Diane McDaid, owner of the Church Bar and Restaurant in Stoke-on-Trent, believes there is “no real protection for licensees” when paying energy companies for backdated energy usage.
It comes after McDaid received a back-dated electricity bill from NPower on 4 November 2008 totalling £27,553.55 for the period May 2007 to November 2008. The balance of £27,553.55 was reduced to £18,534.07 by NPower to take into the account her monthly direct debits of £1,000.
NPower installed a commercial meter in the pub when McDaid took over in May 2007, and removed a domestic meter, but the firm did not send a new meter bill until 4 November 2008.
A £3,825 discount was also offered to McDaid by NPower on 1 June 2009 but was withdrawn when McDaid did not accept it within 10 days.
McDaid has been paying back NPower the arrears on a monthly basis since late 2009. However, her outstanding balance has now been written off by Npower, with discussions on a further reduction expected soon.
