stolen electric
 

Ok here goes,

i've got a bit of an issue, was working in my body shop on Saturday to be surprised by a load of police officers turning up to the workshop next door.

anyway to cut a long story short it turns out my next door neighbor decided that his workshop would be better used as a greenhouse.

The problem here is that while the police were stripping the unit out of all the stuff they discovered that the equipment was all running off my electric.

My question now is how on earth can I prove what I've used and what they've stolen?

Re: stolen electric
 

bleedin eck. you never noticed the increase in electric consumption.

Re: stolen electric
 

Perhaps you could prove it based on your consumption prior to their arrival and after their departure?

Re: stolen electric
 

Speak to your supplier's fraud department, as its theft from you.

Explain the circumstances, as it is a common thing with these indoor gardener's to nick someone else's leccy.

Or go to the Citizens Advise Bureau

Prove it via the previous elec consumption bills (average them out over 12 months).

Or call the guys that have confiscated the equipment and get the sizes of everything that was plugged in and running and work out the amount of power used over the period that its been setup (I think this will be done by the police anyway).

I wouldn't expect you to get any money very quickly...

Re: stolen electric
 

Demand your cut from the sale of the crops.

Re: stolen electric
 

Yep, 15oz's should cover it :)

Re: stolen electric
 

Your providers should have a fraud/ complaints (when you accuse them of fraud) department.
Go with a 12 months of bills prior to your ex tenants

Failing that ring the police and ask for 5kgs as a reimbursement of your costs ;)

Re: stolen electric
 

:lol:


I'm so sorry, but that really is the best thing I've read all night.

Not so funny for you :(

Surely you noticed something odd about your electric box?

Re: stolen electric
 

The giveaway was that the meter developed a stupid grin and a craving for choccy biccies at three in the morning.:cool:

Re: stolen electric
 

The problem is that the guy next I door moved in at the same time and I haven't received a bill as yet. I'm due one anytime now and what i thought would be normal for the bodyshop obviously isn't.

The police at the indoor allotment said that they would provide me something to say that the electric had been tapped.

I haven't got a clue now where to start!

Re: stolen electric
 

Probably be an idea to make an official report of theft to the bobbies? Maybe if you can have a chat with one who's at the scene and get a name of someone in charge of the investigation, a crime number etc might be helpful, also report it to the leccy company and after that it may well be a case of waiting for a bill and arguing the toss then.

Re: stolen electric
 

surely tho the electric company would have to take the gardener to court?

I can't see how anybody could work out what I've used, they can only estimate

Re: stolen electric
 

I would start with your electrical supplier. Tell them the situation. Have you checked your meter to calculate your likely bill?

Re: stolen electric
 

Call your supplier and tell them that your neighbour has abstracted electricity from your supply. I'd do this sooner rather than later. Give them the crime reference number you would have been given (depending on your area, you might have a victim care card which will have it written on. Alternatively, call 101 and talk it through with the operator to see if they can track it down for you or have someone call you back) and then follow what your supplier prompts you to do.

Re: stolen electric
 

get a crime number, get a letter from the bobbies..

Write to your supplier and explain everything and what you want the outcome to be.

Always write, give them all the facts.

They cannot over charge you for your electric by law, so a fair assessment will need to be made which you will need to agree too.

Best of luck, and how the hell did you not smell it?

I guess over the legal paint fumes ;)

Why should the electricity company have to pay for it? If any other goods were stolen from your premises, that you had bought on credit, you'd go to your insurance company, not the business that sold you the goods in the first place trying to get out of paying the invoice. If it's gone through your meter it follows in my mind that you should have to pay for it. I'd check your insurance.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk

Re: stolen electric
 

Have you read your meter yet since this happened?
If not, do it NOW!
Then ( boring I know ) read it regularly to establish a pattern of your use for future negotiations.

Re: stolen electric
 

Yeah probably.
Best of luck to them. Entirely not your problem.

By the way don't pay the electric bill until this is at least halfway sorted as electric companies really don't like giving money back.

Re: stolen electric
 

Hah, they almost never give money, they just give discount off future bills.