Scottish Power debt and a DMP & a fee for 'advise'

[jaydeebee]

Hi there

 

We have a debt with Scottish Power of £1900 which is an outstanding balance for utilities for a failed business premises we had.

 

 

This debt is in our DMP.

 

 

After several months of being in constant contact with SP

they have finally recognised that this account is now closed as the business no longer exists.

 

 

They agreed to us including them in our DMP and also agreed to the monthly payments.

 

 

However,

I have this morning received another bill which has now added £42 as a Debt Advisory Charge !!

 

 

Has anyone else had this ?

 

 

I need to write to them,

 

 

can anyone advise what I should say in the letter.

 

Many thanks

[Coughdrop]

Simply ask what the charge is for and how they justify £42 as being reasonable - what did they actually do for it? What else is in your DMP? How much is owed in total?

 

Often this is charged if they've sent a debt advisor to your home - has this happened?

[dx100uk]

if its a PENALTY charge...which it is

 

 

then reclaim it

 

 

dx

[Coughdrop]

if its a PENALTY charge...which it is

 

 

then reclaim it

 

 

dx

 

You can't say it's a penalty charge until you know what its for. That's why I suggested finding out by asking them first. If it is a penalty, sure, challenge it.

[mikeymack2002]

If it is an added charge then it is a fee, it cost them nothing to acknowledge a DMP it's just revenue gathering, so if it's not included in the DMP they will chase for it leaving you back to square one, add it get it dealt with sorted

 

 

MM

[Coughdrop]

If it is an added charge then it is a fee, it cost them nothing to acknowledge a DMP it's just revenue gathering, so if it's not included in the DMP they will chase for it leaving you back to square one, add it get it dealt with sorted

 

 

MM

 

Scottish Power are known for sending debt advisers round - usually a waste of time, but it justifies their charge. We need the OP to come back and state one way or another before any of us can comment for sure on that charge / fee / penalty / whatever!

[mikeymack2002]

why comment then

[Coughdrop]

why comment then

 

The idea was to invite the OP back so we could make more informed comments than the ones above. Hopefully they will now return.

[dx100uk]

as with mortgage financial doorstepper 'debt advisors' , the charge can be reclaimed.

 

 

it is a 'PENALTY' for being in arrears, and under the already published guidelines can be reclaimed.

 

 

not common with util co's though, think it would be a first?

 

 

CD, you'd know more about if its been done than me.

 

 

dx

[Coughdrop]

as with mortgage financial doorstepper 'debt advisors' , the charge can be reclaimed.

 

it is a 'PENALTY' for being in arrears, and under the already published guidelines can be reclaimed.

 

not common with util co's though, think it would be a first?

 

CD, you'd know more about if its been done than me.

 

dx

 

Hi dx,

 

Yes,

not many utility companies take this route,

but Scottish Power do from time to time and have some reputation for it.

 

 

I agree totally it should be disputed on a number of grounds,

but it would be useful to hear from the OP if this is what it is for, or whether they're claiming it for something else.

 

Many utility companies are making a loss on their domestic arms at present, so some I think are getting a little less tolerant.

 

 

We've just done battle with Southern Energy who were unmoving to start with.

 

 

Fortunately we ended up victorious, but many would not have been as lucky to have access to the knowledge and tactics.

[dx100uk]

yes shame the Scottish power rep is no longer around

he was a good help here.

 

 

I've just done battle with hydro for a neighbour [2 yrs ago]

 

 

they had levied over £800 of charges inc several 'visit fees'

 

 

none of which turned out to be anything to do with

the usual meter changes etc etc

 

 

they eventually owned up that £250+ were for numerous 'debt advisor' visits

[external company used - they never turned up - the guy is bed ridden !! so we knew this

they just billed for £50+ for 5 visits over many months]

 

 

had to bypass hydro mind and goto SSE directly

 

 

got he lot back and a £250 GOGW.

 

 

hydro now have their Careline scheme

and very good it is.

 

 

dx

[jaydeebee]

Thanks all for the responses.

Just to update you.

 

 

I challenged Scottish Power about the charge of £42.00.

 

 

They have responding saying that they have refunded as a gesture of goodwill.

 

 

I still don't know what the charge was for,

they have offered no explanation

.

Just to confirm though for reference I have not received any visits from Scottish Power regarding the DMP

so the charge was unfair and it would seem they agree I have asked them to clarify what the charge was for though,

just for info, I'll keep you posted.

[Coughdrop]

Hi,

 

Well it looks as though your initial query is solved anyway, and you can get the rest into a DMP. It might be worth Googling for grants to help you pay off business debts. If it was domestic, there's a few around; as it is commercial, there may be some or may not be. It must be worth 30 minutes of your time searching.

[mikeymack2002]

Well done on the challenge and getting the refund, it always pays to challenge every fee, every time, then if everyone did it then it will become harder for them to add them, hoping we would not notice them

 

 

MM