VIDEO: Woman's shock over whopping £9,500 electricity bill
Marie Calba, who runs a decorative antiques shop called Marie-France in Hurstpierpoint High Street, said: “The whole thing is completely mad.”
Marie said she had not used anything like that amount of electricity and her bill “should be more like £50.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe first opened her shop in August last year and received her first bill last month - for £5,893.93p.
She was shocked and says she told EDF Energy that it could not be her bill - but three weeks later she was sent another bill - which had gone up by almost £4,000.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I knew it was not my bill and I wasn’t responsible for using that amount of electricity - I don’t even have any heating in the shop.”
EDF Energy now say the bill had been in the name of a previous tenant. A spokesman said: “Miss Calba informed us in August 2016 that she had taken over the premises and we requested a copy of her tenancy agreement. Miss Calba failed to provide this and the account remained in the name of the previous tenant.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Earlier this month, we received a copy of the tenancy agreement and have created a new account in Miss Calba’s name, covering energy use since the property was taken over. Ms Calba has been asked to provide meter readings, so a bill can be generated and the matter resolved.”