Pub landlord threatened by gas company to pay £14,000 or face disconnection

A landlord has been threatened by his gas and electricity company to pay a full outstanding amount in one go after they undercharged him for a year.

Simon Guthrie, 47, who owns the Grosvenor Arms in Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, was notified by his bank on November 18, 2022 when his gas and electricity company tried to withdraw £13,000 from his account.

A month later Mr Guthrie received a hand-posted letter at his pub address from the company, United Gas & Power, that stated he had been undercharged a total of £14,000 over the year.

The letter also stated if the payment was not made within three months United Gas & Power would return with police and bailiffs.

Mr Guthrie said: “We are a small, independent business. We don’t have that sort of money.

“My previous business in hospitality got wiped out during the pandemic, I invested in the pub to support my family finances.”

Mr Guthrie contacted United Gas & Power, they first claimed that the pub’s energy usage had surged in June and July but then revealed that one of their energy metres had malfunctioned and presented inaccurate readings for the pub throughout the year.

He said: “They lied before doing research. How can they justify making an error across a year and giving me three months to resolve their mistake.”

After a series of emails between United Gas and Power and Mr Guthrie, the deadline for the payment was extended to six months.

Still unable to pay within this time, Mr Gurthrie informed the company he would be taking them to court.

An ombudsman review was opened to investigate the situation. But while waiting for the assessment United Gas & Power contacted Mr Guthrie again demanding the payment be made within the given period or his account would be disconnected and energy supply cut off.

United Gas and Power have also refused to put Mr Guthrie’s debt into a separate account so each month his direct debit has failed.

Mr Gutherie said: “These sorts of people do not give a damn. My staff live upstairs. This company knows if my pub goes under five people lose their jobs and three people lose their homes.”

The ombudsman report is due to be published on April 13.

United Gas & Power have been approached for comment.

Pictured Top: The Grosvenor Arms, Simon Guthrie (Picture: Google Street view, Simon Guthrie)