providing more evidence. A previous offer made by BGB (in writing to me) was denied by BGB. That offer accepted responsibility for poor service including the attendance at my shop by a BGB representative looking for payment despite the fact that I had been told I would not be pursued whilst the matter was investigated. I paid by cheque in full under the duress of a shop full of customers. This low life wanted cash and made the throw away remark that if the cheque bounced, "and it probably would" he'd be back to disconnect. Of course the cheque did not bounce but when I complained about his manner I was told that I should have paid by debit card, it would have cleared quicker than the 16 days for the cheque! I am now interested in hearing others dealings with the Energy Ombudsman. I mean let's be honest if you were BG it is much easier not to pass on any information and pay a small amount of compensation but still demand the bill. It appears to me that the EO's system is flawed before it starts. Any interest?

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/ofgem-secures-free-energy-npower-customers-late-resolution-ombudsman-decisions So it seems that not only does Npower dishonour it obligations to its customers but it also dishonours it obligations to the Energy Ombudsman as well. Let's hope that Npower's legal clerk- Kenneth Radley Davies is watching Thanks to Eversir for this heads-up

Six months ago I transferred my electricity account to a relatively new supplier in the UK Extra Energy. I understand this company has German parents. I have been trying to get a bill from them for the past two months to no avail. When contacted by telephone nothing is resolved not even a change of e-mail address. They are charging me by way of Direct Debit over double that charged by my previous supplier Npower, who are not renowned for their competiveness. I told them by e-mail that if I did not have a bill within 3 working days I would cancal my Direct Debit. I have recieved no acknowledgement of my e-mail after 5 working days, nor any answer to other queries. I have now cancelled my DD. I understand by law they should submitt a bill at six monthly intervals. Any advice as to what I should do next? With thanks Carningli