Cafe forced to lay off staff amid bill dispute with city energy firm

OWNER FEARS IT MAY HAVE TO CLOSE AS DEBTS ESCALATE

- By JOSHUA HARTLEY

A CAFÉ says it had to lay off staff just before Christmas amid a dispute with a Nottingham energy firm that has left it with no power.

Energy supplier Yü Energy, based off Mellors Way in Strelley and supplies thousands of UK businesses, has been accused of unprofessional and unfair behaviour by another disgruntled customer this time in Hyde, Greater Manchester.

Jay Ullah, owner of My Back Home Chai, was cut off by electric firm Yü on November 28, having been transferred to the company during a bill dispute with another supplier.

"I've laid off three full-time members of staff, and I couldn't do anything about it," said the frustrated businessman.

"My wife is about to give birth, and I've laid off someone who's about to have a newborn.

"We are making barely any money and we are just about making enough to pay the rent at the minute. We don't know if we can afford to open. We are using our neighbour's power at the moment to keep our stock intact."

Yü Energy has demanded a payment of around £20,000 to switch the small premises' electricity back on, Mr Ullah claims.

The electricity supplier took over his account from Clear Business earlier this year, starting a months-long nightmare that exploded his lighting, shut his shop and forced him to consider selling up, he says.

Mr Ullah claimed that Clear had repeatedly charged him thousands of pounds in rebills, with the company once again doing so when his contract ended in April.