24 October 2023 , 16:22
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A man who says he barely spends any time at home has been slapped with a £12,000 electricity bill.
Falkirk Councillor Claire Mackie-Brown has taken up Bryan Leadbetter's case, 38, demanding answers from Scottish Power after the constituent from Limerigg, Scotland asked for her help. Mr Leadbetter lives alone in a two-bedroom, end terrace house, but says he's rarely there because he's out most of the day working. In the evenings, he's usually at his parents' home and says he always eats with them. He says that the only energy he uses is for heating the property.
Mr Leadbetter, who privately rents his home, has storage heating provided by Scottish Power's Weathercall meter. The company's own literature says that using Weathercall means "the meters are controlled remotely by your energy supplier. The weather forecast for the following day automatically determines the periods your home is heated for".
Scottish Power says that as Mr Leadbetter did not turn his heating off, this has led to the high billing. But Cllr Mackie-Brown says that this contradicts what their literature is telling customers, reports the Daily Record.
She said: "The type of heating Bryan has you don't turn it off. Scottish Power do not understand the Weathercall storage heating or the tariff they supply. So him not turning the heating off is not the issue."
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In July 2020, Mr Leadbetter's account was £400 in credit, and since then he says he has paid nearly £2000. But after submitting a meter reading, he was hit with a bill for £12,434.
Now, even with the full support of his parents, he is extremely worried that he simply cannot afford to clear the debt, which Scottish Power wants him to pay off at £500 a month. Mum Helen and dad Andrew say the stress is having a terrible effect on all of their lives.
Mr Leadbetter has asked Scottish Power for a complete breakdown of the charges but he says they have not provided him with any more information. The company says it has investigated and found no fault.
Cllr Mackie-Brown has written to the power company, saying they should be more transparent in their charging. She previously led a campaign called Falkirk's Forgotten Villages - Ending Fuel Poverty, urging Scottish Power to stop massive price hikes that left many residents struggling to pay the bills for electric heating systems.
She said: "This is another example of the questionable billing and debts being applied to customers of Scottish Power.
"I firmly believe that the Upper Braes ward is a cash cow for Scottish Power. It is being allowed to charge obscene prices that are forcing far too many people into debt or working just to put money into a meter.
"My constituent has done everything he possibly can to get answers as to why the bill is so high, but again Scottish Power refuses to provide such information. My question is, why?
"Why should my constituent be forced to pay a bill he is questioning and be hounded for payment?
"Scottish Power continues to fail its customers and needs to be held accountable. I will do all I can to help my constituent and others in the same position."
A spokesperson for Scottish Power said: “We are in contact with Mr Leadbetter and have undertaken a full review of his account. We will provide a full breakdown of the bills to Mr Leadbetter as requested and, having installed a check meter to ensure the accuracy of readings, can confirm the usage and subsequent bills are correct.
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"We have arranged for a Customer Liaison Officer to visit him at his property to offer advice on energy usage.”