Debt recovery company for utility bill

[creampuff]

I've got a BTL which was vacant for a while. Utility is with British Gas.

There may well be a genuine bill for utilities on my BTL, only I've never seen it. Hasn't arrived at my home address, agent hasn't mentioned it turning up at the BTL.

I've now got a debt recovery company chasing me for it. It isn't much, under £100.

I called British Gas to ask what was going on and they were going to mail me a bill, but that never happened.

I'm not going to deal with a debt recovery company. They aren't sending me an itemised account, they are just sending a bill with a number which could have been plucked out of the air for all I know.

Can I ignore them?

[tigger1]

For the sake of messing about with DRC, why not ask BG to email you the bill?

Definitely don't ignore the debt collectors...but get better advice than mine on how to respond. Personally I'd be telling them I've no knowledge of the debt, no bill etc, but I'd be backing that position up with BG first.

[Camelot1971]

I presume your agent formally closed off the previous rental i.e. final meter readings etc? If so, and the bill is in the tenants name, then pass on their forwarding details to the debt collection agency.

If its charges since they left (standing charge etc) then surely that would your responsibility to update British Gas and pay the bill?

[Sticks.]

I use BG and registered with their online service but wanted to keep paper bills as well. I later found that BG will automatically stop sending you paper bills and just email you unless you ask them not to.

[The Rookie]

tigger1 said:

Definitely don't ignore the debt collectors..

Erm, why not? All they can do is send begging letters, they have no power like a bailiff or HCEO does.

[ElectricPics]

The Rookie said:

tigger1 said:

Definitely don't ignore the debt collectors..

Erm, why not? All they can do is send begging letters, they have no power like a bailiff or HCEO does.

Eventually they'll take the matter to the county court and if they get a judgement they'll instruct enforcement officers, that's why not.

[Saleen836]

ElectricPics said:

The Rookie said:

tigger1 said:

Definitely don't ignore the debt collectors..

Erm, why not? All they can do is send begging letters, they have no power like a bailiff or HCEO does.

Eventually they'll take the matter to the county court and if they get a judgement they'll instruct enforcement officers, that's why not.

If you write to the debt collection company (send it signed for) informing them the debt is in dispute with BG they have to pass the debt back to BG

[anonymous-user]

Once your tenant left and they gave your details as the owner, or even as the owner of the property you will be liable for the daily standing charge on the meter.

[tigger1]

The Rookie said:

tigger1 said:

Definitely don't ignore the debt collectors..

Erm, why not? All they can do is send begging letters, they have no power like a bailiff or HCEO does.

As others have said - these things escalate quickly, and telling them to bugger-off in the first instance might help you later!

[Red Devil]

PAJERO said:

Once your tenant left and they gave your details as the owner, or even as the owner of the property you will be liable for the daily standing charge on the meter.

You may be right but it is unwise to make assumptions.
Not every electricity provider has a standing charge.
https://www.simplyswitch.com/energy/guides/zero-st...

Saleen836 said:

If you write to the debt collection company (send it signed for) informing them the debt is in dispute with BG they have to pass the debt back to BG

If BG haven't sent the OP a bill then he is not in a position to admit the debt so the above is the right answer.
Better for him to get the DCA off his back than to be an ostrich.