Received a debt letter

Christopherj_2

I moved into this property in February and hadn't been paying the water bill for three months. In May, I eventually set up a direct debit with the water company. Last week, I received a letter from a debt company demanding payment for the outstanding balance of £85. They have also added £80 charges onto my account, totalling my balance to £165. I only received one warning letter off the water company. Are they within their right to add so much charges to my account with so little warning?

tigerfeet2006

bumpity bump for the morning crew.

Christopherj_2

Here's what it says in the letter:

Your water account is in arrears.

As such, we intend to take legal action against you to recover this debt. This will incur additional costs and fees of atleast £65.00, which will be added to your account.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

pay it they havent added the charges yet as no action has taken place

Christopherj_2

When I phoned them to to arrange a payment plan, they told me the account balance which is £171.90.

notenoughcash

Is the account balance the total remaining for the year rather than outstanding to date? I did the same thing pretty much, they set me up with a payment card but I kept forgetting to pay. I got a letter asking for full payment for the year but I phoned and explained and they set me up on direct debit. First payment £33.00 gone out today and then £16 a month.

MrsTinks

Strange - when I FINALLY after 2 years got the water company to accept that our house had in fact been rebuilt (the whole estate was flattened and rebuilt) we were 2 YEARS behind... The bill being about £400... Because we'd told them again and again that we'd like to pay them I paid £200 there and then and the rest by monthly payment at 0% apr as it was their fault.
Seems a bit odd that they are so aggressive though? Might be worth calling them again - explain you only got the one bill etc and you'd be happy to pay if they drop the charges which you don't feel you deserve...

Christopherj_2

Included in the £175 is the £85 I owe them and £65 charges. They only sent me one letter telling me they will pursue legal action if I do not pay immediately.

Honeybee_2

Have they actually persued it through court then? From what I can gather from the letter, it states that the £65 will be added if they need to persue it through court.

Question it with them and ask for a breakdown.

When I moved into my first home (away from parents) the previous occupier had arrears of around £700 on the water bill. When a demand came through for this (after I had told them I moved in on x date) I phoned them to inform them that Mr x hadn't lived there for years, I was now the occupier and have been paying by direct debit, they tried to tell me that I was responsible for the previous occupier's bill to....fat chance mateys!

notenoughcash

That seems a bit unfair if they've only sent you one reminder, I'd write to or e-mail them and explain the situation and quote date on reminder letter. I'm sure if you offer to set up payment by direct debit they'll let you do that without the extra charge. They were reasonable enough with me when I got in touch at same stage as you any way.

Christopherj_2

Honeybee wrote: »

When I moved into my first home (away from parents) the previous occupier had arrears of around £700 on the water bill. When a demand came through for this (after I had told them I moved in on x date) I phoned them to inform them that Mr x hadn't lived there for years, I was now the occupier and have been paying by direct debit, they tried to tell me that I was responsible for the previous occupier's bill to....fat chance mateys!

Who paid it in the end?