Overdue electric bill
Discussion
Looking for a bit of advice.
Recieved a letter from a debt collector on behalf of the electric company, alleging I owe money for an unpaid bill.
History. The debt relates to a house I jointly owned with the ex. Most bills were paid out of the joint account however I paid the electric (inc heating) out of my account as I earned a bit more, not much more. When we split I moved out and continued to pay the bill for a period of time. When she moved her new partner in I rang the electric company to close the account, which was in my name only, and let them know who lived there, all done no issues as far as I'm aware.
House subsequently sold about 6 months later we go our separate ways. Until this letter arrived. Rand the debt collection company and they tell me a new account was opened in my name and if I didn't open it to report it to action fraud, which I've done.
Rang the electric company and they're not helpful at all, trying to get a straight story out of them is impossible. What it looks like has happened is my ex didn't bother setting up a new account or managed to set one up in my name, which I think is unlikely so they've just billed me the difference between my account closing and the new owner opening his account.
Speaking to the ex is not possible, I've tried. I'll pass the crime reference number to the debt co tomorrow for the alleged fraud.
Both companies keep asking for a tenancy agreement, which I obviously don't have and then seem to hit a brick wall.
Any advice? am I onto a hiding to nothing?
Cheers.
Recieved a letter from a debt collector on behalf of the electric company, alleging I owe money for an unpaid bill.
History. The debt relates to a house I jointly owned with the ex. Most bills were paid out of the joint account however I paid the electric (inc heating) out of my account as I earned a bit more, not much more. When we split I moved out and continued to pay the bill for a period of time. When she moved her new partner in I rang the electric company to close the account, which was in my name only, and let them know who lived there, all done no issues as far as I'm aware.
House subsequently sold about 6 months later we go our separate ways. Until this letter arrived. Rand the debt collection company and they tell me a new account was opened in my name and if I didn't open it to report it to action fraud, which I've done.
Rang the electric company and they're not helpful at all, trying to get a straight story out of them is impossible. What it looks like has happened is my ex didn't bother setting up a new account or managed to set one up in my name, which I think is unlikely so they've just billed me the difference between my account closing and the new owner opening his account.
Speaking to the ex is not possible, I've tried. I'll pass the crime reference number to the debt co tomorrow for the alleged fraud.
Both companies keep asking for a tenancy agreement, which I obviously don't have and then seem to hit a brick wall.
Any advice? am I onto a hiding to nothing?
Cheers.
ChocolateFrog said:
Looking for a bit of advice.
Recieved a letter from a debt collector on behalf of the electric company, alleging I owe money for an unpaid bill.
History. The debt relates to a house I jointly owned with the ex. Most bills were paid out of the joint account however I paid the electric (inc heating) out of my account as I earned a bit more, not much more. When we split I moved out and continued to pay the bill for a period of time. When she moved her new partner in I rang the electric company to close the account, which was in my name only, and let them know who lived there, all done no issues as far as I'm aware.
House subsequently sold about 6 months later we go our separate ways. Until this letter arrived. Rand the debt collection company and they tell me a new account was opened in my name and if I didn't open it to report it to action fraud, which I've done.
Rang the electric company and they're not helpful at all, trying to get a straight story out of them is impossible. What it looks like has happened is my ex didn't bother setting up a new account or managed to set one up in my name, which I think is unlikely so they've just billed me the difference between my account closing and the new owner opening his account.
Speaking to the ex is not possible, I've tried. I'll pass the crime reference number to the debt co tomorrow for the alleged fraud.
Both companies keep asking for a tenancy agreement, which I obviously don't have and then seem to hit a brick wall.
Any advice? am I onto a hiding to nothing?
Cheers.
They're supposed to be asking for a tenancy agreement to prove that you were living elsewhere, and not at the address in question. You don't need a T/A for the old place, just the new.Recieved a letter from a debt collector on behalf of the electric company, alleging I owe money for an unpaid bill.
History. The debt relates to a house I jointly owned with the ex. Most bills were paid out of the joint account however I paid the electric (inc heating) out of my account as I earned a bit more, not much more. When we split I moved out and continued to pay the bill for a period of time. When she moved her new partner in I rang the electric company to close the account, which was in my name only, and let them know who lived there, all done no issues as far as I'm aware.
House subsequently sold about 6 months later we go our separate ways. Until this letter arrived. Rand the debt collection company and they tell me a new account was opened in my name and if I didn't open it to report it to action fraud, which I've done.
Rang the electric company and they're not helpful at all, trying to get a straight story out of them is impossible. What it looks like has happened is my ex didn't bother setting up a new account or managed to set one up in my name, which I think is unlikely so they've just billed me the difference between my account closing and the new owner opening his account.
Speaking to the ex is not possible, I've tried. I'll pass the crime reference number to the debt co tomorrow for the alleged fraud.
Both companies keep asking for a tenancy agreement, which I obviously don't have and then seem to hit a brick wall.
Any advice? am I onto a hiding to nothing?
Cheers.
Good luck!
ChocolateFrog said:
I was living in Germany at the time with the Army, then latterly temporarily back at my parents while I lack for a new place.
Neither of which provides me with a tenancy agreement.
But I'm sure there'd be some other evidence that you could provide? A mobile phone bill at their address perhaps? If you explain this to the company they should be quite understanding, it's just that you fall slightly outside the regular process so you'll need someone with at least two firing brain cells for them to be able to work around it Neither of which provides me with a tenancy agreement.
If you don't get anywhere with the first operator, ask to speak to a manager. Make sure a complaint is raised (and left open), this gives you the route to go to the Ombudsman later (not that it should be needed).
Honestly this sort of thing was a bread and butter complaint for me for many years and I'd have it closed down very quickly.
SantaBarbara said:
You cannot allow the BAD admin practices and BAd debt collection companies to get away with it
Not sure where you've got that from. It appears that money is owed, possibly due to the OP's bad admin in not clearing-up his accounts when the relationship ended, and the firms are chasing the person in whose name the account is. It's unfortunate for the OP, and I hope he can persuade them that it's not his problem, but it's not the debt collection company's BAD admin as far as I can see.
Had a battle with Energy company in past when my daughter left a flat she was renting which subsequently remained empty for 18 months due to the owners selling the business below. Bailifs bill arrived for £980 at her new address for old flat. The debt collection firm wont be interested. My advice is find the CEO email address of the company directors list. There,s a site which has them all listed. I went round in circles trying to sort my problem out, the operators don't care, Debt collection agency just want more money, I managed to sort my daughters problem within a week , If its Scottish Power I have his and his personel secretarys direct line.
Blue Oval84 said:
ChocolateFrog said:
I was living in Germany at the time with the Army, then latterly temporarily back at my parents while I lack for a new place.
Neither of which provides me with a tenancy agreement.
But I'm sure there'd be some other evidence that you could provide? A mobile phone bill at their address perhaps? If you explain this to the company they should be quite understanding, it's just that you fall slightly outside the regular process so you'll need someone with at least two firing brain cells for them to be able to work around it Neither of which provides me with a tenancy agreement.
If you don't get anywhere with the first operator, ask to speak to a manager. Make sure a complaint is raised (and left open), this gives you the route to go to the Ombudsman later (not that it should be needed).
Honestly this sort of thing was a bread and butter complaint for me for many years and I'd have it closed down very quickly.
Sounds like you need to speak to the correct person at the electric company. I had a statement from an electricity company to my home for a firm . First attempt, was advised to return statement as not known. Second one, I contacted customer services .Letter opened ( on their advice to get account number), and electricity customer services amended billing address and mentioned that their fraud department might be interested .
ChocolateFrog said:
Excellent. I'll ring back tomorrow. Like you say as I fall outside the norm you hit a brick wall of ignorance straight away.
Who me said:
Sounds like you need to speak to the correct person at the electric company.
I would suggest that all future communications should be in writing, especially as a DCA is involved.The first letter the OP needs to send is to the latter to state that the alleged debt is in dispute.
The second letter/e-mail is to the CEO* of the utility company (see below).
* They usually have more than one brain cell and will know the right person in their organisation to sort it out.
Customer Services in many utility companies is like dealing with the famed Hydra.
Always deal with the organ grinder not the monkey.
PAJERO said:
CEOemail.com
Be careful with this, the information can be out of date. Do further checks.I picked a utility company at random and did a Google search on the name provided.
Turns out that their CEO stepped down 4 months ago.
http://www.ceoemail.com/index2.php
https://www.eon.com/en/about-us/media/press-releas...
As I said before, if you want to sort this quickly contact the CEO by email , If as you state someone has reopened the account in your name then fraud has been committed .As far as the debt company is concerned they are only looking for you ,its your name on the account and the longer it goes on the more money they make. The people in the energy company call centre from my experience for 5 weeks go through the motions and don't give a s##t, They are just waiting for next call, while your in bed unable to sleep at night thinking about it. I contacted CEO by email and next day his secretary rang me full of apology and sorted every thing up. I also requested that I received confirmation from the debt collection agency that my daughters name was off any lists that would effect her in the future, because believe me your name is on one now as well. Good look ,get it sorted
My missus had this on a vacant property very threatening letters, we just ignored and they went away.
1, the property had a fire and was being refurbished for the time they were claiming electricity for.
2, there bill for the 9 months was an estimated bill!!
the baliffs sent about 6 letters threatening all sorts before passing back to the supplier.
OP if you weren't there check with them if the bill was itemized or an estimate, if an estimate I would ignore all correspondence.
the letters were very good at being threatining.
1, the property had a fire and was being refurbished for the time they were claiming electricity for.
2, there bill for the 9 months was an estimated bill!!
the baliffs sent about 6 letters threatening all sorts before passing back to the supplier.
OP if you weren't there check with them if the bill was itemized or an estimate, if an estimate I would ignore all correspondence.
the letters were very good at being threatining.
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