utility prices soar

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

A barmaid spoke of her disbelief today after receiving a £90m electricity bill.

 

Alison Turner, 50, of Cambridge, was stunned when the demand from npower arrived through the post on Saturday.

 

The mother-of-two, who lives alone in a one-bedroom flat, normally spends about £20 every two weeks to top up her pre-payment electric meter.

 

But the letter said: "We have checked your account and there is a balance to pay of £90,454,217. This is because your token meter was undercharging you because our prices have changed since it was last reset."

 

The letter said the "balance was now due" and invited Turner to contact the energy company to "discuss repayment options".

 

"I know energy bills have gone up but this is ridiculous," Turner said.

 

She said she switched to npower in November, but changed suppliers again four weeks later.

 

An npower spokesman said: "We found the letter and what has happened is our eight digit account number has been inserted in place of the outstanding balance. It was a human error.

 

"When the customer contacted us, we immediately apologised and wiped the debt, which was actually £22."

[Tosh]

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[johngibo YPC]

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[floyd]

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