Crusader Power to put things right
THE bank holiday weekend has been especially happy for three customers who are now a lot better off than they were a few weeks ago. Most relieved are Joan and Peter Doyle who were suddenly rocked by threatening letters from a debt collector for an energy bill they had already paid weeks earlier.
When the pair had switched their dual fuel account away from nPower their current statement showed they were in credit, “so we expected some money back”, said Joan.
Instead they were surprised to get another bill for £40.53. “However my husband had been very poorly and our minds had been on that,” she explained. “We thought the demand was a mistake and with everything else on our plate, we ignored it.”
Then demands started coming from debt agency Pastdue Credit Solutions and the sum the Doyles owed shot up to £100 for the gas and electricity.
“We called nPower and paid,” Joan added.
The Doyles asked for confirmation that they had settled but nothing came except more debt letters from Pastdue.
That’s when the couple decided to contact Crusader for our help in stopping the rot.
Even though customers may think they are in credit when they switch energy suppliers, it is the closing reading that always determines the final state of affairs, whether you are due money back or have to pay a bit more to balance the books.
In this case Peter and Joan did owe more but, having dealt with that, it should have stopped there.
We asked nPower to intervene as quickly as possible because of the worry being caused. The energy WORRY: A couple’s debt wasn’t cleared despite them paying it off supplier did, has now cleared the account and sent a goodwill gesture to the Doyles. Crusader understands an administration error at some point along the line kept the debt live instead of marking it cancelled.
Joan thanked Crusader, saying: “We’re so pleased, we’ve never been in a debt in our lives and don’t want to repeat this experience.”
And there was a ray of sunshine too for James Herd who first found himself a winner but then a bit loser.
James, a TSB Bank customer, had been cock-a-hoop when he won £50 in a competition. He went to his branch to deposit the cheque and kept the counterfoil of the slip, a very wise move as it turned out.
The credit didn’t show up when he checked online a week later so he was a bit miffed when he had to make another trip to sort it out. But when it still remained unaccounted for he wrote to us.
We asked TSB if James could have his money whatever the problem because he was able to prove he had paid it in.
The credit then came through promptly and James understands the cheque went missing somewhere between banks and their clearing house.
A TSB spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry for the issue Mr Herd experienced and the inconvenience this caused him.
“We’ve spoken to him to apologise and have put things right.” of
BE A BRIGHT SPARK
Autumn’s not far away and soon thoughts will be turning to staying warm and how to keep appliances in tip-top condition and working safely.
Faulty electrics lead to half of all domestic fires so employing a properly qualified electrician is crucial.
scottish trade body select has this advice to help you get the right person for the right job: check out your contractor and their competence, get them to prove their qualifications, do the checks before commissioning or paying for any work and get two different written quotes.
to check credentials or find a professional visit select.org. uk for scotland or uK-wide, niceic.com