Letter from debt collector
Discussion
I received a letter from a debt collection agency this morning stating that I owe them £90 for a debt they bought from Eon for an account I supposedly had from 30th March to 16th June 2016. This is the first contact I have had about this so was a bit shocked to receive the letter. This was a rented property and 30th March is after I gave the keys back so it doesn't look like this is my bill to pay. I suspect this is the period of time it took for the owner to rent it out again. I have the following information showing I was not living there at that time
1. Bank statement showing the letting agency paying my deposit back 1st April
2. Email from letting agency on same day saying owner has been to the house and I have some mail
3. Bank statement showing final payment to Eon on 14th April
4. Credit report showing Eon account closed with no balance
5. Refund by Severn Trent dated early April for overpayment prior to leaving
6. Bank statement showing last payment of council tax early April
I tried calling the debt collectors but the was an hour wait will try again Monday. How should I handle this? There are warnings all over the letter about it affecting my credit rating but there is nothing in my credit file about this account. There is an option to pay £34 to clear it which seems like an easy way to get rid of it. But that leaves me open to admitting that the debt is mine. We just got our mortgage offer on Friday but I have read that Halifax like to do another check before releasing the funds so I could do without any credit file issues.
1. Bank statement showing the letting agency paying my deposit back 1st April
2. Email from letting agency on same day saying owner has been to the house and I have some mail
3. Bank statement showing final payment to Eon on 14th April
4. Credit report showing Eon account closed with no balance
5. Refund by Severn Trent dated early April for overpayment prior to leaving
6. Bank statement showing last payment of council tax early April
I tried calling the debt collectors but the was an hour wait will try again Monday. How should I handle this? There are warnings all over the letter about it affecting my credit rating but there is nothing in my credit file about this account. There is an option to pay £34 to clear it which seems like an easy way to get rid of it. But that leaves me open to admitting that the debt is mine. We just got our mortgage offer on Friday but I have read that Halifax like to do another check before releasing the funds so I could do without any credit file issues.
My understanding is that this only affects your credit rating if you don't pay, are taken to court lose at court and fail to pay what the court orders.
If it was me I would write to them pointing out the debt is not yours as my tenancy finished in March. Any other correspondence will be ignored unless they start court proceedings. Looks to me they don't have a leg to stand on.
If it was me I would write to them pointing out the debt is not yours as my tenancy finished in March. Any other correspondence will be ignored unless they start court proceedings. Looks to me they don't have a leg to stand on.
It’s not the tenancy agreement ending that matters, it’s the contract with Eon. When did that end? Was there a notification period required? The small original amount owed seems like just the daily standing rate (usually about 29p a day, or so). You seem to have proof of the Eon final bill payment, that is all you should need.
Panamax said:
jpringle819 said:
4. Credit report showing Eon account closed with no balance
What/when exactly is this?Decky_Q said:
Sorry to say but none of your timeline has " gave Eon notice I was ending contract" did you tell them you were moving out?
I called with the meter reading s on the day I handed the keys back, my bank statement shows my normally monthly direct debit on 1st April and then a smaller direct debit on the 14th April taken after the last bill had been generated. Unfortunately I do not have any of the bills as these would all be in an email account i no longer have access to.jpringle819 said:
I called with the meter reading s on the day I handed the keys back, my bank statement shows my normally monthly direct debit on 1st April and then a smaller direct debit on the 14th April taken after the last bill had been generated. Unfortunately I do not have any of the bills as these would all be in an email account i no longer have access to.
Sounds an odd one, then. The debt collector should have access to the old bills if they think they're going to sue on the account. In the meantime it sounds as though your bank statements should cover the necessary ground.garyhun said:
Just tell the debt agency that it’s not your bill and you have proof. Should sort it out.
This!Reply saying nothing to do with you and ask them to stop contacting you.
Explain that if they keep hustling you, you will pass to your lawyer who will deal with it and simply bill them for costs. Alternatively, they can send the proof of debt to your lawyers ‘XYZ LLP’ (your conveyancing lawyer) who will reply on your behalf.
You are v v v unlikely to hear another thing!
They will have paid pennies on the £ buying the debts and assume people will fold and return their stake X 5 on average without doing anything further. Scum…..
Unless you do owe the cash obvs or they think they have a valid claim? You will know pretty quickly
CoolHands said:
Or bin and forget about it
OP dont do this! Who are the debt collectors? As the period of the debt is for the period immediately after your vacation, but with a different account number it appears that your account was closed. A new account has been opened but either at the time it was put in the OP name, or it has subsequently been put in OP name.
If there is a contact email address for the debt collector just email them with your evidence.
irc said:
Drumroll said:
I thought those sort of debt couldn't be actioned after 6 years
But only 5 years have elapsed. Maybe the debt colector has bought a pile of debts that are nearing 6 years and is just firing out letters to anyone with any connection?Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff