Utilitiy Companies

[pinkbabytots]

Can utility companies legally charge you an admin fee? I recently changed to npower who turned out to be a nightmare. They kept sending me overestimated bills despite the fact that I kept informing them of the correct meteor readings.Furthermore, despite having my standing order details they only set up the standing order for electricity and not gas. Now they are charging me an admin fee of approx �26.50. I carn't find anything in their terms and conditions but they say they have sent me a letter warning me they are going to charge this admin fee. I have never recieved any letters about this. Can they do this and if so can I charge them an admin fee for my time? Also, how will I go on if I refuse to pay it and change suppliers?


Thanks in advance

xxxxx

[themas]

Raise a formal complaint - they should have their complaints procedure on their website. If it ends up without satisfying you go to the Energy Supply Ombudsman - see website.

Unless there is a specific statement in their terms that they can charge an admin fee, I would have thought this was not on.

[MrSensible]

Stand your ground, I had exactly the same problem with NPower, they were reading my meter then giving me underestimated bills, I rang them countless times asking for a bill based on readings and withheld payment until they complied.

To cut a long story short they worked out I owed them �850 I went to the energy regulator who were fantastic, NPower were forced into a corner for allowing this situation to develop despite my best efforts to stop it, result, they wiped the bill clear and apologised.

Good luck