OVO ENERGY, leter before action

[unlucky jim]

Hi guys i am having mega problems with ovo energy

Ovo victim
Hi guys …..
looking for some help and advice to defend any claim that comes my way and put in a counter claim for unpaid refund of account credit
OK lets start ……. time-line and some background info

OVO closed my account end of October 2024, then sent me a final bill in early part of December 2024 for £1000 + and request that I pay this within 14days
Anyway 5 days later……after sending me final bill within the 14 day pay period

OVO then sent me a pre action protocol “ outstanding debt demand letter LBA via the OVO team based at a solicitors office in Grimsby For a higher amount
Suffice to say I was not very pleased with this so I checked my account and all start and end balances on account bills for the last 2 years (SINCE JUNE 2022 where all wrong and not correct)

Back in june 2022 sse ovo changed to a new ovo energy kalusa billing system ,they messed up meter readings these meter reads where later corrected in December 2022 by a replacement bill but they failed to remove / change wrong start debt balance £2k (new start balance as per the replacement bill should have been in credit by around £1k )

OVO failed to remove and rectify incorrect balance information, a defective billing system and incompetence has led to me receiving account bills / statements showing false INCORRECT balances this in-turn has led to…INCORRECT FINAL BILL for £1000 + and demands for various different amounts over the last month.

Not being happy with ovo, I sent them a formal complaint , the outline of complaint being they have not carried out their service with reasonable care and skill, which has led to me receiving account bills / statements showing false INCORRECT balances and they have so far failed to refund me account credit due to me

I understand that energy Suppliers have a duty to provide accurate bills…….. ALSO
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 I have a right to expect a reasonable service which is carried out with care and skill – IT IS CLEAR….. I DID NOT receive this from OVO.

Any way I have gone through my bills and using a simple formula
PAYMENTS INTO ACCOUNT £ xxxx PLUS CREDITS INTO ACCOUNT £ xxxx =TOTAL IN £xxxx MINUS ENERGY CHARGES. TOTAL OUT £xxxx = ACCOUNT IN CREDIT BY £xxxx

Ovo owe me over £1k, but anyway they seem hell-bent on taking court actions against me..
I HAVE YET TO CHECK MY CREDIT FILE IN CASE OVO RECORDED WRONG INFO ON THAT TOO
Any way I hope I have not been too confusing or long winded regards my “ OVO VICTIM STORY”

[echat11]

Hi UNLUCKY JIM

Welcome to LB

It's not great, Energy companies make more money when they get things wrong.

Even when they are wrong, they believe themselves to be right.

a) First thing to do, is send both entities (SSE OVO, New OVO) a Subject Access Request.
They have 30 days to provide all the data on the account for the last 6 years. Make sure you get Proof of Postage.

https://legalbeagles.info/library/gu...ccess-request/

Once you get that data / information (usage / billing) onto an Excel worksheet, you need to do it so they 'understand' exactly what you are saying.

b) Second thing, send New OVO a account in complaint / dispute letter, clearly 'tell them where they got it wrong', make sure you get Proof of Postage.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/co...ergy-supplier/

c) Once you get a final response / deadlock letter, if you still aren't happy, then you can take the complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.

https://www.energyombudsman.org/

d) 'Back billing' may apply, if you've done everything you should have as a customer i.e. made monthly payments etc. The thing is you are saying the account is in 'credit', so won't apply to you.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/what-do-if-you-get-back-bill

e) You should receive compensation for the harassment, stress etc they have caused you by chasing you for money you don't owe and not refunding money that they owe you.

[unlucky jim]

UPDATE

I am being Screwed by ovo… by 1000 units of gas
In a recent online line chat with OVO … today 13 jan 2025 (see chat exert below) they state ….
Your gas readings dated 27/06/2022 recorded is 39327( this not the case see migration actual read below states 38327)
Online chat exert
Thank you for patiently waiting and I'll put a feedback note about that,
because that helps us track where we might need to change our
processes or procedure in the future. Upon checking here in my end
that the account balance in credit shows in the account is £163.81, As
per checking on the readings that you provided, your gas readings
dated 27/06/2022 recorded is 39327 and the final reading is 40335
dated 27/10/2023

[unlucky jim]

account in credit and want to take me to court ?

[echat11]

If the Migration reading is 38327 (screenshot) and not 39327 (this is what OVO are saying in chat),
then you owe for a 1000 units more, so they have 'made an error' and under charged you by 1000 units.

The 'screenshot' is 'blurred', just about make out the numbers.

[islandgirl]

I have had an issue with OVO where they were estimating readings for a while and the clock at some point "ran backwards" and I was charged twice for the same units...

[echat11]

I have had an issue with OVO where they were estimating readings for a while and the clock at some point "ran backwards" and I was charged twice for the same units...

It's still possible to work out your average 'usage' from previous years, if the data is available.

Aside - Energy in this Country is a 'total mess' has been for decades, thanks to various Governments ever since the sell off of our 'gas storage' facilities.

Take our North Sea Gas, we have little to no storage in this Country, we sell it to Europe (it has storage facilities), they sell it back to us and make 'huge' profits.

[unlucky jim]

for the sake off clarity......

migration read 39327 was wrong, it was found to be an error and correct read is 38327 corrected in December 2022 by a replacement bill, ovo are overcharging me by 1000 units

[unlucky jim]

A significant error has been made by OVO energy with regard to migration opening balance and final balance calculations on my ovo account this in turn has led to ovo creating incorrect closing balance amount on my Final bill.

[unlucky jim]

HI GUYS, JUST A SMALL UPDATE... OVO ARE TAKING ME TO COURT, I NEED HELP FAST,

Just had MCOL (money claim issued against me by ovo energy ltd

[unlucky jim]

I have responded to claim AOS, meanwhile need to find a sollicitor to help defend claim, ANY SUGGESTIONS

[echat11]

Your facts need to be correct, I suggest you take the evidence you have to CAB, let them take a look. They can help with this.

[unlucky jim]

Hi guys I am trying to sort out my defence , struggling a bit to be honest

See Below draft ….
I am hoping you guys will take time to read through and advice.

Many thanks.

In the Northampton County Court Civil Business Centre.

Claim No: XXXXX

CLAIMANT: XXXXXXXXXX

DEFENDANT: XXX XXXXX

DEFENCE

1.The Defendant received the Claim XXXX from the Northampton County Court Civil Business Centre on 18 August 2025.

2. Each allegation in the Claimants statement of case is denied unless specifically admitted in this Defence.

3. This claim appears to be for unpaid charges for energy supplied by the claimant

4. The Claimants statement of case fails to give adequate information to enable me to properly assess my position with regards the claim

5. The Defendant contends that claimant failed in its obligation to issue accurate bills

6. The Defendant contends that claimant failed in its obligation under the Back-billing Code of Practice.

7. The Defendant contends that claimant have billed defendant incorrectly SINCE JUNE 2022 , significant errors has been made by the claimant and claimant failed to act upon information available to put this right

8. The Defendant contends that claimant are using the incorrect MIGRATED debit balance figure for Energy account and this has resulted and led to claimant creating incorrect wrongly calculated bills.

9. On the 19.12.24 The Defendant under pre –action protocol sent a request to Claimants solicitor for a copy of all bills and statements for account supply period 02/10/2021 to 26/10/2024

10. The Claimant’s Solicitor has not sent these documents to the Defendant.

11. On the XX.XX.25, the Defendant sent a request for inspection of documents mentioned in the Claimant’s statement of case under Civil Procedure Rule 31.14 to the Claimants Solicitor, WILKIN CHAPMAN ROLLITS.
I requested the Claimants solicitor provide copies of all the invoices raised and delivered for the period 02/10/2021 to 26/10/2024

12. The Claimant’s Solicitor has not sent these documents to the Defendant.

13. In the event that the relevant documents are received from the Claimant, the Defendant will then be in a position to amend his defence and would ask that the Claimants bear the costs of the amendment.

15.Under Civil Procedure Rule 16.5 (4) Where the claim includes a money claim, a defendant shall be taken to require that any allegation relating to the amount of money claimed be proved unless he expressly admits the allegation. Therefore, it is expected that the Claimant be required to prove the allegation that the money is owed as claimed.

16.The Defendant respectfully requests the court orders the Claimants to provide the necessary documentation in order for The Defendant to fully plead his case else the Claim should stand struck out.

17. It is denied that the Claimant is entitled to the relief as claimed or at all.

Statement of Truth

I believe that the facts stated in this defence document are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.

Signed ________________________________
Dated _______________________________

[unlucky jim]

I AM NOT SURE that no 11 applies civil procedure rule 31.14

[unlucky jim]

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 I have a right to expect a reasonable service which is carried out with care and skill – IT IS CLEAR….. I DID NOT receive this from OVO.

i think i should mention this in defence