Tthe rise of incidents where electrcity companies are transferring accounts without the households' knowledge/permission.
ELECTRICITY accounts have been transferred to other providers without householder knowledge or permission.
While they make up a small portion of total complaints to the Energy and Water Ombudsman (EWON), a spokeswoman said there's been a rise as companies increase their marketing activities and more people choose to switch providers.
"Mine changed without me being told and when I tried to change it, they said it was a 24-month contract yet I hadn't signed a thing," Judy Eattell posted on the St Marys-Mt Druitt Star Facebook page.
Steven Rust had his household's power disconnected by a company that wasn't their provider.
"We have never signed up nor given them permission but they changed our 'account' to them last year and were sending the bills and notices to the wrong address but never tried to contact us via other means to get bills paid, yet they sent the technician to disconnect us to the right address," he wrote.
Transfer errors are rare but occasionally occur across all electricity retailers, according to a Energy Australia spokeswoman.
"A sales contractor may provide the wrong address or a new customer may provide incorrect information," she said.
"When customers are asking for a connection, they are accepting financial responsibility for the energy use at that property and must provide identification such as a driver's licence.
"If people believe their meters have been mistakenly transferred, they should ring their electricity retailers.
"If customers have a complaint, we take it very seriously. We have a specialised team in place to resolve customer issues as quickly as possible."
The ombudsman's spokeswoman said consumers should first contact the provider.
They can ring the ombudsman at no cost and seek independent help on 1800 246 545 if they are unable to resolve the matter.
Full story plus a personal experience on stmarysstar.com.au