Electricity disconnected. Extortionate reconnection charge

[T25cgc]

Hi All

I’m just after a bit of advice from someone who might know….

I recently bought a commercial property with planning permission to convert to residential. The purchase went through on 31st August and when I got the keys I found that the electricity had been disconnected by the supplier (Pozitive Energy) on 28th August due to outstanding debt on the account by the previous owners.

Since then I have been trying to get the electricity supply reconnected by Pozitive Energy. They have said that they will charge a reconnection charge of £1200 and the outstanding debt for the previous owner must also be paid (I think this is around £2000). I am obviously not going to pay off someone else’s debt and I accept that there may be a charge to pay to reconnect the supply but £1200 seems to be disproportionately large.

For clarity, the electricity meter is a smart meter and it is de-energised. I believe they did this remotely as the estate agent had no knowledge and I have had no engagement on the matter from the previous owners. My understanding is that I have no recourse against them to connected the supply either but may be wrong about that…

I have tried some other companies (octopus) but am informed that they do not take on customers with de-energised supply.

I have lodged a claim with the ombudsman but await a response… my understanding is they are toothless anyway.

I seem to be totally trapped with this fee that I have to pay Pozitive Energy to get the supply reinstated. It seems unfair as I did not choose them as a supplier yet am bound to them and this fee until the supply is reconnected.
I also don’t trust that even if I did pay the £1200 that they wouldn’t hold the other debt over me before the reconnected.

So… I wondered if anyone had experience of a similar position and had any advice or know of any companies who would take on a de-energised meter?

The property is currently a building site but I am staying there on and off so not having any electricity is becoming quite trying!!

[LooneyTunes]

What representations were made by the vendor about it having services?

[skeeterm5]

“ I have lodged a claim with the ombudsman but await a response… my understanding is they are toothless anyway. “

In my experience they are completely worthless. I had a complaint accepted against Scottish Power by the ombudsman. SP didn’t even bother replying to the ombudsman who, when time ran out, found in my favour.

They then issued a judgement which SP accepted and then simply ignored it. To be honest I can’t be bothered to go back to the ombudsman again.

So I wouldn’t hold out hope for any help from them.

[POIDH]

Legally they cannot hold you to someone else's debt.

The reconnection fee - it seems utility companies with the captive market they have can charge what the f*ck they fancy.

[mickk]

LooneyTunes said:

What representations were made by the vendor about it having services?

Exactly, the vendor should have made it clear, I would have thought.

[darreni]

T25cgc said:

Hi All

I’m just after a bit of advice from someone who might know….

I recently bought a commercial property with planning permission to convert to residential. The purchase went through on 31st August and when I got the keys I found that the electricity had been disconnected by the supplier (Pozitive Energy) on 28th August due to outstanding debt on the account by the previous owners.

Since then I have been trying to get the electricity supply reconnected by Pozitive Energy. They have said that they will charge a reconnection charge of £1200 and the outstanding debt for the previous owner must also be paid (I think this is around £2000). I am obviously not going to pay off someone else’s debt and I accept that there may be a charge to pay to reconnect the supply but £1200 seems to be disproportionately large.

For clarity, the electricity meter is a smart meter and it is de-energised. I believe they did this remotely as the estate agent had no knowledge and I have had no engagement on the matter from the previous owners. My understanding is that I have no recourse against them to connected the supply either but may be wrong about that…

I have tried some other companies (octopus) but am informed that they do not take on customers with de-energised supply.

I have lodged a claim with the ombudsman but await a response… my understanding is they are toothless anyway.

I seem to be totally trapped with this fee that I have to pay Pozitive Energy to get the supply reinstated. It seems unfair as I did not choose them as a supplier yet am bound to them and this fee until the supply is reconnected.
I also don’t trust that even if I did pay the £1200 that they wouldn’t hold the other debt over me before the reconnected.

So… I wondered if anyone had experience of a similar position and had any advice or know of any companies who would take on a de-energised meter?

The property is currently a building site but I am staying there on and off so not having any electricity is becoming quite trying!!

What has your conveyancing solicitor said about the issue?

[No ideas for a name]

As far as I understand it, de-energised is when the DNO has pulled the main fuse - usually at the request of the energy supplier.

I would think the first call would be to the DNO to see what the procedure for re-energisation would be.
I can't see it being expensive, if it has a cost at all.
It isn't as if it is a new supply requiring under ground supply work, which would normally cost a few k.

A quick web search showed this https://energyangels.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021...
who I guess are just a company that will organise it for you - no doubt for a fee.

[Peterpetrole]

Pragmatically probably pay the reconnection charge, change supplier to your preference, then sue Pozitive energy in the small claims court for "lack of valuable consideration", "unfair contract terms" or something, use social media etc. to get on their case.

[119]

Pretty sure the profits you will be making will more than cover it.

[Mont Blanc]

119 said:

Pretty sure the profits you will be making will more than cover it.

I'm not sure how that is relevant whatsoever?

For many, myself included, the whole point of putting yourself through the hassle of running your own business, is to make as much money as you possibly can. If the OP can get the £1200 reduced, or somehow for free, then that is absolutely worth doing is it not?

[speedyman]

No ideas for a name said:

As far as I understand it, de-energised is when the DNO has pulled the main fuse - usually at the request of the energy supplier.

I would think the first call would be to the DNO to see what the procedure for re-energisation would be.
I can't see it being expensive, if it has a cost at all.
It isn't as if it is a new supply requiring under ground supply work, which would normally cost a few k.

A quick web search showed this https://energyangels.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021...
who I guess are just a company that will organise it for you - no doubt for a fee.

As above, you will need the MPAN number. https://www.edfenergy.com/large-business/new-elect...

[No ideas for a name]

119 said:

Pretty sure the profits you will be making will more than cover it.

Isn't the OP converting to residential, there aren't any profits.

[119]

No ideas for a name said:

119 said:

Pretty sure the profits you will be making will more than cover it.

Isn't the OP converting to residential, there aren't any profits.

If that’s the case, it seems an odd project to take on!

[Louis Balfour]

skeeterm5 said:

“ I have lodged a claim with the ombudsman but await a response… my understanding is they are toothless anyway. “

.

Yep. The Ombudsman will agree that you've been horribly messed about and overcharged, and rule that you must be paid £50 in compensation.

We are in dispute with one of the energy companies over a six figure sum. The Ombudsman upheld the complaint and ruled that we must be paid £100.

We didn't accept it, in case the energy company argues that we have accepted a settlement. We are waiting for them to litigate, which they seem in no hurry to do. The account is instead with the ninth or tenth debt collector.

[T25cgc]

LooneyTunes said:

What representations were made by the vendor about it having services?

Just the usual questionnaire re who supplies the gas and electricity at the property. I wasn’t informed that there was no supply at the property and to be honest I wouldn’t have completed had I known. Annoyingly it was only 3 days prior to me completing that it was cut off.

[T25cgc]

POIDH said:

Legally they cannot hold you to someone else's debt.

The reconnection fee - it seems utility companies with the captive market they have can charge what the f*ck they fancy.

Totally agree. Although in their correspondence they keep referring to the debt and haven’t accepted that I’ve bought the property as I still haven’t got the land registry documents through and they aren’t accepting any other documentary proof. I’m not sure if it’s a language barrier (call centre and customer service based outside of UK) but they keep saying the debt AND the reconnection charge must be paid and then other times only referring to the reconnection charge hence my mistrust that I will part wi the £1200 and then still be no further forward.

[Rough101]

Take it up with the vendor via the Solicitor.

You’re actually paying for the disconnection, reconnection and all the admin in that charge.

It’s really not the energy suppliers problem, their problem is someone didn’t pay them.

[T25cgc]

mickk said:

Exactly, the vendor should have made it clear, I would have thought.

To be honest I’m not sure they knew…albeit they did know they weren’t paying their bills. The electricity was disconnected about 3 days before completion and it was unoccupied at the time

[T25cgc]

Rough101 said:

Take it up with the vendor via the Solicitor.

You’re actually paying for the disconnection, reconnection and all the admin in that charge.

It’s really not the energy suppliers problem, their problem is someone didn’t pay them.

I’ll keep trying this avenue. I accept there would be a charge for the trouble. But £1200 seems extortionate when most other companies either do it for free or a cost of around £400

[T25cgc]

No ideas for a name said:

As far as I understand it, de-energised is when the DNO has pulled the main fuse - usually at the request of the energy supplier.

I would think the first call would be to the DNO to see what the procedure for re-energisation would be.
I can't see it being expensive, if it has a cost at all.
It isn't as if it is a new supply requiring under ground supply work, which would normally cost a few k.

A quick web search showed this

who I guess are just a company that will organise it for you - no doubt for a fee.

Thanks for this info! I’ll give them a try. I don’t mind paying something. But I don’t want to give a penny to Pozitive Energy at this stage.

I did speak to the DNO who said they don’t get involved with this as it’s the energy company who would have responsibility for switching the supply back on.