MA helps to save licensee's house

A licensee who was in danger of losing his house over a backdated electricity bill for £5,000 doesn't have to pay a penny after the Morning Advertiser intervened.

Mark Dew, freeholder of the Malt Shovel Inn at Ruardean, Gloucestershire, called the Morning Advertiser after trying to find out how the bill, which supplier Npower said amounted to £5,073.48, had accumulated since 2004.

When he found out about the bill one year ago, he immediately queried it with the energy firm.

He claimed he received three different excuses, from changing from a three to a four-digit meter and keying in incorrect numbers, to having 50,000 units credited to his account.

But he heard nothing from Npower until he recently discovered that a case to retrieve the debt was going on in Hull.

He was informed that Npower had been awarded an intermediary possessory order on the house where the bill was sent in order to reclaim the outstanding amount. Dew no longer lives at this address.

Npower admitted making "some errors" with the licensee's account.

A spokesman said: "We're sorry to hear about the problems Mr Dew has been having with his energy account. We have reassured him that as the debt is so old, we will not be pursuing him for the amount — so he does not owe us a penny."

Dew told the MA: "I owe you the biggest thank you. I haven't got time for this grief at the moment."

He now plans to seek compensation from Npower. "This could cause people a lot of worry, and might push many licensees over the edge," added the licensee.

Dew no longer operates the pub himself, but rents it to tenants while still owning the freehold.