Can they send me to prison !

Debt_Free_Chick

wigginsmum wrote:

I think the OP is trying to establish where this small amount has come from, thinking that the account was sorted out a year ago and all finished. Am I right?

You might well be, but this could be an outstanding balance from when the account was closed.

Dunno .... OP needs to clarify. If it's fairly owed, then our suggestions will change .....

Mike_St_Helens

Its an old account at an old address that I had and settled with them, only about 10 months later they sent me a bill for £6.99 with no explination, when i called them they just simply said it must be from when you closed the account and its owed... snowballed from there to that letter !

lynzpower

sorry i misunderstood

I thought youd never had a contract or service with them. IN which case maybe you do owe them the money

I too would be tempted to just pay it.

toontastic

I think what they are saying is they want to know what the charge is for, they closed and settled the account then a few months later they get a bill saying they owe this money. They ask what it is and they are told just pay it and aren't told. They are then threatend with court and prison. I would complain right to the top of the company and like someone else said right to the guardian get them shamed for using such terrible tactics.

If they owe the money thats fine and you should pay it but the company should be able to tell you what it is. How do we know another few months down the line they aren't going to issue another one of these mystery bills.

isgman

"it must be from when you closed the account and its owed".. what... ask them to PROVE you owe the money.. they cant just say "it must be from when you closed the account and its owed".. they have to prove it.. if they did not have to prove it they could send everyone who ever closed an account with them the same letter... get them to Prove you owe them,, if they cant show you when this debt from.. they can't show the court...

Dead_Eye_Jones

Dig out your old paper work and do the sums, check your bills and the payments you have associated with them, calculate the net figure yourself. If all the sums add up to zero then have the confidence to fight it all the way, send them the a copy of your sums, if it comes to court you'll have the paper work to prove your position.

If you dont have the paperwork then Id prob just pay up as Id accept responsability for being too lazy to keep on top of it all in the first place.

As someone who does keep and check all amounts carefully I know too well that companies make many mistakes including over and under charging. I guess there are people who will say that its not good enough, companies MUST provide accurate bills, but this is the real world and mistakes happen - even the government gets things terribly wrong (eg tax credits).

For your own protection keep an eye on things yaself. Hope it gets sorted, I hear the food aint great in the slammer !

Kevicho

isgman wrote:

"it must be from when you closed the account and its owed".. what... ask them to PROVE you owe the money.. they cant just say "it must be from when you closed the account and its owed".. they have to prove it.. if they did not have to prove it they could send everyone who ever closed an account with them the same letter... get them to Prove you owe them,, if they cant show you when this debt from.. they can't show the court...

i agree, they need to send proof that you owe this money, tell them you will be happy to cooperate after this, but as far as you are concerned the account was close and you have made all the correct payments

All the best. and no they cant send you to prison for not paying, especially if you do not owe it.

domestic_goddess

I would be really tempted to pay it I am afraid. I know that is really weak but I could not be bothered with the stress and hassle for that amount. I would def ask them to prove how the amount is owing but in the meantime I would pay. The chances are that you do owe this money anyway so I would just be tempted to just pay up and be able to forget about it.

sparkle84

armarda wrote:

What they are getting at is this - if the court orders you to pay and you then refuse to do so, that is contempt of court. This can be punished by jail. However I think that the chances of this happening in your case are extremely low.

TBH I would be tempted to pay - I know its the principle but is it really worth the stress over £7?

This is completly wrong information - there is no question of be sent to jail debtors prisons were abolished over 100 years ago - 1 it will never go to court for £6.99 2. If you are order to pay by court (CCJ) and refuse then they can send in the baliffs, the only debts you can be jailed for are Crown Debts i.e Council Tax and Inland Revenue

cookiesncream

sparkle84 wrote:

This is completly wrong information - there is no question of be sent to jail debtors prisons were abolished over 100 years ago - 1 it will never go to court for £6.99 2. If you are order to pay by court (CCJ) and refuse then they can send in the baliffs, the only debts you can be jailed for are Crown Debts i.e Council Tax and Inland Revenue

I'm with you on that one. You can't go to prision unless it's for the two above debts AND you refuse bailiffs entry for a couple of years.