Just paid a 6yr old water bill - did I do the right thing?

KaratePigeon

I've just noticed there are a few similar posts about this over the last couple of days with United Utilities old water bills but I have some different questions.

I got a debt collection letter from Advantis saying I owe £228 for a water bill - this was Mar-Dec 2003, so just within the 6 year limit I guess but I think it's so unfair that they can just ask for it now after so long, I've lived in 3 different addresses since then . I'm usually very reliable at paying utility bills so I'm reluctant to believe that I would have just not paid, but I guess if I never had a bill the whole time I was there then I might not have. (though if it was in my name I'm assuming I must have paid a bill at some point?)

Anyway I rang them up to question it which I regret as wasn't prepared as to what to say, didn't realise that they had a 'first point of contact' system. The bloke said I could pay right then by debit card and they'd reduce the bill by 50%, so £114, but that offer was only open if I did it right then. If I didn't pay straight away then there would be fees added on and the bill would be up to £340 by the end of the phone call otherwise. Is that right, can they do that? If I owe united utilities £228 then how come Advantis are able to reduce it by 50%?

Anyway I paid it and was in tears by the end of giving him my card number, I really didn't want to pay it, not even sure if I was liable (I asked for a copy of the bill but he said they don't have it as it was nearly 6 years ago) but he scared me by saying I'd be taken to court and have it on my credit file etc and that I was 'in the wrong'.

I'm gutted at having to pay the £114, struggling with money at the moment anyway (I'm 7 months pregnant and could really do with going on maternity leave but can't afford to) but I guess that's irrelevant. I just feel like I've been really taken advantage of. Isn't it morally wrong to be able to demand money out of the blue for a 6 year old debt that I'd had no contact about previously, ever? He did say that if I could prove that I had paid them, then I could get the money back but I know there's not much chance of that happening, it'd mean trying to get 6 yr old bank statements and even then I really can't remember whether there would be any payments to united utilities on it.

Is a £228 water bill even a reasonable amount? We only lived in the (tiny, 2 bedroom) flat for 9 months :undecided I told him it can't be right as we are only paying £8/month for our water bill now, and he said that can't be right, water should be £300-400 a year so now I'm worried about that too :sad:

Sorry for the long post, I know it's done now but I'm so upset as was already worried about how we were going to pay the bills before the baby comes and now I've had to pay that which will likely push me past my overdraft limit and incur more charges. Did I do the right thing? Can't help feeling a bit blackmailed.

Cardew

Someone from UU stated on this Board that UU had 'sold off' a lot of old delinquent accounts.

It is a pretty fair bet that you did owe the money. However as you have paid the DCA and have no way to prove that you did pay the bill at the time, I simply wouldn't worry about it now. It will be a huge amount of stress for you.

However I have a concern. I am surprised that they insisted on a Debit card and not a credit card and agreed to reduce the debt by 50% so readily. My concern will be that they will take a further 50% later - and say that was what was agreed in the telephone conversation.

You can challenge a Credit Card Payment, but not as easy with a Debit Card.

I would contact your card company and seek their advice.

I am sorry to cause you further worry and I may be completely wrong of course;(and you have signed nothing) but the way these dreadful DCAs operate, I would put nothing past them.

LeeSouthEast

That's a little harsh. Everyone forgets something during a house move. I'm still waiting to see what I've forgotten.. so far so good.

Cardew

UUHelp wrote: »

UU are currently investigating debt on accounts that have exhausted all attempts to collect. Advantis are part of this project and have been asked to recover money that is owed to the company. Most accounts that are being pursued are becuase the customer moved out and did not inform the company, or failed to pay a final bill. Its simple, you recieved a service and didnt pay! now you think you shouldnt have to pay! tough! if you were an excellent payer and manged your account correctly you would not even need to post on this forum

May we assume you work for UU?

I totally agree that every Utility company should chase delinquent accounts.

However would Advantis have the power to write off 50% of the debt?

KaratePigeon

Thanks for the replies.

I admit it was probably my debt, I didn't delibratley not pay any bills but doubt if they've just made it up so am willing to accept it's mine. I just thought it was really bad the way they can contact me out of the blue 6 years later and not even provide me with any proof that it was mine (I've never seen this bill and apparently can't have a copy of it as they only keep them for 3 years).

I am now worried about the 50% reduction I've paid as other people don't seem to have been given this as an option. (I told him I was skint but I didn't go into any details so doubt he gave me the discount based on me not being able to afford it). The bloke said he'd send me a letter to confirm that it'd all been settled and that I didn't owe anything else but this hasn't turned up yet . I didn't ask if I could pay by credit card, I never thought about the extra protection thing - I did ask if I could send them a cheque but not suprisingly he said I couldn't have the 50% off then!

I haven't spoke to UU, the Advantis guy said I could (and gave me the phone number) but said he knows they don't keep any details after 3 years so not sure there's much point.

Cardew

posts from UUhelp have been deleted so some posts(e.g post#3) don't make sense now - but did!!!

bluewire

Where has UUhelp gone???

I am unsure of the 50% reduction in bill and would be watching my account very closly.

If these are very old balances UU may have given these accounts with a silly % split just to get some cash in (70-30 to the agency) I am sure that any money is good money to them if they though that they would never have got any.

Fire_Fox

This would be a good post for the Debt-free Wannabe board, lots of great advice on how best to handle debt collectors - especially if you are vulnerable (PG). Repost over there, they are a really friendly bunch.

dobbie82

KaratePigeon wrote: »

Is a £228 water bill even a reasonable amount? We only lived in the (tiny, 2 bedroom) flat for 9 months :undecided I told him it can't be right as we are only paying £8/month for our water bill now, and he said that can't be right, water should be £300-400 a year so now I'm worried about that too :sad:

.

A normal bill would be £300-400 unmetered. (ranged from £24-30 a month depending where in the UK I lived over the past 7 years)

I now live in a tiny house with a septic tank and for unmetered tap water only I pay £14 a month.

My friend lives with 3 other adults and they pay £50+ a month metered.

£8 sounds very low?

North_West_Water

Ignore what Advantis have said - they DO keep records for more than 3 years. It is a regulatory requirement that they keep records for current year + 6.

They offered a huge reduction because any money they collect is seen as a bonus. Advantis will be on a huge commission. These will be debts that have been written off and they're now resurrecting them because they're in a financial mess. Complain to UU and threaten to go to OFWAT (they hate that), you may get some money back.

KaratePigeon

Thanks for the replies, only just seen them (email notifications didn't come through?)

I did ring my current supplier and ask about £8/month being too low and they just said that it was because we had a bit of credit from last year and it'll be recalcuated when the 12 months is up (which I think is soon but not looking forward to that as I'm sure it'll go up loads)

I will ring UU then, I suppose it's worth a try although it was over a month ago now that I made the payment so was just going to forget about it. The only thing that does concern me is that Advantis said they would send me a letter saying the debt had been cleared etc. this never arrived so I rang them again and requested it in writing, they said they would send one out but this was about 2 weeks ago and I still haven't had one, does it sound like they are doing something dodgy?