E.ON hounded an OAP with dementia for six months over a £16,000 electric bill for a pub 20 miles away that he had never even been to, it has emerged.

Terry Cope from Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, said he was shocked when he started getting demands for money in the post from the energy giant.

The 67-year-old told the Stoke Sentinel he tried to laugh it off at first after realising the bill clearly wasn’t meant for him.

He said he had never even been to the pub in question, which was in Stafford, and suspected the mix-up was down to having the same name as the owner.

But despite telling E.ON about the mistake, Terry – who suffers from vascular dementia – said the company continued to come after him for the money.

He claimed they would call him twice a day demanding the cash and threatening to send bailiffs despite his carer ringing the company to explain.

In the end, Terry said he was left terrified that debt collectors would come and clear out his home.

And he insists the stress has started to impact upon his health.

Terry told the Sentinel: “They have pushed all of my buttons and I’m at a stage now where I feel as if I can’t control my anger.

“I’ve held off this vascular dementia and I was proud that I was doing well until they came and attacked me – I don’t need this.”

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Terry’s granddaughter Carolanne Lello, 24, branded E.ON’s pursuit of Terry “ridiculous”.

She said: “My grandad isn’t very well and we’ve explained this to E.ON – we’ve given them evidence that he has never run, owned, or even been in this pub for a drink.

Sun Online has contacted E.ON for comment.

An E.ON spokesperson told Sun Online: “We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused to Mr Cope family following our recent miscommunications with him.
"We’ve worked with Mr Cope and his family to resolve this issue and can confirm that there will be no further action taken and that there will be no impact on his credit score as a result of this issue.”

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