Suddenly got a demand for £175.08 ! Help !

geordie_joe

Karmum wrote: »

Yes I understand what you are saying but what I am disputing now is why SP never sent us a bill or any reminders just sent it straight to DCA!

Because they are sure you owe them the money, but it is not worth them fighting you for it, so they sell it to someone else.

If they knew you didn't owe them the money they would have told you that you owed them £125, but would discount it if you paid them £70.

As for LCS, I would completely ignore them. Don't answer the phone (if you have caller display) and ignore their letters. If SP didn't think it worth taking you to court for the money LCS won't either. All they will do is argue with you to pay the money, but try arguing with someone who doesn't argue back!

They will send you letters saying that if you don't pay by such and such a date they "may" take you to court, but once the deadline has passed they will send you another letter with a new deadline. They won't take you to court, because they won't win, all they can do is make empty threats.

Cardew

geordie_joe wrote: »

Because they are sure you owe them the money, but it is not worth them fighting you for it, so they sell it to someone else.

If they knew you didn't owe them the money they would have told you that you owed them £125, but would discount it if you paid them £70.

As for LCS, I would completely ignore them. Don't answer the phone (if you have caller display) and ignore their letters. If SP didn't think it worth taking you to court for the money LCS won't either. All they will do is argue with you to pay the money, but try arguing with someone who doesn't argue back!

They will send you letters saying that if you don't pay by such and such a date they "may" take you to court, but once the deadline has passed they will send you another letter with a new deadline. They won't take you to court, because they won't win, all they can do is make empty threats.

The OP used some electricity at the cottage. He has therefore entered into a legally binding deemed contract with the electricity supplier.

The customer has a duty to contact the electricity company to tell them he is now in residence.

The OP wrongly assumed he didn't get a bill because he wasn't using enough electricity.

IMO the above quote is pretty poor advice.

The £70 payment is presumably a reference to Npower's policy on pre-pay meters??? or what is the relevance to a £125 debt?

The Utility Companies rarely(never?) take customers to court - they get DCAs to do this.
Even if the DCA does not decide on court action(and why wouldn't they?) it will mean a black mark on the OP's credit record.

Of course in all the advice being given, the fact that the OP actually owes the money seems to have been disregarded!!!

Scottish_Power

Hi KARMUM

The best advise I can give you is to contact ScottishPower and ask for details on the outstanding balance, the period the balance covers, also how much electricity was actually consumed. You can also ask for details on the invoices that were sent as well as the reminder letters and where these were sent to. We would not pass a debt over to external debt collectors without first trying to contact you either by correspondence or telephone.

Like Cardew has advised, I would rather get the matter addressed and balance paid than run the risk of a black mark on your credit rating.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower

dzug1

Did the bills go to the cottage in Wales?

markharding557

hello karmum,
it is likley you do owe what they claim but do your self a favour DO NOT phone ,write or contact debt collectors they are ferol scum.
deal directly with scottish power they will allow a reasonable time to repay

competitionscafe

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

We would not pass a debt over to external debt collectors without first trying to contact you either by correspondence or telephone.

Then can you please explain why I received a letter from a debt collection agency before I received my final bill?

Letter from DCA dated 22/10/09: Notice of court proceedings.
Balance due £62.78

Amended Bill from Scottish Power dated: 24/10/09
Your amended electricity bill.
For the period 26/07/09 to 31/08/09
Total now due is £63.32

See: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2047547

Scottish_Power

Hi competitionscafe

I've had a look at your thread regarding the reminder letters. I can confirm that SPM Collections are not a Debt Collections Agency and are a debt team within ScottishPower.

The reminder letters are issued over a shorter period of time when you have finalised your account and may be more strongly worded, only in the hope of prompting a response.

If the bills are finalised to incorrect meter readings or you dispute the charges on the account, we will apply a hold to any debt recovery process while we are looking into the account for you.

I hope this information has been useful.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower