N Power threats with bayliffs for a bill thats not mine!

shasoh

I moved out of a rented flat 13 months ago, into a new flat. I got the gas and electric meter readings called n power with them and told them i was leaving, giving them my new address to send the final bills to, the Final bills came and i payed them, all sorted... i thought.
12 months later i received a letter from Buchananclark+wells, stating that n power have been looking for me and i owe them over £300, i called them thinking it could all be cleared up with a phone call, not to be..
They informed me that i do owe the money, i told them i would call n power to sort it out, they told me not to and pay the money, very rude.
I called n power told them what happened and gave them my old account number, they immediatley told me that it was not my debt, it was in the tenants name a man, who took the flat on after me, however they couldn't call off the dogs unless i sent in proof of when i left! this sounded ubsurd to me, however i agreed and sent a copy of my new tenancy agreement and a cover note with all the details, recorded delivery, also calling the debt agency to let then know what was happening, although they were pretty uninterested.
I had hoped that would be the end of it, knowing it was foolish to expect an letter of apology, but just hoping they'd go away. Unfortunatley not, i've now receive 2 new letters 2 days apart stating i owe over£300 on one of them and over£100 on the other, with different client numbers!
What the hell is going on, can anyone offer some advice on this because i haven't got any debts and am very carefull to keep my finances in order, on the scond occasion of talking to the debt collectors i asked if this could affect my credit rating and he said IT MIGHT! even if it gets cleared up. Not good. Can anyone help?:mad:

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya, upsetting getting a bill for someone else. It sounds like you are doing the right thing by talking to everyone.

Has it been a few days since you sent the letter? you could wait or ring again to see if it arived and the action they are taking.

What about talking to your old landlord?

It sounds like a lot of red tape.

I hope you can get it sorted.

Sooler

don't waste your time talking to Buchananclark+wells, any one can send you a letter saying you owe money and you have to pay it. Fact is you don't so not your problem. Just complain to npower. Don't contact Buchananclark+wells at all, they would say it 'might' affect your credit rating, just trying to get anyone to pay the money they are after - they'll take the money from anyone who offers it to them - 'might' means nothing. It's npowers problem - complain to them. Ask npower for a written statement for what they have already confirmed - it's not your debt.

shasoh

Thanks both, i'll post any developments here.

kjsmith7

It's very likely that when you dispute the bill with nPower, and whilst they are investigating it, that they'll recall the balance from Buchanan Clark & Wells to stop you from being harassed whilst the matter is looked in to. I would request this, if I was you, as it'll prevent "charges" being added on or "credit reports" being decimated.

speedfreek1000

Write a formal letter of complaint to NPower disputing the debt and the way you are being treated. You can of course insist they put any bailiff action on hold until they have investigated your claim and that they should do so straight away.

Send that recorded delivery then start escalating it once its received.

You'll want written confirmation that the debt has nothing to do with you and that also the bailiffs/DCA have been called off.

There's not much you can do about the bailiff as they've been instructed by NPower and until told by NPower to stop will continue.

There's info on dealing with DCAs' here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1837507

Rule of thumb is the more you get hassled by the DCA the more you hassle NPower :rotfl:

RobertoMoir

speedfreek1000 wrote: »

Write a formal letter of complaint to NPower disputing the debt and the way you are being treated. You can of course insist they put any bailiff action on hold until they have investigated your claim and that they should do so straight away.

Send that recorded delivery then start escalating it once its received.

You'll want written confirmation that the debt has nothing to do with you and that also the bailiffs/DCA have been called off.

There's not much you can do about the bailiff as they've been instructed by NPower and until told by NPower to stop will continue.

There's info on dealing with DCAs' here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1837507

Rule of thumb is the more you get hassled by the DCA the more you hassle NPower :rotfl:

Debt Collectors, which is who npower are using, are not bailiffs. It's an important distinction.

Ignite

Time to contact Consumer Direct and make a complaint through them. If you aren't getting anywhere with nPower, they will take up your complaint and you should get put through to somebody higher up in nPower to deal with everything.

iwhite

Buchanan Clark and Wells are a complete bunch of **^%$$££((*ers

They will send you letters and will not listen to your reason...they have chased me for statute barred debts (which were paid off by the way) and they will not reason with you, over the past 5 years I have had numerous letters from them, they just go in the bin now......

They never carry through with there threats and I have yet to hear about anyone who they have chased being doorstepped by them, I just ignore them and enjoy the fact that they are wasting their money sending me letters...