Derbyshire Pub Landlord Faces Homelessness After Electricity Bill Dispute

A pub operator in Derbyshire has stated he is “desperately looking for somewhere to live” following the unsuccessful outcome of a final effort to discuss his escalated electricity charges. Trevor Howis closed The Miners Arms in Brassington on December 10, having accumulated £40,000 in outstanding payments to Valda Energy. The outstanding amount accrued after his monthly average bill surged from £400 to £4,000 during 2023. He maintained payments at the initial rate, under the impression that the higher charge was erroneous. The 59-year-old contacted the energy provider on Friday to address the bill, but was informed that the amount was accurate and the debt required repayment. “For the first time in my life I am left with no home and no job, I’ve used everything I have to keep the pub running,” stated Mr. Howis, who resides at the property with his partner, Julie, and his 85-year-old mother. He added, “I’m hoping to find a home, then I can find a job to bring some income in and then I will be able to clear my debts.” A court directive had authorized the energy company to disconnect power to the pub on December 16; however, the 59-year-old has since been informed he can remain on the premises while he seeks alternative accommodation. Mr. Howis mentioned that the pub’s operations were stable and expenses were controllable, despite a decline in business. Nevertheless, he was astonished upon receiving the initial £4,000 bill. He asserted, “I rang them and the operator even said it didn’t look right.” Mr. Howis maintained payments of £400 monthly, as he was unable to afford the elevated charge and believed the invoices were erroneous. He stated he reached out to the company when his debt reached £12,000, but alleges they failed to respond “for months.” Mr. Howis has expressed that he “only blames himself” for allowing his debts to accumulate and for not disengaging from the business earlier. However, he also commented: “If they replied to me when I first contacted them, I could have sorted a payment plan where we could have been up to date with payments and we could have provided readings every week to get the price down.” A representative for Valda Energy stated: “At Valda, we pride ourselves on providing accurate and transparent billing, a high quality of customer service and a fair dispute resolution process.” They added, “Disconnection is always a last resort. Our process involves sending multiple communications to the customer, providing plenty of opportunity to discuss payment plan solutions or alternative assistance. “Our policy, clearly outlined in customer contracts, ensures fairness throughout the process. For customers with smart meters, reconnection is immediate once their account is brought up to date.” Mr. Howis confirmed he has now submitted applications for housing assistance via Derbyshire County Council and the Platform Housing Association. Readers can follow BBC Derby on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story suggestions can be sent to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or by WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.