Businessman hit with 'nightmare' £244k energy bill

Patrick Langmaid said the money had been in his account to pay his staff and suppliers

A businessman from Cornwall has said he is experiencing an "absolute nightmare" after being hit with a bill of more than £244,000 for a month's energy.

Patrick Langmaid, the owner of Martha's Orchard holiday park at Constantine Bay, said supplier TotalEnergies overcharged him via direct debit on 28 December and was yet to pay him back.

Mr Langmaid said his normal monthly bills were between £2,100 and £2,700.

The BBC has contacted TotalEnergies for comment.

A copy of Mr Langmaid's bill in December showing a charge of £244,140.28

Mr Langmaid said the situation was "awful" as the money had been in his account to pay his staff and suppliers.

He said he had been charged for 901,593 units of energy in November, jumping from 1,409 the month before.

"I returned from a nice relaxing Christmas break to find our energy company had charged us 100 times more than our regular monthly payments," Mr Langmaid said.

"It made my eyes water ... [it was] awful. It is an absolute nightmare."

Mr Langmaid's bill in November was only just over £2,760 in comparison

The holiday park owner said he was confident the money would be returned via his bank's direct debit indemnity scheme, but added that he was frustrated with the energy company's communication.

He said he was asked by the company to supply photos of his meter to prove his level of consumption.

He said: "It's almost as if we are in the wrong and we're having to justify why we should get our £250,000 back.

"An error has been made [and] the error is obvious.

"They are treating me as if it's my problem and not theirs.

"It's shaken my trust in the whole direct debit system."