Utility Debt services.

[Richy-no-cash]

We moved into a smaller house late December 06. At our old house all the utility bills were in my wifes name, i gave her house keeping money to cover them. We read the meters and wrote down the readings at both properties and informed our utility company.

 

In February I was surprised to recieve an estimated bill which read higher than the energy used and the bill was addressed to me from N Power for £182 as our company was powergen. So I twigged the old lady who lived here must have been with N power and gave them my name and her meter reading when she moved. We changed energy suppliers and put the bills in my wifes name.

 

Then I got final bills for £227 from Powergen which were still estimated, the new supplier was cheaper so I telephoned Powergen to correct the mistake, they said the new supplier was resposible for making the reading, but no-one had called to read the meter! I refused to pay the bill until it was revised to my readings and everything wenmt quiet. Then in September, I got several new bills with the estimated part against the reading, but for the same amount. I rand and the call center kid basically didn't get it and couldn't supply stuff like;

 

A contract signed by me or a transcript of me asking powergen to supply.

A statement taking into account the actual readings at change over of supplier.

The correct readings at the time of change over.

Why an estimated reading had evolved into a actual meter reading, who had read the meter?

HA week ago I got a nasty letter from UDS demanding payment, I just wrote on it ' Please supply in writing a Contract signed by me, revised bill, actual meter reading and who made the reading?' and sent it back in the prepay envelope.

 

A lady from UDS left 2 messages 'about the letter I sent back' on my answering machine while I was out.

 

 

Then today I got a letter from Utility Debt Services stating

 

INTENTION OF COURT ACTION

Solicitors

Local Rep may call at your home to secure payment-there may be a charge for missed visits (!)

You may be asked to appear in front of a district judge whom we will notify that you have had every opportunity to discuss, dispute or settle this claim but have chosen not to!

 

I feel I am being bullied into paying for power that I havent consumed.

 

We are £400 in credit with our new company, whilst paying a fraction of what Powergen are demanding for less than a quarter.

 

Killer letter anyone?

[zazen.warrior]

Unwanted Advice

[mcnab]

You would not have signed anything unless you changed suppliers at your last address, otherwise you are with whoever supplies the address you live at

 

The new supplier is responsible for supplying the final read to the previous supplier.

 

Have you tried making a part payment offer if you dispute the final bill, from what you say above you have simply refused to pay?

 

 

I had a similar problem paid them and asked for my money back at the same time! They said they hadn't recieved the cheque. They didn't cash the cheque, but it was in the same envelope as the letter so they certainly saw it!