Opus releases another host

Another licensee has been allowed to leave her contract with electricity supplier Opus early after convincing the firm that she was mis-sold.

Last week the under-fire supplier told the MA it would let hosts leave contracts early if it was "absolutely clear they were subject to mis-selling".

Punch lessee Patricia Fradley is the latest to receive the green light to shop around for other suppliers - giving hope to others who can prove they were mis-sold.

Fradley signed up to Opus last July after an agent said it was the pubco's "official energy supplier", said her partner, Philip Perry.

The agent said that monthly bills would be £300 but they have peaked at £1,400.

Fradley, of the Coopers Arms at Woore, Cheshire, has now been allowed to sign with another supplier nine months into a three-year contract with Opus - and is set to see rates cut by half.

Perry said: "It was total mis-representation but the message for other licensees is that you can get out."

Opus head of customer services Andy Nash said: "We had a number of discussions with the customer and agreed to release her from her contractual obligation. We don't do it for everyone."

On the allegation that an agent acting for Opus claimed Opus is an "official supplier" of Punch, Nash said: "I think that has been said, but that's been said of a number of different agents on behalf of a number of different suppliers."

Nash said there have been very few complaints from hosts who signed up since last November, when Opus insisted all conversations between agents and licensees are recorded.

Host finds novel way to break Opus stranglehold

Wigan host Tony Meehan registered his business as a limited company to get out of his Opus contract.

The licensee registered his pub's ownership as T&H Meehan in February, 18 months after signing up with Opus. He was previously a sole trader.

His Opus contract ceased to be active and he was free to shop around.

Meehan, of the Spinners Arms, has now signed a

contract with another

supplier. His monthly bills are £470, compared to a peak of more than £1,000 with Opus.

"We set up a limited

company simply to get away from Opus," said Meehan. "It cost me a fortune, but I

believe we will make it back."

Opus's Andy Nash said: "It's a release on a technicality. If the legal entity of a company changes, under the terms of the contract that contract becomes null and void. I don't want everyone changing the legal entity of a company to get out of a contract - that's lengthy and expensive. We would rather the customer works with us."

Energywatch Praise for MA

Energywatch, the energy watchdog, has praised the MA for helping to highlight Opus customers' plight and resolve disputes.

But Energywatch

spokesman Karl Brookes said mis-selling would not occur if pubs had the same

protection as small limited

businesses, such as seven-day cooling-off periods.

Brookes said: "If it wasn't for the MA's tireless efforts, this issue would have been quietly forgotten."