Part 1U.K.[F1THE CONSUMER ADVOCACY BODIES]

Textual Amendments

F1Pt. 1 heading substituted (1.4.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading's Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 12(2) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, Sch. 2 paras. 13-15)

Powers of investigationU.K.

13 Investigation of complaints relating to disconnection of gas or electricityE+W+S

(1)This section applies to—

(a)a complaint by a gas consumer against a gas transporter, in respect of the disconnection of, or a threat to disconnect, the consumer's premises by the gas transporter;

(b)a complaint by a gas consumer against a gas transporter, following such a disconnection, in respect of a refusal by the gas transporter to reconnect the premises;

(c)a complaint by a gas consumer against a gas supplier, in respect of the cutting off of, or a threat to cut off, a supply of gas to the consumer's premises by the gas supplier;

(d)a complaint by a gas consumer against a gas supplier, following such a cutting off, in respect of a refusal by the gas supplier to restore the supply to the premises;

(e)a complaint by a gas consumer against a gas supplier, in respect of the failure of a prepayment system;

(f)a complaint by an electricity consumer against an electricity supplier, an electricity distributor or a transmission licence holder, in respect of the disconnection of, or a threat to disconnect, the consumer's premises by the electricity supplier, electricity distributor or licence holder;

(g)a complaint by an electricity consumer against an electricity supplier, electricity distributor or transmission licence holder, following such a disconnection by the supplier, distributor or licence holder, in respect of a refusal by the supplier, distributor or licence holder to reconnect the premises;

(h)a complaint by an electricity consumer against an electricity supplier, in respect of the failure of a prepayment system.

(2)Where a complaint to which this section applies is referred to[F2a consumer advocacy body] by or on behalf of the complainant, [F3that consumer advocacy body] must investigate the complaint for the purpose of determining whether it is appropriate to take any action under subsection (3).

(3)Where it appears to [F4a consumer advocacy body] to be appropriate to do so with a view to assisting in reaching a satisfactory resolution of a complaint referred to it under this section, [F5that consumer advocacy body] must—

(a)provide advice to the complainant, or

(b)make representations on behalf of the complainant to the person against whom the complaint is made about anything to which the complaint relates.

(4)[F6A consumer advocacy body] may refuse to investigate a complaint, or part of a complaint, if—

(a)the complaint or part appears to [F7the consumer advocacy body] to be frivolous or vexatious;

(b)the complaint or part falls within a class of matter which a regulatory body is under a duty (whether imposed by or under an enactment or otherwise) to investigate;

(c)the complaint or part is being dealt with, or [F8the consumer advocacy body] is satisfied that it would be better dealt with, under an ombudsman scheme or any other redress scheme or in legal proceedings;

(d)[F9the consumer advocacy body] considers that there has been undue delay in the making of the complaint or part, or the provision of evidence to support it;

(e)[F10the consumer advocacy body] considers that there are other compelling reasons why it is inappropriate for the complaint or part to be investigated by [F10the consumer advocacy body].

(5)[F11A consumer advocacy body] may refuse to investigate a complaint until the complainant has taken such steps as appear to [F12the consumer advocacy body] to be reasonable for the purpose of giving the person against whom the complaint is made a reasonable opportunity to deal with it.

[F13(5A)Where a complaint is referred to a consumer advocacy body, that body may agree with another consumer advocacy body that the complaint is to be treated as having been referred to that other body.]

[F14(5B) If [F15two consumer advocacy bodies] so agree in a particular case, subsections (2) to (5) and section 14(2) to (4) are to have effect accordingly.]

(6)In subsection (1)—

(a) in paragraphs (a) and (b) “ disconnection ” in relation to any premises, means disconnection from a main of a gas transporter or the discontinuation of the conveyance of gas to the premises;

(b)in paragraphs (b), (d) and (g), the references to a gas consumer or electricity consumer are references to a person who was such a consumer at the time the disconnection of, or cutting off of the supply to, the premises occurred;

(c)in paragraphs (e) and (h), references to the failure of a prepayment system are references to—

(i)a failure in the facilities for payment for the supply of gas or electricity which results in a consumer with a prepayment meter being unable to make a payment for the supply of gas or electricity, or

(ii)where a payment has been made for the supply of gas or electricity through a prepayment meter, a case where the supply is not given through the prepayment meter because of a defect in the meter or in the facilities for payment.

[F16(6A) In this section, a reference to a consumer advocacy body does not include a reference to the GCCNI . ]

(7)In this section—

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1 S. 13 in force at 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2008/2550 , art. 2 , Sch.