Barry celebrates gas firm victory

9:33am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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A LLANDEILO pensioner has spoken of his delight after taking on the big boys and winning in a tussle over electric and gas rates.

Barry Cooper, of Maes Elfryn, appeared in court last Thursday after energy giants EON applied for a warrant to turn off his power, claiming the 63-year-old was refusing to pay his bills.

And while Mr Cooper is happy to admit he had refused, he hit back by claiming the company went back on its word and hiked the price when he requested to leave.

The two-year battle came to a head at Llanelli magistrates last week when the multi-national company seemingly admitted defeat and failed to turn up for the trial.

"It has been a battle for more than two years but I was adamant that I wasn't going to let them bully me," a jubilant Mr Cooper said after the hearing.

"They put pressure on me to sign and when I wanted to get out, they tried ripping me off.

"When I signed up they told me they could take the money out of my pension, which was great for me because I'm disabled and can't always get down the post office.

"But a few months later they told me I needed a bank account, and when I told them part of the deal was for them to take the money out of my pension, they said that only happened on the most expensive tariff."

Mr Cooper estimated his bill should have been around £400 but the company was chasing £1200.

"I sent them a cheque for £400," he said, "but they didn't want it.

"I worked out what I owed them from the deal I had with them originally and that's all I was prepared to pay."

Magistrates threw e.on's application for a warrant out and awarded £20.70 compensation to cover Mr Cooper's mileage.

"OAPs are having a real tough time at the moment - our pensions go up by £1 but fuel prices are almost doubled - and I wasn't prepared to just let them try and intimidate me out of my money."

A spokesman for E.on told the Guardian that the company had not attended court because a payment plan between themselves and Mr Cooper had been agreed