Hi,

Myself and brother run a very small Ltd Co.

Been in rented premises nearly 4 years

Scottish Power for elec only, no gas

Paid all bills for this time, not in arrears to them or anyone else, pay a fixed £50 elec amount each month.

Suddenly they demand £250 deposit as they say we have a poor credit rating.

If we were new customers or had poor payment record then OK but we owe them nothing.

They admit the scheme started with new customers and is now being expanded to existing customers.

Now they are threatening to force entry to cut us off?

Is this not a scheme to get millions of customers money in there bank to invest for own profit?

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Mal Vicars

Mal Vicars:

This will be business supply not a domestic so I'm not so familiar other than I know you will have a contract. For starters I suggest you scrutinise the contract for a relevent clause. No relevent clause probably not reasonable action.

While not asking you to incrminate yourself do they have grounds for thinking the business has a poor credit rating?

Thanks for replying,

Just had same thought myself and did a quick credit check based on Company House information :-

checkSCORE62 out of 100 Low Risk - There is a high degree of confidence this company will prove good for the assigned Credit LimitCredit LimitGBP 43,500Selling to this company? The Credit Limit is the recommended maximum outstanding debtor exposure at any one time.

Public Record Information

Summary of CCJ's/Scottish Decrees

There are no unsatisfied CCJs against the company.

They want a £250 deposit against a £49.50 monthly set bill.

We will get it back after 12 months OR when our credit score improves.

Trouble is I phone up and talk only to drones who have no scope for thought but just read assigned responses.

They said our score was 22 and needed to be 45.

Its got to the point where it`s not the money, just want a fair deal.

In current climate, why don`t these guys look after loyal paying cutsomers?

Soory for rant but just infuriated by these people.

Regards,

Mal Vicars.

Mal Vicars:

Soory for rant but just infuriated by these people.

Fair enough. Perhaps you feel better now but unfortunately nothing has changed.

I would, because it's there, activate the complaints process. Details on the Scottish Power website, small buisnesses section.

Also either you are out of contract or this is a material change. Are you not able to change supplier?

I am a Small Business Customer. Will you ask me to pay a security deposit?