Printer forced to pay neighbour’s electricity

Sydney based printer Rip Graphics is finally receiving a refund after paying for the power for another business for the past three years.  

Owner Brian Bollard says he is switching providers after it took him six months and the intervention of the ombudsman to get back $14,000 from Energy Australia. The business moved to its current premises three years ago, Bollard says he was signed up to two accounts at the time, despite questioning it.

Bollard says, “The energy company said you have to agree with this, otherwise you will not get power. I was getting bills for two accounts, which did not seem right. After two and a half years a sparkie mate finally told me one of the meters I was paying for belonged to the tenant on the top floor of the building.

[Related: Printer's bill doubles despite cutting power]

“The provider’s response was that we have a recording of you agreeing to this. I spoke to them two or three times about it and a woman in disputes said we will refund your money. In November, they wanted more information. They just kept stalling by asking for more proof and more paperwork. They wanted an email from an electrician confirming it and an email from a real estate agent about our rent.

“The ombudsman said there was a lot of evidence and they were pushing for a refund for six months. I probably could not have gotten the money back without them.

“Finally, Energy Australia said they were going over the recordings and I told them one of the people I spoke to promised a refund so maybe they would have a recording of that. That was when they gave me the refund.

“I wrongly paid $14,000 over three years and the company was not forthcoming, they kept stalling. I should not have been paying for the neighbours’ electricity. We are a small business and we need that money.”

Rip Graphics is a sign, wrap and display printer which has been running for more than 25 years, offering both a commercial and trade service. The company has just invested in a Zund cutter.

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