E-on

[Cally]

Hi all,

Just had a visit from someone asking for My husband, I told them he wasn't home, they told me they were from e.on and gave me a letter for my husband. I've had a look and it's a letter saying that they came today to collect our payment, and we have been been charged £55 for the visit. There is no company name on the paper, its a photocopy and has got E-on in the top right, but my husband has been asked to call 'Darren' on a mobile number to discuss options.

The letter says if we don't contact, they'll apply for a warrant to break in either to install a prepayment meter or disconnect the supply.

I'm a bit confused as to who this is because we've been instructed to call an individual on a mobile number rather than the e.on company but there is nothing on the paper to say that he is DCA with a DCA company, Just e-on's name and number. Can we not just ring e-on or will they just tell us to call the mobile number?

The man that visited the house text my mobile number when he left, it said 'can you call me' I messaged back saying 'who is this?' and got the reply '***** ****' which is my husband. I had a look at the paper again and saw that the text had come from the bloke's phone and he was claiming to be my husband. WTF?

Not sure what we should do now.

[mr.ton]

Re: E-on

Only court appointed bailiffs have the authority to enter your home & even then there are various rules about what they can and cant do.
Tell Darren to go foxtrot oscar if he shows his ugly mug again and tell him were to shove the £55 charge.
I would have this goon reported to the police (not 999 unless he shows up again) and make the police aware that threats are being made to break into your home.
I would make official complaints to E-on, the OFT and trading standards as well especially if they are being deceptive with you as it would seem.

[teaboy2]

Re: E-on

Sounds like hes a bailiff though he is required to show his ID and inform you he is a bailiff. Simply turning up at your door and charging you a fee is unaccaptable. I would call E.on and tell them what has happened and also request from E.on the bailiffs name and registered number, so you can report him to the MOJ as his actions are unacceptable and his text claiming to be your husband can be construted as harassment, possibly sexual harassment depending on why he would want you to believe the text was from your husband.

Also inform E.on they are liable for the actions of their appointed representatives and they should have contacted you first rather than just pass it on to bailiffs without attempting to contact you about the issue.

In fact text Darren back and tell him "the guys and girls from Legal Beagles are on to him now and his days as a bailiff are now likely to be numbered - Happy new year scum."

[CleverClogs]

Re: E-on

The letter says if we don't contact, they'll apply for a warrant to break in either to install a prepayment meter or disconnect the supply.

I'm a bit confused as to who this is because we've been instructed to call an individual on a mobile number rather than the e.on company but there is nothing on the paper to say that he is DCA with a DCA company, Just e-on's name and number. Can we not just ring e-on or will they just tell us to call the mobile number?

Have you tried calling e.on?

The man that visited the house text my mobile number when he left, it said 'can you call me' I messaged back saying 'who is this?' and got the reply '***** ****' which is my husband. I had a look at the paper again and saw that the text had come from the bloke's phone and he was claiming to be my husband. WTF?

Not sure what we should do now.

Call e.off and ask them what they're playing at.

[Shadowcat]

Re: E-on

Do you or your husband have a debt with E.ON?

If so, you need to send a letter to their Customer Services in which you should put a log of what has happened and send a copy of your letter to your local Trading Standards. Ask them to trace and inform you who visited you as this individual was claiming to work for them. If they have gone about things in this way they are in the wrong and if they admit to it, send a copy to Trading Standards and find out about E.On's Complaints Procedure to escalate it.

If this is part of ongoing negotiations with E.On about a debt they need to address it properly.

If you have no debt, definitely a police station jobby.


Shadowcat.

[Cally]

Re: E-on

Thanks for the replies.

We do have an outstanding debt, my husband phoned them just before christmas to set up a payment plan, they wanted a large amount upfron that we couldn't afford just before christmas so he told them he's call back after christmas to set it all up.

We didnt hear anything else until the knock on the door last night.

I have just got off the phone with E-on, they said he was a debt collecter called Darren Edge working for Utility Management Systems, they gave me his ID number and said they are raising a complaint with UMS and advised me to call them myself, which I will be doing.

They are being idiots about the debt, because we've had this visit, they wont set us up on a payment plan unless we can pay off half the balance, which we just can't do, they want to put in a pre payment meter, but with what they'll be taking each week, we'll be spending over £50 a week on gas and electricity, not something we can really afford right now.

I'm so fed up, I think I'm going to switch companies and then pay E-on off at a rate that I can afford, without having to worry that they'll disconnect my supply. Can I do that, or do I need to pay them off first?

I'm still angry about this Darren goon, I cannot believe he text me saying that he was my husband!!

[teaboy2]

Re: E-on

Inform them you are well aware of the ferguson v british gas trading limited ruling where british gas were found liable for the actions of there choosen 3rd party debt collection representatives, and if they (eon) do not agree to your repayment offer you will take legal action and also inform them you deem there attempt to force you to have a prepaid meter as not only harassment but also an attempt by them to prejudice you in order for them to make an finanicial gain out of the situation of around an extra £50 a month (or whatever the total monthly extra works out at) that a prepaid meter would cost you in gas and electricity. Which therefore puts you at a financial deteriment.

Also any attempt to forcefully install such a meter in your property will be seen as a tort of trepass, as you now revoke any implied license for them or their representativs to visit your property without prior consent from you, plus any damage to your property during such installation against your wishes will be deemed as criminal damage and reported to the police.

Now that will put them firmly in their place, as each point i raised above is backed by law.

P.s. yes you can switch supplier at any time.

[Cally]

Re: E-on

The entry to my home will be with a court ordered warrant. Doesn't that mean it won't be tort of trespass? If I can switch supplier, I'm not too worried because they wont be able to install a prepayment meter or disconnect my supply if they are no longer supplying my energy and I will then pay the debt at a rate on my terms as opposed to theirs from being in fear of disconnection or prepayment meter being fitted.

[teaboy2]

Re: E-on

Have Eon already taken you to court over this and got a CCJ? if not then they will have to before they can apply for a warrant, in which case you can defend against any claim they issue for the debt to the court.

[QCKate]

Re: E-on

The entry to my home will be with a court ordered warrant. Doesn't that mean it won't be tort of trespass? If I can switch supplier, I'm not too worried because they wont be able to install a prepayment meter or disconnect my supply if they are no longer supplying my energy and I will then pay the debt at a rate on my terms as opposed to theirs from being in fear of disconnection or prepayment meter being fitted.

Sorry to be negative Cally, but you wont be able to switch supplier while theres money owed, Eon will "object" and stop the switch. Its also probably best not yet to tell them your plan to switch until the paymenmt problem is sorted.

The Consumer Focus site has useful info on it and you can also make a formal complaint through them. Here's an extract from one of sections on energy.

Energy - your consumer rights : Directgov - Government, citizens and rights
If you can’t afford to pay your bill

If you get a bill that you can’t afford, contact the energy company straight away so it doesn't cut off your supply. Once you contact your energy company, it must offer you help such as:

• putting you on a payment plan based on how much you can afford
• arranging for you to pay what you owe through Fuel Direct – a scheme where payments are taken from certain benefits, eg Income Support
• installing a pre-pay meter
• giving you information on how to reduce your bills, eg by turning your thermostat down

don't let Eon bully you!!!


QCK

[Cally]

Re: E-on

Oh no. In that case, my only options are a prepayment meter or paying off half of the debt and doing a plan for the rest plus usage, neither of which I can afford to do. So frustrating!

[New_Age_Biker]

Re: E-on

I am not aware of any energy company that will take on an account that is in arrears.
To the best of my knowledge they will not refuse any payment that you make to them
If I were you I would offer (in wrting) a payment plan you can afford (& stick too) then start making the payments.
Fancy how it would look in front of a judge if they were to take you to court & find you were paying all you could afford.....

[Cally]

Re: E-on

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing New Age Biker, but how would I pay it? They'd need to give me their bank details for me to set up a standing order or something similar and they'll prob refuse that because they want more.

[mr.ton]

Re: E-on

If E-on have not been to court over this then they have no legal powers over you.
It is up to you if you want to change suppliers, you don't need E-on's permission, tough on them if they don't like it - what they don't know wont hurt them & it would be a bit ludicrous of them to try to install a pre payment meter for a company you are no longer with! lol
Once you changed suppliers then you can tell E-on what you will repay, £1 per month if need be and tough on them if they don't like it.
Report them to the regulator as well and complain about their conduct in this matter.
If Darren shows again then tell him to get lost and call police if he refuses.

[Cally]

Re: E-on

The problem is, if I switch, or try to, E-on can object to the switch and prevent it happening. According to uswitch, I can only switch if my debt is below £200, which it isn't.

And odn't worry about Darren, if he dares show at my door again he'll be in for a nasty shock. I know they're all doing the job they are paid to do, but some of them really do go too far.