Bailiffs chasing me for bill that is not in my name

Spitinyari

Hi,

This is my first post, I have read the forums for various things many times in the past and found them very useful, so I hope someone can help me out on this problem.

I am being chased by some bailiffs for an unpaid gas bill on an address I used to live at 4 or 5 years ago. The problem is my name was never on any of the bills and as far as I know I do not owe any money. I do not know whose name was on the bill and have no contact details for anyone I lived with at the time.

I have never received any written correspondence from these bailiffs but am harrassed constantly by phone calls from 0161 425 7485. I have stopped answering them now.

I couldn't find another forum on this so I thought I'd start a new one, any help would be greatly appreciated...

Spitinyari

Crazy_Jamie

You say you are being chased by bailiffs. Do you mean that or do you mean a Debt Recovery Agency? You say that you haven't actually received anything by post. How many conversation have you had with them over the phone and what has been said in those conversations?

When you say that you do not owe any money, is that because you know the bill was fully paid up when you moved out, or because you paid your share? If the latter and you were living with other people in a rented property you are actually all liable for the whole amount, so they can chase you for it if someone else didn't pay their share.

Spitinyari

Sorry, yes, a debt collection agency, my name was never on the bill, but I paid a share, which I paid in full.

The conversations were very difficult, I didn't know they were a debt collection agency at first and they wouldn't tell me why they were calling or what their company did unless I confirmed my personal details. Naturally, I was very suspicious of this and didn't tell them anything. I eventually relented and gave them some personal details at which point they told me I owed them money. The company is called Fredrickson International or something similar.

bookworm1363

What's the name of the company? Sounds more like a DCA than bailiffs to me, hounding you into paying whether you owe it or not, not an uncommon behaviour.

If the bill was not in your name, not your problem, but it would be interesting to know how they found you.

We have templates on CAG both for telephone harassment and for telling them to prove the debt if you want to go have a look (it's free!). But only use them when you're sure they're a DCA and not genuine bailiffs, which is why you need to tell us their name. (I did a search on the tel no and didn't find out)

bookworm1363

Ooops, typing at the same time.

Fredrickson's? I know them well, I got rid of them for a friend of mine they were harassing.

Def the templates from CAG then.

Spitinyari

bookworn,

Thank you very much, I will have a look at CAG, thanks for replying so fast!

Spitinyari

shoppaholic_returns

I'm having a similar problem, with british gas and wescot? they are threatening me with court and are saying I owe £845 to them, I have changed supplier and rung BG who assure me there is no debt to pay on my a/c, however wescot still sending threatening letters of court summons etc.Any ideas on what I can do,many thanks!What are these letters you are talking about in previous threads???

Spitinyari

shoppaholic,

I'm looking at this page after having the site recommended to me by bookworm with this on the end (I'm not allowed to post links as a new user):

forum/general-debt-issues/20758-creditors-dcas-letter-templates.html


I think Letter N applies in my case and probably in yours too. The only problem I am having is that there is a revised Consumer Credit Act (2006) and I don't know if the same rules apply. I am hoping they do though...

As far as I can tell they are required to send you evidence that the amount is outstanding and in your name etc

Spitinyari

shoppaholic_returns

Struggling to find template, thanks for your help anyway,is there anyone who can post a link or advise further on this?

Spitinyari

If you put the web address in Bookworm's post into your browser and then add /forum/general-debt-issues/20758-creditors-dcas-letter-templates.html to the end you should get the right page.

Sorry I can't post a proper link, I think it's probably part of their anti spam procedures for new users.

bookworm1363

shoppaholic_returns wrote: »

Struggling to find template, thanks for your help anyway,is there anyone who can post a link or advise further on this?

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt-issues/20758-creditors-dcas-letter-templates.html

You might need to register before you can view the templates, but it's free.