ScottishPower sent bailiffs to collect £4,300 in unpaid bills at a home they didn’t actually supply with energy.
Les and Jane Gornall from Aberystwyth labelled the energy company “cruel” after it continued to send letters demanding payment even though they had called up and told the firm they were British Gas customers.
The ordeal reportedly began in 2014 when the couple decided to switch from British Gas to ScottishPower.
After waiting for the prepayment gas card from ScottishPower for several weeks, they decided to cancel their new account and remain with British Gas.
ScottishPower sent them a bill, so they contacted the company and explained the situation.
However, the company kept sending bills despite being repeatedly told the couple were not customers and eventually send debt collectors round to the property.
Mrs Gornall reportedly said: “That’s when you think ‘oh my god this is serious’… this really affected us. It just makes you feel so low.”
The firm has now apologised for the mistake and said it would compensate the couple for the stress caused, at a time when Mrs Gornall was diagnosed with cancer and their grandson with leukaemia.
It said the serial number of the meter had been recorded incorrectly and the bills were meant for another property.
ELN has contacted ScottishPower for a comment.