Demand Letter

[stillp]

My first house didn't have a gas supply - there was a service from the main in the street, but it was capped off. Every quarter a meter reader would come to read my non-existent gas meter, look at the capped pipe, and go away promising I wouldn't be disturbed again. After a few years I refused to let the meter reader in, and he got aggressive and insisted he could demand entry, which again I refused. He came back an hour later accompanied by the village constable, who politely informed me that I had no right to refuse to allow the meter reader to come in and inspect his meter when accompanied by a uniformed policeman, so I asked the copper in, shut the door on the reader, and showed the copper the empty meter cupboard. He left, loudly threatening the meter reader with arrest for wasting police time... For some years afterwards, every quarter I would receive an estimated bill - for £00.00.

Back to the OP though - I feel he should see a solicitor, or Citizen's Advice, rather than asking a bunch of strangers on an internet forum.

 

[JohnW2]

...For some years afterwards, every quarter I would receive an estimated bill - for £00.00.

I have a better one than that Many moons ago, I suspect in the early days of 'computerisation', a LA (well, probably the computer of an LA!) got increasingly threatening about a bill for Council Tax (probably Rates in those days) "arrears" for the very same sum you mention above. After countless exchanges of correspondence and telephone conversations (with idiots), I eventually spoke to someone a bit more sensible. He was apologetic, and embarrassingly suggested that the only way I could shut up their system was probably to 'pay' this bill.

I therefore wrote out a cheque for £0.00 and sent it to them, and even got an acknowledgement/receipt, and then heard nothing more of the matter - although I did have the Bank Manager on the phone pretty quickly!

Back to the OP though - I feel he should see a solicitor, or Citizen's Advice, rather than asking a bunch of strangers on an internet forum.

Indeed and, as you know, that's what I advised right at the start.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Doggit]

Hawkeyes right in some ways, as there was no contract, but John is talking about reality where the steamroller just trundles on regardless of the "truth"; and as NWE think they have a justified case, they'll eventually just put it in the hands of a debt collector, who'll easily find who the home owner is.

The OP was right in asking for details to justify their claim, and it may be that as the charge is for 23.5 hours, it may be for another property - but more likely, they're just useless.

Somethings gone wrong somewhere, and talking to NWE will achieve more than ignoring it. At some point, it'll come to an impasse, and the OP will then threaten them with the energy regulator. If there is a genuine charge (unlikely) then it's actually the contractor that did the damage, but hopefully, the contractor will back up the OP in what happened, and it'll then be up the NWE to justify the overcharge before they can collect anything from the contractor.

 

[JohnW2]

... and as NWE think they have a justified case, they'll eventually just put it in the hands of a debt collector, who'll easily find who the home owner is.

Indeed, and unless the OP tells them otherwise, all of their 'systems' will presumably continue to think and believe that it is a justified charge/bill

The OP was right in asking for details to justify their claim, and it may be that as the charge is for 23.5 hours, it may be for another property - but more likely, they're just useless.

As I said, for what it's worth, I would personally want to avoid any questioning or discussion about the amount that they are claiming - since, as I said before, that would very likely give them the impression that the OP probably would agree to pay some sum - and it sounds as if he probably does not owe them anything.

Kind Regards, John

 

[motorbiking]

Since you’ve made contact. Ask them the basis of the claim. i.e what or who authorises them to make the charge.

Then you appeal on the basis it’s excessive based on the work done.

you can refer them to the regulator if needed.

if you get anything other than a clear right to the charge you dispute it on the basis that you did not contract for the services.

if they threaten legal action you remind them the claim is disputed and you put them to proof.

I’ve no idea if the can or can’t aplly this charge.

There is zero mileage in silly tactics any stupid letters may ultimately end up in a bundle if you plan to fight it

 

[stillp]

I would personally want to avoid any questioning or discussion about the amount that they are claiming

Isn't the amount a clear indication that they've made a mistake?

 

[JohnW2]

Isn't the amount a clear indication that they've made a mistake?

That might be a 'second' mistake - but I would think that the primary mistake is for charging him for this work at all. Let's face it, it would seem that the only connection with him is that this cable (which has nothing to do with his electricity supply) exists, quite possibly without his formal permission, on his land.

As I've said a couple of times, if it were me, I would be worried that if I started complaining/arguing about the amount, that might well be taken as an indication that I accepted that I had to pay something, even though I was disputing the amount.

If, out of the blue, you got a bill from someone for, say, £200 for "changing a light bulb" (when no-one had changed any lightbubs for you), if you did anything, would it be to complain that they had sent you a bill for work you had not had done or to tell them that you regarded £200 as being excessive for such a job?

Kind Regards, John

 

[stillp]

Both!

 

[JohnW2]

Both!

Fair enough - but don't you share my concern that arguing about the amount, rather than just complaining about the fact that you have been sent an 'inappropriate bill', might give the impression that you accept that you owe them something? If it was work that you hadn't had done, why would the amount of the 'erroneously-sent bill' concern you?

Kind Regards, John

 

[stillp]

Because it is evidence that they've made a mistake, possibly sending a bill to the wrong address.

 

[JohnW2]

Because it is evidence that they've made a mistake, possibly sending a bill to the wrong address.

Is that an answer to my question asking why you would be concerned about the amount they were trying to charge for work you hadn't had done?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Doggit]

As I've said a couple of times, if it were me, I would be worried that if I started complaining/arguing about the amount, that might well be taken as an indication that I accepted that I had to pay something, even though I was disputing the amount.

You make an interesting point John, but I don't think that asking them to justify the bill, would be an admission of liability to then pay anything. But yes, the letter needs to be worded on the basis of, the cables not mine, what is it doing on my land, you can thank me for pointing out that it wasn't capped off properly, and you're having a larf asking for any payment especially the 23 hours work that wasn't done. Oh, and which paper would you like me to send this blatant overcharging to for the general public to lambast you in.

I think it's permissible to get them to set a sensible and justifiable price for the work they've done, and yet still tell them that the revised bill still isn't yours.

 

[Sid1968]

Thanxs everyone im gathering all the info for my reply to their letter

If i get one!!!!!

 

[stillp]

Is that an answer to my question asking why you would be concerned about the amount they were trying to charge for work you hadn't had done?

Kind Regards, John

Yes.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I agree with John. Querying the amount is pointless if you don't owe them anything.