Calgary homeowner sent to collections over Direct Energy billing bungle

A Calgary homeowner is informing others aft a months-long conflict pinch Direct Energy complete a billing dispute.

Tammy Schuiling told Global News she started getting texts and telephone calls from a postulation agency astatine nan commencement of June.

“They started texting maine that I owed complete $1,300 for a Direct Energy bill,” she said. “I was wholly shocked.”

Not only was she stunned to get nan bill, she was besides amazed that it was from Direct Energy.

Schuiling discovered that nan inferior bills were tied to her aged home, which she sold successful 2021. She said she had disconnected each nan utilities earlier she near — though nary were pinch Direct Energy — but later learned nan caller proprietor hadn’t signed up for utilities successful her ain name.

“So, erstwhile a personification purchased my location they automatically sewage signed up pinch Direct Energy,” Schuiling said. “I was told it was by default.

“They (Direct Energy) were providing power services to my aged location for astir a twelvemonth and 3 months… and past nan services were trim off,” Schuiling added. “Then nan homeowner went to different inferior provider. But successful nan meantime, Direct Energy didn’t analyse what happened successful that clip play aliases who mightiness person been owing nan money for nan home. ”

Schuiling said she was connected nan hook for nan charges because her sanction was connected nan onshore titles hunt done by Direct Energy.

“My sanction had not been removed from title arsenic yet, this is 2 aliases 3 months aft nan purchase, truthful Direct Energy assumed I was still nan homeowner. Three years later they’re search maine down done a collections agency — for complete $1,300 that I did not owe.”

Schuiling said nan institution made nary effort to telephone aliases interaction her successful immoderate measurement regarding nan bill, which she believes continued to spell to her aged location and nan caller owner.

“Mail coming successful personification else’s name, she’s not going to unfastened nan measure addressed successful my name,” Schuiling said of nan caller owner.

Direct Energy told Global News they person now spoken to Schuiling and assured her that “all charges person been removed from her relationship and that location will beryllium nary effect to her credit
score.”

It besides confirmed that because nan caller proprietor of nan location did not group up an account, it checked pinch onshore titles to find retired who nan proprietor of nan spot was.

“Tammy Schuiling was listed arsenic nan spot proprietor and recovered to beryllium nan responsible statement for nan charges astatine nan address. Although we person since learned that Ms. Schuiling had sold nan spot successful April of that year, astatine nan clip location was a important hold successful updating onshore title records owed to nan pandemic.

“DERS sent a invited missive and consequent bills for nan play of April 21, 2021, to August 22, 2022, to nan work reside nether Ms. Schuiling’s name.”

Direct Energy said an escalated investigation has now discovered Schuiling is not nan proprietor and is not responsible for nan charges. It added nan reversal really occurred connected June 12, but Schuiling was not advised.

“We apologize for this oversight arsenic we understand Ms. Schuiling’s concerns could person been addressed sooner. We will usage this arsenic an opportunity to place wherever soul processes tin beryllium improved moving forward.”