Hi all, I am currently being persued by Powergen's DCA's DLC for an amount in the sum of £300 relating to a property I lived in 2004 & 2005. The property was a flat located above a row of shops. The day I moved in to the property I search for the electricity meter in order to get a start reading. Following a full search of the property I could not find the meter and subsequently rang the letting agents and landlord who could not tell me where the meter was either. I found out that powergen were the previous supplier and rang them to ask where the meter was located. Powergen confirmed that the meter was in a cupboard under the stairs, However the property didnt have a cupboard under the stairs ??, I questioned them further and took the relevant meter number My next port of call was to visit the shop directly below the property but again I was told that the meter was not located there either. At this point I had lived in the property for a few months so set up a account and direct debit to powergen as I didnt want to be landed with a huge bill. Following months and months of investigation it turned out that the meter was in a shop below the premises a few doors down the road. ( apparently the shop used to be one unit but was converted into 3 seperate unit a few years before, however my meter was not moved). A year down the line I received a huge bill from powergen and struggled over the next year to have a complaint resolved as I didnt have relevant meter reading etc etc. I moved out of the property towards the end of 2005 and heard nothing until late last year when a letter arrived at my new address from them chasing for the balance, I again took up my complaint but to no avail, Now they have appointed DLC to collect the alledged debt. The flat was very very small (bedsit size 3 rooms) Electricity was used for lighting and tv only, I was away a lot due to work and only occupied the flat mainly at weekends and some evenings, Powergen say that my total bill for two years amounts to £600 of which £300 has been paid to them, does this sound high? Who is responsible for meter reading and meter location ?Can anyone provide me with any advice of assistance.

Neil, my money has just been credited to my account..... I faxed the following letter (found on another thread) to SC&M Yesterday, not sure it was that, that prompted them to pay but seems like a coinsidence, if you havent had your money try it ! Sechiari Clark & Mitchell Solicitors Department SO PO Box 499 Upper Ground Floor 1-5 Queens Road Quadrant Brighton BN1 3XJ FAX 01273 745341 & 745356 Dear Sir/Madam, Claim Number: xxxxxxx I am writing to you regarding the above claim that has almost reached its conclusion as settlement has been offered. I have contacted yourselves more than four times now to see if you have received the acceptance form that you asked me to return no later than the 19th April. I returned the form 2 weeks ago and so far you have been unable to confirm to me that this has been received. I find it hard to believe that an organisation like you does not have the facilities or the resources to answer this question regarding what I consider to be such an important matter. As such I have not discontinued my claim as you have requested and will be attending the pre hearing on June 13th if this has not been resolved. I have sent a Letter to Lloyds regarding this matter and if I have not received response regarding these matters that I have outlined within the next 7 days then I will be contacting the Office of Fair trading and the Financial Ombudsman Service to issue a formal complaint. Off to spend some of that cash now, good luck ! ! !

I'm still waiting too, signed acceptance form send to SC&M on the 13th April. My patience is wearing thin ! ! ! Does anyone know if we can claim further interest at this point as we have signed settlement acceptance ! ? !

No feed back really, 1st time I rang it was 3 - 5 days for money to be credited 2nd time it was 2 - 3 weeks, 3rd time I was told within ten days..... Shocking ! ! Let me know how you get on tomorrow !

I assume youre gonna chase them for your money again, let me know how you get on ? I'm still waiting too ?

01273 205381

SC&M have had my signed acceptance form a week and still no money in my account ? Is this reasonable?, As I have signed the acceptance form can I pursue further interest at this stage ? ?

I posted and faxed my acceptance form to sc&m on the 13th April too and still no money, Ive rang them a couple of times to find out when I can expect the money, 1st person I spoke to said 2 -3 weeks, the second person said 2 -3 days. If its going to be 2 - 3 weeks, I'll be looking for further interest, not sure how we stand on this as we have signed a settlement form. I suppose these are just more delay tactics from SC&M !! !!

Hi Witchy, In a similar situation to you. Faxed and sent signed acceptance form to SC&M on friday, Robert Bush @ SC&M told me on friday that a fax copy of acceptance form is acceptable. I rang them to check they received it today only to be told that they need the original too and that following that it would take aorund 2 - 3 weeks for the money to be credited to my account ! Shocking ! !

Mmmmmm, well I faxed & posted the acceptance form to SC&M on Friday. I rang them this morning to check they received it, which they have but was told that it will take a further 2 -3 weeks to credit money to my account due to a backlog ! ! More delays !, how shocking ! ! Any advice on how I could speed this up ! ?

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Oh My God Just received a call from my missus at home, who has a letter from SC&M offering full and final settlement ! ! ! havent seen the letter yet and the money is not yet in my account but it looks like I have won ! ! ! wow I'm so chuffed ! ! Will post again when i have read the letter ! ! ! !

Just to add to my previous post, I did in fact have my account reviewed with LTSB towards the end of Feb, all they done was try to sell me things. When I was firm with them and told them that I was not interested they couldnt wait to get me out of the door. I did try and arrange a review with the bank yesterday in accordance with SC&M's request, however the bank said a review would be pointless because of the review in Feb. I think what I will do is send a faxed letter to SC&M confirming the above and stating that i intend to continue the claim via the relevant litigation channels. Does anyone agree this would be the best course of action for me to take?

Hi Gary, This is the full order received from the court headed "Notice of allocation to the small claims track (preliminary hearing)" DISTRICT JUDGE SPARROW has considered the statements of case and allocation questionnaires filed and allocated the claim to the small claims track. Before the claim is listed for hearing, the judge has ordered that a preliminary hearing should take place because: ­ Special directions are needed in this claim to prepare for the final hearing which the judge would prefer to explain to you in person At this hearing the Court will consider either (a) To stay the claim pending the decision in a test claim involving the Defendant, or (b) To give directions for this case to be heard as a test case. and if necessary to reallocate the claim to the multi track for that purpose. Not less than 14 days before the preliminary hearing the defendant shall file with the Court and serve upon the Claimant details ­ in which will determine the issues in this claim. Alternatively the Defendant shall file with the Court and serve upon the Claimant' ­draft directions for this case to proceed as a test case. The Claimant may make any representations to the Court in writing provided these are received by the Court and served on the Defendant not less than 5 days before the preliminary hearing. If either party is prepared to abide by the decision of the Judge as to the directions to be given, that party is excused from attending the preliminary hearing. The preliminary hearing will take place at 14:00 on the 13 June 2007 at Lowestoft County Court, Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 IHJ Is this pretty standard stuff?, its making me a little nervous now. is there anything I can do or need to do in the meantime. Thanks in advance for your assistance Gary !

Thats interesting Witchywarloc, SC&M seem to work in very mysterious ways, no consistancy at all ?, hopefully I'll receive a settlement letter in the next few days. How much was your claim for ? ?