The 11th UK South-East "100,000 spams and counting" Thread (All Welcome)

souporman wrote in post #12016069
Yea, I had never heard of them before either but it was part of my contract when I moved into my last flat.

Their reviews echo my issues exactly, so it's not just me. I'm not sure if I feel better about that or not.

wow they seem like total cowboys..hope you get it sorted soon

souporman wrote in post #12016069
Cheers, I'm doing my research now

Yea, I had never heard of them before either but it was part of my contract when I moved into my last flat.

Their reviews echo my issues exactly, so it's not just me. I'm not sure if I feel better about that or not.

It maybe useful to look at this as well
http://www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk/

souporman wrote in post #12016069
Cheers, I'm doing my research now

Yea, I had never heard of them before either but it was part of my contract when I moved into my last flat.

Their reviews echo my issues exactly, so it's not just me. I'm not sure if I feel better about that or not.

Sounds like the letting agents get a nice kick back for signing folk up to these idiots, that can be the only way anyone in their right mind would use them... I would suggest that their utter incompetence is to your advantage - after all a reputation this bad is very hard to argue against!

if you need some impartial legal advice I can ask my Mother in Law - handy to have a friendly lawyer more often that not!

souporman wrote in post #12015995
Apologies for the totally non-photographic question, but I'm sort of at the end of my rope and don't know what to do. First a bit of back story.

When I moved into my flat in Oct of 2008 my electricity provider was switched by my estate agency to Spark Energy. I used them for about a year, but found their service to be terrible as I was constantly getting double billed and generally harassed about non-payment when I always paid on time.

I had some difficulty switching from them a year later in Oct of 2009 and continued to get bills from them for about 3 months after switching but eventually got it all sorted out.

Fast forward to about a month and a half ago and I receive a bill for approximately £600 from Spark as my 'final bill'. Due to the issues I had switching from them, I know I had paid my account up in full (which was a requirement from them before switching) and having spoken to them on countless occasions I'm positive I don't owe them anything.

Now comes the problem. I call them every time I hear from them (which is about every 2-3 days and comes in the form of a letter, email, text or automated phone call) and am ALWAYS told the same thing. 'The department you need to speak to is unavailable at the moment, but I can take your details and someone will call you back within 5 working days'.

I've been told this about a dozen times now and have never once received a call back. I try to force the issue and insist on speaking to someone but the best I can ever manage is the supervisor of the department that can't help me.

Now I've been told (despite several assurances that it wouldn't get to this stage) that my account has been passed to a collections agency. I haven't heard from them yet, but I have no doubt that I'll be getting calls/letters from them this week.

Is there some sort of govt office or utilities management board or something I can contact? I'm completely fed up but totally clueless about my options on how to take this further to get it resolved...

Somebody on here might be able to help or at least point you in the right direction.

http://forums.moneysav​ingexpert.com/forumdis​play.php?f=13

Gundogs wrote in post #12016066
Welcome Talea - I'm fairly new to the SE thread too. So far the locals seem pretty friendly I had no idea men (it's mostly men) could chat this much. And they do a lot of shopping too

True only using the loosest definition of 'Man'

Klystron wrote in post #12016086
It maybe useful to look at this as well
http://www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk/

Cheers mate, I'll have a look.

TCIK wrote in post #12016093
Sounds like the letting agents get a nice kick back for signing folk up to these idiots, that can be the only way anyone in their right mind would use them... I would suggest that their utter incompetence is to your advantage - after all a reputation this bad is very hard to argue against!

if you need some impartial legal advice I can ask my Mother in Law - handy to have a friendly lawyer more often that not!

Yea, I'm positive that's the case. In fact, I'm fairly certain that what kicked this all off is our previous estate agency letting my old flat and telling Spark to take over the account again. Their system is so FUBAR'd that it's probably just matched the address with my account and started billing again.

Not to worry about legal advice, my best mate is a lawyer and I work for a law firm. I'm covered should it come to that, but cheers!

madseavets wrote in post #12016094
Somebody on here might be able to help or at least point you in the right direction.

http://forums.moneysav​ingexpert.com/forumdis​play.php?f=13

Cool, I'll have a flick through and maybe post a query.

Thanks again guys, lots of options now

souporman wrote in post #12016111
Yea, I'm positive that's the case. In fact, I'm fairly certain that what kicked this all off is our previous estate agency letting my old flat and telling Spark to take over the account again. Their system is so FUBAR'd that it's probably just matched the address with my account and started billing again.

Not to worry about legal advice, my best mate is a lawyer and I work for a law firm. I'm covered should it come to that, but cheers!

I'm pretty sure I'd be mentioning this to "Spark" customer services - wouldn't want to be them...

souporman wrote in post #12015995
Apologies for the totally non-photographic question, but I'm sort of at the end of my rope and don't know what to do. First a bit of back story.

When I moved into my flat in Oct of 2008 my electricity provider was switched by my estate agency to Spark Energy. I used them for about a year, but found their service to be terrible as I was constantly getting double billed and generally harassed about non-payment when I always paid on time.

I had some difficulty switching from them a year later in Oct of 2009 and continued to get bills from them for about 3 months after switching but eventually got it all sorted out.

Fast forward to about a month and a half ago and I receive a bill for approximately £600 from Spark as my 'final bill'. Due to the issues I had switching from them, I know I had paid my account up in full (which was a requirement from them before switching) and having spoken to them on countless occasions I'm positive I don't owe them anything.

Now comes the problem. I call them every time I hear from them (which is about every 2-3 days and comes in the form of a letter, email, text or automated phone call) and am ALWAYS told the same thing. 'The department you need to speak to is unavailable at the moment, but I can take your details and someone will call you back within 5 working days'.

I've been told this about a dozen times now and have never once received a call back. I try to force the issue and insist on speaking to someone but the best I can ever manage is the supervisor of the department that can't help me.

Now I've been told (despite several assurances that it wouldn't get to this stage) that my account has been passed to a collections agency. I haven't heard from them yet, but I have no doubt that I'll be getting calls/letters from them this week.

Is there some sort of govt office or utilities management board or something I can contact? I'm completely fed up but totally clueless about my options on how to take this further to get it resolved...

Try ofgem: http://www.ofgem.gov.u​k/Consumers/Pages/Cons​umer.aspx

If they are as good as ofcom, then you will have this resolved in no time.

If it were me, I would phone the number of the page rather than filling in forms etc.

Linda

just seen this...

is it your handiwork by any chance Penel? as a Cat owner it makes me grin everytime!

LindaB wrote in post #12016165
Try ofgem: http://www.ofgem.gov.u​k/Consumers/Pages/Cons​umer.aspx

If they are as good as ofcom, then you will have this resolved in no time.

If it were me, I would phone the number of the page rather than filling in forms etc.

Linda

On the phone now, thanks!

Kev, don't worry about it going to debt agency. Once you get a notice from the collectors, phone them up and explain that it is a fraudulent bill. They are duty bound to investigate it and often never phone back or bother you again.

Had it so many times due to past identity fraud. I'm sure they just don't bother with the expense of a fraud check and chase up something else. ( they "buy" the debt and if it's not financially vibe will not chase it up)

talea wrote in post #12012731
Hello, just wanted to say hi and ask if I can join in?

I am relatively new to POTN, I mostly lurk and read lots and lots! POTN has vastly improved my photographs but I am still a noob and still have lots to learn.

Welcome to our little corner of POTN. Any nice photos to share of the part of the SE that you live in?

courier wrote in post #12015838
ok..in case you didnt see them some pics from a mad men themed party i went to on saturday - it was messy!


...

Out. Blimin'. Standing! I think we all need to buy shares in you

This may be of interest to some of you near to me.

Internationally acclaimed photographer John Beatty will be appearing at TUNBRIDGE WELLS Assembly Hall this Wednesday 16th March with a fantastic evening of stories and images from his journeys into the wilderness. I thought you may be interested in hearing about this talk.

John is widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting and stimulating nature, travel and adventure photographers to have emerged in recent years. He has dedicated his life to capturing the magnificence of the natural environment through his lens and has travelled to over 38 different countries. He is currently one of twenty UK photographers taking part in a new conservation initiative called 2020Vision. His audio-visual presentations infuse his audiences with energy and wonder at the beauty of our planet. With images and footage from the ferocious volcanic eruptions on the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, Iceland, the Great Migrations of the Serengeti and the beauty of his native Peak District.
“A superb creative experience.”
Sir Chris Bonington

“A life changing experience...In short: Beatty has helped me 'see'.”
Rosanna Rothery, North Devon Journal

Box Office: 01892 530613

Tickets: £14

HOSTED PHOTO
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souporman wrote in post #12016180
On the phone now, thanks!

Not sure how to help, Kevin, but I really hope you get it sorted.

afternoon Chris, I am gutted I can't make the talk, I would have been very interested to see that!

in other news you still owe us some pics of your new photo toys - specifically the Lowepro S&F technical kit...