scottish power-can some one help?key meter related

[carlafandango]

Hello, im doing this on behalf of my cousin, who has just had a baby two wks ago(single parent). She is on a key meter for electricity (scottish power), she decided to change suppliers, and all of a sudden has recieved a bill from scottish power saying they have been undercharging her since she has been with them, they know its not her fault, apparently the key meter was set at the wrong tariff or something? They keep calling her for payment( £98) which is escalating rapidly due to her not paying. They keep writing to her also saying about court proceedings and bailiffs action. They rang her on her mobile at 8.30-8.5pm the other night. She was so tired and wornout she agreed to pay them £11 a wk, which she cannot afford. What can I do to help her? She doesnt understand why she should have to pay as its their fault!!

[carlafandango]

one letter by SPM Collections says "following a successful court actoin against you, scottishpower bla bla" will instruct court officers to enforce payment of the debt, together with the late payment interest and judicial expenses which will add a minimum of £250 to your debt!!!!!!!!

[ATD]

Taken from the Consumer Focus Site

 

Token meters are the only type of prepayment device that must be manually adjusted after every price rise. Energy companies are often slow to recalibrate or adjust these meters which can result in a consumer being presented with a debt balance through no fault of their own. If a prepayment meter hasn't been reset for months or even years, people may have built up hundreds of pounds of debt which is likely to be added to the meter. Often consumers only become aware of this problem when they attempt to switch supplier.

 

These surprise debts can cause considerable hardship for consumers, especially those who are already in vulnerable positions. Consumers can be left facing a price shock as they start feeling the prices increase and find themselves paying back a debt. Company policies on balances accruing due to price increases not being placed onto the meter are as follow:

 

EDF Energy: The Company has given a guarantee that consumers will never be placed into debt as a result of their failure to recalibrate a meter.

 

Scottish & Southern Energy: The Company's Customer Charter states: "we will not expect you to pay back any debt which has built up as a result of a recent price increase if we have not adjusted your pay as you go meter".

 

British Gas: As of December 1st 2006, British Gas changed its policy and will only implement the new prices when the meter is recalibrated.

 

E-On (Powergen): The Company has promised to recalibrate all meters within three months of a price change. Recovery charges will be a low rate, agreed with the consumer.

 

Scottish Power: The Company will not block transfers where debt due to this problem has occurred, where the balance is less than £50.

 

Npower: From December 2006, the company has committed to limit debt-collection to a maximum of £70 in these circumstances.

 

Seems like Scottish Power have one of the worst policy's on this. I would point out to them that the debt is due to their failings and should be wiped out. As a very worst case scenario only agree to affordable payments against the balance - £1/month if need be.