Why won’t E.ON accept my final energy meter reading?

I MOVED out of my previous property on April 3 and phoned E.ON the same day with electricity and gas readings so a final bill could be sent to me.

When it arrived, the firm had used estimated readings which were far higher than the figures I supplied. I sent these back on April 13, asking for a correct bill. But it just sent me a final demand for the estimated amount.

On April 29, I wrote to the managing director. To date, I have received no reply. I have phoned and written since, but still have received bills for only the estimated amount. N. M., Bristol.

You were caught in a muddle because the person moving into your property arranged for another energy firm to take over the supply. Though you moved out on April 3, the new supplier took over on March 28, without your knowledge.

As part of the transfer, E.oN sent out an estimated bill because it hadn’t received your readings at that stage. But it’s unclear why, once it had received a proper reading from you, it did not use that instead.

But the most burning question is how someone was able to move your energy supply without your knowledge while you were in still living at the property.

Apparently, switching is based on electricity and gas supply numbers and the address — rather than the name of the person living there.

usually when someone moves into a property they simply find out who the current supplier is and initially register with them.

As they did not do this, they should have made it clear to their chosen supplier that they were moving in on April 3.

It may be that they did not do this, or it may be the new supplier ignored the date and raised the transfer request too soon.

I’d ask why this happened, but neither you nor I know who they were as you had no idea you were no longer an E.oN customer.

I also do not understand why your letter to E.oN’s managing director was ignored — something which seems all too common among large companies.

Directors of large companies may not feel able to answer questions themselves, but someone should answer on their behalf.

E.oN has now apologised, used your correct readings and you have paid a final bill.

If your reading was taken on April 3, it means you paid E.oN for six days when your energy was being supplied by another firm — but let’s sweep that under the carpet to avoid further complicating things.

I AM 86 and my husband is 92 and in a nursing home.

I cannot find his Aviva share certificates. Only his name is on them, although I paid half. I’ve been trying to get replacement ones from Computershare since last November. I have power of attorney and all the paperwork has been supplied.

First, it told me there were no shares, but then changed its story and said it would cost £81 for a new certificate. Mrs J. W., Surrey.

ThErE’s been a bit of an administration muddle — but I am glad to say that once I made a call to Computershare, the company was on to it very quickly.

When you originally sent your power of attorney details, you didn’t include one of the pages, so Computershare wrote back asking you to send it. however, when the page arrived, Computershare didn’t match it up with the rest of your paperwork.

somebody from the firm has now spoken to you and apologised for the mistake.

It has replaced the certificates and will be waiving the fees normally charged for doing this.

I WOULD like some advice on inheritance tax and the new main residence allowance of £100,000 that can be bequeathed to spouses, civil partners, children and grandchildren.

I understand that a gift of your home in trust for a child or grandchild may not qualify for this additional £100,000 and that it depends on the type of trust and how it is worded.

My share of our property will be held in trust for my grandchildren, currently minors, by the trustee/executor of my will, my partner, until they are 21. Will this be acceptable to qualify for the new allowance?

My grandchildren will not physically receive their share until my partner dies. In the meantime, she is allowed to live in the property free of charge. G. D., Essex.

ThE main residence allowance came into effect on April 6 this year. It allows homeowners to bequeath up to an extra £100,000 each, based on the value of their home, in addition to the normal £325,000 nil rate band.

The main stipulation is that the money must go to a direct descendant — so children and grandchildren. step and adopted children and grandchildren also benefit — but brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews don’t.

There are special arrangements to protect the allowance for those who go into care. But as you have spotted, there are special rules that affect trusts.

I put your question to Patricia Mock, tax director at accountants Deloitte. she says you are correct: property left in trust is not always eligible to benefit from the residential nil rate band.

The trust arrangements you describe are unlikely to be of benefit as your grandchildren will probably not have access to their inheritance until your partner dies.

Trusts that benefit are restricted to those where the beneficiary has an immediate interest in the trust, or cases where property is left in certain trust arrangements for children by their parents.

Ms Mock says: ‘This does not seem to be the case here, as the intent is to leave the property in trust for the grandchildren, so the allowance will not be available.’

she suggests you get the precise terms of the trust reviewed to check your position.