Fraud On Energy Bill And Scottish Power Has No Fraud Department To Deal With

[OldChestNuts]

We had a fraudster who claimed to have moved into our new business premises in Oct 2023. This came to our attention beacause there was a new customer joining letter from Scottish Power and addressed to a fake company at our address.

Now we still get bills payment demand addressed to the fake company demanding payment and will be passed onto debt collection agent.

We already informed Scottish Power customer service by emails and telephone calls. Non of these channels results in any resolution to stop the demand of payment. 

We had reported to the Police and Fraud Action and OFGEM. None of these resolve the issue. 

What do we do next? Instruct a solicitor to take Scottish Power to court and resolve it by the law of the country? 

[bednobs]

how much is the payment demand for?  who are you with - the same supplier?

[OldChestNuts]

We are with Scottish Power and we have an account with them and payment all upto date. The payment is for over £400, addressed to a fake company (not ours, we have another company name registered with Companies House). A bill was sent to our business address in January and I contacted Scottish Power customer service via email. No reply..

Now we got the final reminder letter and payment to be made within 7 days...

 

This should be an easy fix, because Scottish Power knows that we are with them and the fraudulent company is alos with them. You can'ty have two accounts at the same time. 

I wonder if this is a scam of Scottish Power? They just wanted more money!

[brainiac]

This is very odd as it's the same company - who should have known that you were already registered at that address.  I would ring again and stay on the phone until you make a breakthrough.  This is the Freephone number, so it won't cost you anything:

0800 027 0072

Good luck

[OldChestNuts]

Troughout this event, OFGEM will not allow me to complain to the Obunsman. Its sounds OFGEM has sided with the energy company (I think the energy company pays their oraganisation?). The last call to Scottish Power to raise the complain and they reefsed to issue a complaint reference number. Look like the who Scottish Power business team is corrupted or disfunctional. Is there a way of contacting their management?

[OldChestNuts]

@brainiac

Tried that number.... No action. People just draw their wages and doesn't do anything...

[OldChestNuts]

I also tried their Facebook customer service askign for escalation. There has been no replies..

[ladybirder]

Could you go to the Small Claims Court and ask for Mediation?

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/mediation

[OldChestNuts]

@Ladybirder

So you suggesting that we pay the fraudulent bill and then claim it back through the small claims court. I had spend more than 50 hours of my dedicated time to deal with Scottish Power and lots of stress has been accumulated due to these fraud activities. Is there anyway I could put a claim for compensation on this?

 

[barry1010]

Is the meter number on the fraudulent bill the same as the number on your bill?

[barry1010]

I can't see how the fraudsters would gain anything from this if they are not using the electricity, unless they want a utility bill in a false name to prove identity for another scam

[bednobs]

has YOUR bill been the same as it normally would be for the period?

[OldChestNuts]

@bary1010

The way this scam works is that they will eoth use that as an ID as you stated. The other financial gain is the agen that who signed up the fraudster with Scottish Power. And Scottish Power pays the sign up agent fee, earning a commision. 

In this event, Scottish Power is an accomplice as they know which agent has signed up woth fake names and company.

 

[OldChestNuts]

@bary1010 - the bill has the same meter number

@bednobs - The fraudster has closed our account for 2 months. So the billing periods is different. But we had provided our meter reading and paid upto date. 

[ladybirder]

I don't know ACN but I thought it might be worth giving them a call and see if Mediation could help you.  It was just a suggestion as I thought this MIGHT frighten them off.  I understand your frustration, I would be furious if it was me.  Hope you get it sorted soon.

[OldChestNuts]

Maybe I should make a complain to the police against Scottish Power for being an accomplice and now they are gaining momney from this.

[bednobs]

i honestly the cant see how this works.  the same meter cant provide double the amount of power

[Auntypoll]

How could they use £400 of electricity through your meter? There must be a different meter number on the fraudelent bill surely? If so, then you do nothing. If you only have one meter at your place of work and its linked to your account that is not in debt then how can you own them anything? The bill is not even in your business name so you are not liable to pay it. Any further corospondance addressed to your place of business just return with 'recipient unknown'.  I would just forget about it, you cant be sued for a debt that is not in your name and you have proof you have not incurred ( your original account is not in debit). If in doubt take legal advice but if it was me I would just let things take their course. You have proof and they have a fraudulent contract .

[OldChestNuts]

@ladybirder

The mediation is a free service, and I thionk that is very good idea pursue. I will look into it. But I wonder if they will answer the court correspondents?

[ladybirder]

What about contacting your local Councillor or even your MP?  Or telling your local Newspaper about it?  They won't like it out in print.

[newmodarmy]

I do not believe Scottish are in on the fraud. 

I do not understand what you are saying. If the bills are for a fake company then what readings / meter numbers are they using? Are you also getting your own bills with the correct name on?

Just don't pay the other company's bill.

You ideally need to get cos house to take the fake company off your address but that isn't easy- there's thousands of cases