The Pocklington Post has succeeded in getting hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation for its readers from a Yorkshire electricity company.
In April, 6,000 homes in the weekly Post’s area were affected by an electrical surge and thousands of of pounds’ worth of household appliances were wrecked. The power company, YEDL, initially declined to take responsibility. Instead, it advised consumers to claim for damage on their home insurance.
Readers of the Postwere outraged and urged their local paper to do something on their behalf. The Post launched a campaign for compensation and published coupons in the paper for readers to sign in support.
Eventually, said editor Karen Darley, the Post arranged a meeting with YEDL’s consumer services director Mike Leighton.
“Initially, he took the same company stance, saying, ‘No, sorry. It’s not our responsibility’,” said Darley. “But there has been a turnaround and the company has offered everybody affected £100 each – so they are going to pay out between £500,000 and £600,000. We are absolutely delighted that the company has listened to our readers and responded in such a way. It’s a marvellous result.”
Leighton told the paper: “We still claim we are not legally responsible for what happened. In view of the damage and inconvenience caused, we are prepared to pay the customers a gesture of £100.”
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