Steaming Mad - effing EON
Discussion
So a few weeks back I had a letter from Buchanan Clark & Wells for my sins. No mention of what they wanted but could I contact them... looked up who/what they are (debt collectors) and since I know I've got nothing outstanding and they're not advising what they want I think "hmmmm, scam" and that's it.
Fast forward a couple of weeks today I open another letter from them this time advising that EON have sold them my 'debt' going back to mid 2012 WTF I moved out in Nov 2012 and settled my account then... so I call EON for clarification on what is happening. Turns out I had paid them some monies in feb 2012 and they'd returned it to me (missed this on my statement) but since I'd cleared everything up upon selling my house I assumed everything was good (especially as they told me everything was good)... until now. They couldn't tell me why they didn't chase me for the debt at any point nor could they advise me why the first time I hear of this debt a 'final notice' from BC&W. Furthermore they can't take payment from me as they've 'sold' the debt
In monetary terms I'm not particularly fussed (if I actually owe it I owe it so fair enough) as it's £155 +£20 'fine'(which does stick in the craw a lot) it's just the whole principle of not being advised there is a debt and then farming this debt out and charging me for the privilege with no advice nothing - I even had my mail forward for a year after leaving so that nothing could be missed yet these cockwombles still fked up on this. Now have to double check my statements over that period and see what's gone in and out - a right pain in the arse and a real waste of my time thanks to an incompetent company
Fast forward a couple of weeks today I open another letter from them this time advising that EON have sold them my 'debt' going back to mid 2012 WTF I moved out in Nov 2012 and settled my account then... so I call EON for clarification on what is happening. Turns out I had paid them some monies in feb 2012 and they'd returned it to me (missed this on my statement) but since I'd cleared everything up upon selling my house I assumed everything was good (especially as they told me everything was good)... until now. They couldn't tell me why they didn't chase me for the debt at any point nor could they advise me why the first time I hear of this debt a 'final notice' from BC&W. Furthermore they can't take payment from me as they've 'sold' the debt
In monetary terms I'm not particularly fussed (if I actually owe it I owe it so fair enough) as it's £155 +£20 'fine'(which does stick in the craw a lot) it's just the whole principle of not being advised there is a debt and then farming this debt out and charging me for the privilege with no advice nothing - I even had my mail forward for a year after leaving so that nothing could be missed yet these cockwombles still fked up on this. Now have to double check my statements over that period and see what's gone in and out - a right pain in the arse and a real waste of my time thanks to an incompetent company
Depending on how much trouble you wish to create I would be taking this further with EON. They might say that they can't stop the other mob now that they have sold on their debt but they can produce copies of the letters that they will have sent to you, etc. If they can't then personally I would be paying up with the other lot and seeking recovery of the fine element from EON and also a contribution towards my time and effort in clearing up their fk up.
As said I suppose it depends on how much time and effort you want to put in. I'd likely pay up and push on as it sounds you will as it's just not worth it. On the other hand if I were between jobs and fancied a game...
As said I suppose it depends on how much time and effort you want to put in. I'd likely pay up and push on as it sounds you will as it's just not worth it. On the other hand if I were between jobs and fancied a game...
I've been here, and bought the t-shirt.
If you dispute the debt, then the 'sale' of the debt is not valid, and there is no debt to have been bought. It gets bounced back to EON eventually. Or, more likely a second company a few months later, then a third a few months after that.
However, they know they have a poor rate of return on these. The company has bought these for maybe 10 to 20 pence in the pound, or is working on a commission structure.
So, if you keep bouncing things around, they get nothing. However, they *will* be open to offers to settle the debt immediately.
You can get your own back here. Don't bother chasing EON for a £20 fee after you've paid these monkeys. If the debt is £150 plus these costs, they'll probably snap your hand off if you offered them £120 in full and final settlement. If you feel like it, pay them £155 if that sounds right.
If you dispute the debt, then the 'sale' of the debt is not valid, and there is no debt to have been bought. It gets bounced back to EON eventually. Or, more likely a second company a few months later, then a third a few months after that.
However, they know they have a poor rate of return on these. The company has bought these for maybe 10 to 20 pence in the pound, or is working on a commission structure.
So, if you keep bouncing things around, they get nothing. However, they *will* be open to offers to settle the debt immediately.
You can get your own back here. Don't bother chasing EON for a £20 fee after you've paid these monkeys. If the debt is £150 plus these costs, they'll probably snap your hand off if you offered them £120 in full and final settlement. If you feel like it, pay them £155 if that sounds right.
The debt purchaser cannot charge you a 'fine'. All they can do is levy charges and interest applicable under the original contract.
I agree that they will likely have purchased the debt for 10p in the £1, or even less. If you offer them the basic debt owed they will likely bite your hand off.
I disagree that the debt will get bounced back to E.ON if you dispute it. The purchaser may just obtain proof of debt from E.ON or may drop the whole thing as it's become to costly. No guarantee of which.
Check your credit record too.
I agree that they will likely have purchased the debt for 10p in the £1, or even less. If you offer them the basic debt owed they will likely bite your hand off.
I disagree that the debt will get bounced back to E.ON if you dispute it. The purchaser may just obtain proof of debt from E.ON or may drop the whole thing as it's become to costly. No guarantee of which.
Check your credit record too.
PurpleMoonlight said:
The debt purchaser cannot charge you a 'fine'. All they can do is levy charges and interest applicable under the original contract.
IANAL but I believe they can only collect the amount of debt sold to them. As the contract was not with them, they cannot charge you interest.irocfan said:
Turns out I had paid them some monies in feb 2012 and they'd returned it to me (missed this on my statement)...
This is the bit I don't get. It's very unusual for a utility to do this without a reason. It begs so many questions. Why did they return it? Was it an error on their part? Had you been billed incorrectly? If they refunded direct to your bank account that suggests you were paying by DD. Was that the case? If not, how did they have the relevant details? Payment by DD is a frequent source of problems as the payments never settle the amount billed, so there is never a zero balance at any point during the life of the account. It's only when you switch or move that things crystallise. In the latter case most people are too busy to do a thorough check that the utility company haven't up.irocfan said:
They couldn't tell me why they didn't chase me for the debt at any point nor could they advise me why the first time I hear of this debt a 'final notice' from BC&W. Furthermore they can't take payment from me as they've 'sold' the debt
That doesn't surprise me at all. If they can't substantiate the alleged debt then what have they sold to the DCA? A fiction. A bum steer.IANAL but in that case I suggest the DCA is very unlikely to be able to collect it.
irocfan said:
Now have to double check my statements over that period and see what's gone in and out - a right pain in the arse and a real waste of my time thanks to an incompetent company
Forthwith dispute the debt in writing with the DCA. This should put a freeze on any further action giving you time to look into the matter.https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/sampleletters/... - furthermore a DCA must hold a Consumer Credit Licence. If this one continues to pursue you they are in breach and you should complain to the FCA.
The very first question you need to ask yourself is, if EON refunded money into your account why wasn't this reflected in the next/final bill? Something isn't right here.
Utility companies are notorious for ups, especially billing problems.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance...
You should probably be grateful you weren't with this shower of se.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27374580
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/...
PurpleMoonlight said:
Yes it does.
The OP no longer owes E.ON anything. He owes the purchaser.
How does that happen? What changed the contractual relationship between the OP and Eon? They clearly can't change the contract unilaterally.The OP no longer owes E.ON anything. He owes the purchaser.
Perhaps it's in their Ts&Cs? Or is there statute that facilitates it?
Bert
It seems a big issue with these huge utility companies.
My son moved abroad at the start of the year. He moved out of his apartment, gave the final readings, paid everything up to date.
To date he has received 4 letters from his ex power provider, having ignored all correspondence as he knows he had paid in full.
1/. You owe us £80
2/. You owe us £80, going to tell debt collecters
3/. You still owe us £80 debt company have been informed.
4/. Here is your cheque for £508 in final settlement of your account.
He banked the cheque.
Go figure.
My son moved abroad at the start of the year. He moved out of his apartment, gave the final readings, paid everything up to date.
To date he has received 4 letters from his ex power provider, having ignored all correspondence as he knows he had paid in full.
1/. You owe us £80
2/. You owe us £80, going to tell debt collecters
3/. You still owe us £80 debt company have been informed.
4/. Here is your cheque for £508 in final settlement of your account.
He banked the cheque.
Go figure.
E-ON should have visited the property on 3 occasions leaving 3 letters explaining the situation with a contact number for the agent. If the property was empty or had new residents they would have noted it on their FDR system. I'd ask for copies of these visit logs to show they were carried out, which if it's out of the East Midland area I really doubt occurred. I would also contact the head of debt control in writing, should be in their new offices in Nottingham town centre.
BertBert said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
Yes it does.
The OP no longer owes E.ON anything. He owes the purchaser.
How does that happen? What changed the contractual relationship between the OP and Eon? They clearly can't change the contract unilaterally.The OP no longer owes E.ON anything. He owes the purchaser.
Perhaps it's in their Ts&Cs? Or is there statute that facilitates it?
Bert
It's more interesting when they sell debts that are still being serviced (i.e. Student Loans). SLC sold my student loan to another company and, along with it, they magically managed to set up a completely new Direct Debit from my Bank Account, to a completely new legal entity, with no input or agreement from me.
MagneticMeerkat said:
I hope Bert realises the entire financial system revolves around the sale of debt instruments! However perhaps they're wrong and he's right? Better get over to the bond markets and tell them it's all a huge mistake.
What really, a debt market, no st, I had no idea. I am intrigued however what mechanism steps in to change the original contractual arrangement?Bert
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