Energy Co incompetence - whats it worth??

[numtumfutunch]

Im having real problems with our utility supplier
They are having "computer says no" issues with me bearing the brunt of the fallout

It started on returning from holiday last summer to open a letter from them which had arrived whilst we were away
This letter was dated the day we left and stated that the day after we actually got home ie the next day from when I opened it, they were cutting off our gas/electricity and a bailiff was visiting

Now this really is all their problem
My billing and direct debits are all appropriate, goodness knows how it can happen but it just has

Ive spoken to them on numerous different occasions for an hour to 90 mins each time and the phone person is always really apologetic and promises to call back after fixing it which they never do, in the meantime I get another bailiff/cut off letter a few weeks later which triggers my next call to them

Having finally lost the plot and threatened them with the ombudsman last week they magically promised it was all cleared up and they would send me something to compensate us for our aggro

Now my view of this is that when they get it formally fixed I'll leave and post my story, and their name, on every internet forum I can think of
Compo never even came into it to be honest until they mentioned it

My question is whats it worth?

At least 10h of my time plus the mentalisms my missus went through thinking bailiffs were coming round the day after we got back from holiday which was then transmitted to the rest of the family

Im thinking the cost of a slap up meal for the 4 of us as a minimum
Or am I selling us too short?

Comments welcome - and to repeat they offered the compo, Id never even thought of asking

Cheers

[cossy400]

Worlds your oyster. 6 months free is where id be starting just to take the piss.

Customer service is one of my biggest bugbears, and utility companies screw us more than most.

So id take the piss.

[Fozziebear]

I'd look at reduced rates fixed for 24 months with 6 months zero billing. I would push it hard with them, they know the only route they could have took is pre payment meter so the bailiff threats where empty.

[Road2Ruin]

I think it all depends on exactly what the issues were! You haven't given us much to go on! !! It could be potentially six of one and half a dozen of the other! Unless they are taking the mickey you have no chance of 6 months free as other posters are saying. The best you will get is £50 of you bill. BT cut off my work phone for 24 hours once and offered my a tenner!

[anonymous-user]

N Power??

Or are they all just as st ????

[Andehh]

Might help, might not.

Npower Homecare package, full boiler & central heating cover for £15 a month. 4 months into policy a part failed. N power sub'b it out to their local firm 'Hewers' who over the course of 3 months made 10 appointments on which only 3 times someone turned up. I took 2 days off work for 2 appointments which were wasted. I almost lost the plot with them but Npower handled it well, as did the senior complaints handler at Hewers. We settled for £50 cash in the end, so the equiv of 4 months free.

[CorradoTDI]

£50 cash is nothing considering you took 2 days off!

I'd have asked for 10x that!

[numtumfutunch]

6 months free leccy and gas is a nice idea but Id never imagine even having the cheek to ask!

My only loss as such is 10h in total spent talking on the phone plus the pretty unpalatable memory of opening the 'immediate disconnection and bailiff' letter on a Sunday morning with nobody picking up their phone till Monday - not nice

This is absolutely their stuff up
A thumb nail of whats happened is that their systems have us moving out of the house sometime last year, they then generated an "unknown occupier" account and credited my direct debits to that whilst allowing the real account to clock up the meter readings with no cash in the kitty to cover it
The disconnection letter just coming out of the blue with no prior warnings

Its still not rectified for reasons they cant explain yet magically the threat of the ombudsman has them suddenly dancing around to sort it

Im still thinking the cost of a decent meal out for the family...........

[Road2Ruin]

CorradoTDI said:

£50 cash is nothing considering you took 2 days off!

I'd have asked for 10x that!

And you wouldn't have got that....

[Snake the Sniper]

Fozziebear said:

I would push it hard with them, they know the only route they could have took is pre payment meter so the bailiff threats where empty.

Whilst not really relevant, this isn't quite true. I've been on warrant runs with the bailiffs, locksmith, police (as required) etc, and energy companies can and do disconnect people, both residential and business.

[VEX]

If you don't ask and push hard, you won't get.

And stick to your guns! put your point across ask what they would do in your case and then stay silent, let them be the first to break to silence.

I pushed a far smaller company, who could perfectly afford it!, to give me £600 RRP of kit FOC. Their customer service / sales guys just didn't care, they only way I could make them feel my pain with the issue was to get them to pay out for their mistakes. For companies where profit is the only focus, They don't like losing money so it would get them to pay out makes them sit up and actually pay attention.

V.