British Gas debt collection????

Tinkerbell_Lily

Hi everyone

This is my 1st post, so please be nice Well to cut a long story short, i was living with a girl from April - November 2008. We both moved out and went through bills before we left and she said she'd sort it so i gave her my half of the money. Just 2 weeks ago i got a bailiff's letter from a debt collection agency saying that we owe British Gas £100. i have called British Gas and they say it has nothing to do with them anymore and i'm also no longer in contact with this girl so only know the area she's living in not her actual address. i'm willing to pay half the outstanding balance but surley if there's 2 names on there, i cant be expected to pay it all? (they said i could pay £50 but i'd still be liable for the other £50 if it didnt get paid! They keep sending me more letters so i'm assuming they cant get hold of her and i just dont know what to do?

Has anyone else ever been in a situation like this? i'm petrified that the bailiff's are going to come round to my house, i'm due to have my baby in 10 weeks and could do without the stress!

Thank you in advance
Emma

KimYeovil

If your name is on the bill you are jointly and severally liable for the entire amount. The supplier can chase whichever name they like.

It is up to you to chase down the other girl for the two lots of money she now owes you - no obligation on the supplier.

littletommytucker

You are liable for the total amount. See clause 3.2 of your contract:

3 Paying your bill

3.1 We will send you bills or statements, based on actual or estimated meter readings. If you are a prepayment customer we will not send you bills, but we will send you a statement once a year showing how much gas or electricity you have used.
3.2 You agree to pay us for supplying gas or electricity (or both) and for other charges which apply under this contract (such as in clause 2.3 and under any extra conditions we have agreed with you from time to time). Any person whose name is on the account is responsible for paying our bills and we may claim any money owed to us under the account from one or all account holders.



As under the terms and conditions of this contact, which can be found at http://www.britishgas.co.uk/terms-and-conditions-additional-dual.html you can be made to pay the total amount, I would not waste any more time before paying this company. As they are not going to waste time trying to trace your old friend, when they have no need to.

Trying to get your friend to pay half the bill would be of no benefit to the debt collection company, and they have no interest in providing you with a any standard of customer service.

markharding557

Lesson for the future don't ever trust an ex partner in money matters.
as for bailiffs the dc can't just get on the phone and send the bailifs in they would have to get a court judgement against you first.
you could contest this but i think it would be much simpler and less damaging to your credit rating to pay it off and chalk it down to experience.
anyway good luck