Contact bank right away if you’ve got scam fears
I RECENTLY received a call from someone claiming to be working for my internet company. They were convincing and I ended up sharing my bank details. What can I do?
The first and most important step is to get in touch with your bank immediately and explain what has happened.
Your bank should act in your best interest and do everything they can, so make sure to give them as many details as possible so they can act accordingly.
Whether or not money has been taken from your account, your bank will take action straight away.
This could include cancelling your bank cards or changing your security details, such as your passwords and PIN numbers.
You should still keep an eye on your bank statements and look out for any unusual transactions.
It’s important to remain vigilant as some scammers may attempt to contact you again to try and talk you into providing further details or making a payment.
Realising that you may have been the target of a scammer can be extremely upsetting and worrying, especially when the person seems legitimate.
You can report suspected scams and suspicious activity using the Quick Reporting Tool at www. consumeradvice.scot.
This helps organisations such as consumeradvice.scot, Trading Standards, and the police to stop scams and helps other people who may have been targeted by scammers.
I HADN’T received an energy bill in a while, but I’ve suddenly received a high estimated one. Do I need to pay it?
You may not be required to pay an estimated bill but if you think the bill is too high contact your supplier as soon as possible to give them an up-to-date meter reading and ask them to reissue the bill.
Depending on how long your bills have been estimated and how long it’s been since you last received a bill, you might not have to pay for all the energy you have used, either.
Sometimes, an energy supplier can issue a bill backdating charges for a period. any backdated energy usage you have been billed for is called a “catch up bill” or “back billing”.
There are back billing rules in place that say your energy supplier cannot charge you for energy you used more than 12 months ago, but this only applies if the supplier themselves is at fault. There are situations where back billing rules do not apply, however.
If the supplier has sent the customer a bill before the year passed and they did not pay, or if the customer behaved unreasonably, preventing accurate billing, then back billing rules are not applicable.
Unreasonable behaviour could include the customer not supplying meter readings when requested, or not allowing someone to take a meter reading. Let your supplier know if you receive a bill for energy usage that’s for more than a year ago and explain you are protected by back billing rules. If you need help or are having difficulty contacting your supplier, energyadvice.scot can assist.