Help!!

BritishNinja

Hey everyone, I need some advice...

I've gotten myself into a bit of a complicated problem with Southern Electric. Earlier in the year I was sharing a house (and the associated utility bills) with two friends. As of about six months ago, though, we all moved out and went our seperate ways and subsequently fell out. The two guys I lived with won't answer my calls and messages.

So, of course, Southern Electric is hounding me (and presumably the other guys) about the unpaid final electricity bill, which is rather shockingly large. They are threatening legal action if I don't respond in 48 hours, but I can't afford to pay off the whole thing (nor should I have to since I'm only responsible for a third of it at most). I've been trying to reach my ex-housemates for months and they won't talk to me.

So, er... what am I supposed to do?

Do I ring Southern Electric and tell them I can pay them a third of it?? Would they go for that? Or would ringing them only make them focus all their attention on me, making me pay the whole shebang? Should I ring them and negotiate some sort of repayment plan that would lead to me paying the whole thing off, and then just informing my ex-housemates that they are scumbags who owe me money? I won't have any money at all at least until I get paid in two weeks.

What would you guys do in this situation??

KimYeovil

Unfortunately you are, legally, jointly and severally liable for the entire bill. That is, Southern Electric are able to chase you for the whole sum. They will chase whoever is easiest.

You have more than 48 hours to decide - it'll be more like 48 days before anything is advanced. But you are liable for the whole bill. It is up to you to chase the other two for the other two-thirds.

If it is a large sum you will be able to negotiate a longer term payment plan with the supplier.

BritishNinja

Thanks for the swift reply Kim.

Damn. So this is going to end up with me footing the whole bill, isn't it? The day my ex-housemates actually agree to send me money is the day I sprout wings and fly to Venus.

Fire_Fox

Do you have correct postal addresses for your ex-housemates? Take them to the small claims court if so. Why didn't you pay for some energy at the time, did you submit incoming and final meter readings?

Premier_2

BritishNinja wrote: »

Thanks for the swift reply Kim.

Damn. So this is going to end up with me footing the whole bill, isn't it? The day my ex-housemates actually agree to send me money is the day I sprout wings and fly to Venus.

Yes, you will be expected to pay the whole bill.

Like Fire Fox says, if you know where the ex-housemates are, you can take out your own claim against them if you think they should be partially liable.

But only do this if you also know they are able to pay. (which can include by installments if necessary)

BritishNinja

I don't have full postal addresses for either of them any more, and I don't want to file anything against them. I want to just get this whole situation wrapped up with a minimum of drama and ill-feeling and stress. It will cost me more in the long run but I am sick to the back teeth of stressing out over money (up until about three months ago I was unemployed with massive debts) and I'm not going to let my ex-housemates ruin my newfound peace of mind. So I've decided: I am going to ring Southern Electric this afternoon and explain that I will foot the bill if they can work out a repayment plan with me beginning from next month. If anybody has a better idea, please speak now or forever hold your peace.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I really appreciate it.

Premier_2

I think Southern Electric call centre is only open until 2pm on Saturday, and doesn't reopen until 8am Monday.

As you are no longer their customer, they will push for repayment as fast as possible, but if you offer a reasonable proposal to pay by installments, they should give that good consideration.

Good luck! Don't leave it too late though

DVardysShadow

KimYeovil wrote: »

Unfortunately you are, legally, jointly and severally liable for the entire bill. That is, Southern Electric are able to chase you for the whole sum. They will chase whoever is easiest.

You have more than 48 hours to decide - it'll be more like 48 days before anything is advanced. But you are liable for the whole bill. It is up to you to chase the other two for the other two-thirds.

If it is a large sum you will be able to negotiate a longer term payment plan with the supplier.

While true, that is also misleading. Each of the other 2 is also liable for the whole bill. Southern can and will go after the easiest target, who can then chase the other 2

BritishNinja

Well basically the only reason I want to negotiate a repayment plan is to get them to leave me alone until after Christmas (because I can't afford to foot the whole bill on my next paycheck - I get paid on the 1st of every month). I should be able to afford to settle it in January or February, all being well. (I'm going to push for extra overtime at work at every opportunity as well). So I'll tell them I can pay X amount per month, pay that for December and January, and then I'll just ring up in the new year when I've got more moolah and pay off the rest in a lump and be done with it. That's the plan, anyway. I hope they go for it.

Thanks for the advice re their open hours as well. I will call in an hour or so in that case.

BritishNinja

Right, the deed has been done. They took a token payment of £16 off me today and agreed to hold the account until I get paid in December, and said that if I call back next month and pay at least £100 off the bill, they can hold it until January. So I should be alright.

Thank you so much for your advice, everyone. I'm glad to have something worked out, now.