I've written about this before, but I've just had a response from the ombudsman and I'm hopping.
A property that I was partly responsible for was going to be rented out and for a brief (one week) period a member of Countrywide (estate agents) showed a few people round. However, it was quickly decided to sell the property and the estate agent was notified that another agent would be used for this purpose (who was not part of the Countrywide group). No contract was ever agreed or signed with Countrywide.
The house was on the market and I found out that Countrywide (who remember I had made no terms of business with) had 'sold' my details without informing me to E.ON, transferring the supply from Npower.
I demanded that the supply be switched back. After some time (a few months I think) E.ON said that NPower would not take the account back. I immediately took the case to the Ombudsman. After many months the ombudsman rejected my complaint on the grounds that it was Countrywide at fault and E.ON had acted in good faith. I did not accept this and went back to the Ombudsman with the additional complaints that the readings were incorrect and that they (E.ON) also refused to add additional names to the account. My name had obviously been used because I was the one who originally spoke to Countrywide.
The (empty) house was eventually sold after 6 months. E.ON was aware that the property was unoccupied.
Now all this time I was in dispute with E.ON and the case has been with the Ombudsman for around 11 months off and on (mostly on).
The ombudsman's final decision just re-affirms what they said originally. It's not E.ON's fault, but mine. I should have switched or I should have negotiated another tariff.
First question. Can a company - NPower in this case - refuse to take an account back when it's been proved to be an erroneous transfer?
During the whole of this dispute I really did not think I could transfer the account to another supplier. Neither E.ON or the ombudsman suggested it as a prospect. If I had, without doubt, I would have moved to a company with no standing charges like Ebico, as the house was empty.
Needless to say over 90% of the bill is standing charges.
My other point is that the account is in my name only, when other parties are equally responsible. The Ombudsman says that's E.ONs policy and their right to apply it. I didn't even get the opportunity to discuss or reject this, as the account was set up without my consent or knowledge.
I am wondering about the benefits of taking this to the small claims court. I feel I've been duped and the ombudsman (the very slow ombudsman) has sanctioned it.