Wescot Credit Services chasing me

gozaimasu

Wescot Credit Services are chasing me for a £90 debt relating to a BT account I had 2-3 years ago. I just can't afford to pay the entire £90 on my own because I wasn't even there making phonecalls or using the broadband!!!

I rented an HMO property from an agency with 3 other students and we took out a 12 month contract for phone and broadband. I left before the end of the tenancy and left the BT details with my other flatmates to sort out and pay off when they left.

Obviously those left in charge have not done this and I'm being chased for the money on the remaining 3 months. I spoke to BT and they have told me the date when the account was closed. They couldn't tell me who closed it, so I don't know if they agency did this or if it was my scatty former flatmate. BT also tell me that the account is now in the hands of Wescot and refuse to deal with me directly. I personally would rather not deal with a scamming company who often chase other people for debts they do not owe.

I have asked my former flatmates to pay 25% of the total amount so that I can pay it off and stop Wescot harrassing me, but I'm not sure they'll agree to this. If they don't, can I take them to court? Or should I be passing their details to Wescot and BT? Should I contact the lettings agent and ask them anything?

Am I the only individual legally liable for the debt since the account is in my name only? I can prove that I wasn't in the country at the time the "debt" was incurred, but I realise this does not excuse me since the contract was in my name. When we signed up for gas/leccy they sent us all a letter each in our names, so that we were all equally liable for the money to be paid.

I realise I should have changed the name of the account holder when I left the country, but I'm sure I tried to do this and BT wouldn't let me without paying an astronomical change over fee.

Any advice is much appreciated and I hope I've posted this on the right board. Debt Free Wannabe seems about right even though I don't have that much debt.

[Deleted User]

If the account was in your name only - then you are the only one liable for the debt. Too late now - but you should have either cancelled the contract, or transfered the contract to those still living there before you left the house.

Your best bet is to ask your former flatmates for contributions - however as the BT contract is not in their names tey are not liable - but if you are on good terms with them, you might be in luck.

DarkConvict

Your liable for the account if it was in your name. If it was in your name solely ou are liable for the amount in full, your account your debt that is it in black and white.

If you have no written agreements from flatmates to ensure payment was made and the account closed, then you wont have a leg to stand on in court.

You will be told your account is your responsibility, and as such should have closed it when you left, not leave it to someone else to close and pay the bill.

You probably signed up to a 12 month contract with BT, which is why when asking to leave there would be a charge, the remainder of the contract, ~£10 per month left.

Do you even know if your flatmates paid any of the bills, or just left it alone, is this just a final bill. Although to be honest it won't make any difference.

Edit - Reread your post. The account was in your name, you are going to have to pay. I would recommend using a national debtline template and over like a 50% settlement offer - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/debt_advice.php#6
Factsheet - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=24_full_and_final_settlement_offers

Finally, check your experian and equifax credit report, cost £2 each for the statutory report. You may have negative marks registered.

gozaimasu

I have emails from the former flatmates about bills giving dates and amounts I have paid them in relation to this account. I always paid by cheque, so there is a record of these payments. I also have handwritten notes of all of this, but nothing with a signature from my former flatmates or anything like that.

I realise I'm going to have to pay it one way or another, and that I will probably have to deal with Wescot if BT still refuse to deal with me directly, so in that case, what do I say to Wescot?

I'm thinking I should write them a letter explaining the situation and then offer a settlement like you said. Is it worth giving them the details of my former flatmates in this letter anyway?

DVardysShadow

Domino9 wrote: »

If the account was in your name only - then you are the only one liable for the debt. Too late now - but you should have either cancelled the contract, or transfered the contract to those still living there before you left the house.

Your best bet is to ask your former flatmates for contributions - however as the BT contract is not in their names tey are not liable - but if you are on good terms with them, you might be in luck.

Let us be strictly accurate here. Former flatmates are not liable to BT, but they are liable to OP. OP's problem is to prove that they were by taking it to court if they don't pay up.

gozaimasu

Sorry to bring back on old thread.

I chased my former flatmates for the money but didn't get it, so I wrote a letter to Wescot explaining the situation and offered them 25% of the amount. This was in October 2010 and they completely ignored me.

I recently changed address, so obviously the hounds are back as I now must have another mark on my credit file which has sent Advantis Credit after me THIS MONTH who say:

"Advantis provide profession services to a number of large organisations within the UK.

We have been instructed by our client to verify the current whereabouts of [NAME] formerly resident of [ADDRESS], in relation to an outstanding business matter.

We are writing to verify that we have your correct contact address. If you are the person named above please contact us on [number] to discuss the business matter that requires your urgent attention.

Please accept our apologies if you are not the person named above. We would appreciate it if you would please call us on [number] to confirm this so that we may update our records.

If you do not contact us we will assume that you are the correct person and we will contact you again in order that we can get the matter resolved."

What should I do with this? This clearly breaches some OFT guidelines of debt collection??

I could go down the "prove it" route, but I know that the debt was ran up in my name when I was out of the country, so I am responsible for dealing with this situation. The reason I would want to do this is because I know how harrassing these companies can be, especially to people who don't even owe any debt at all!

They don't actually specify the amount. Should I be expecting it to have gone up in price since the last time I heard from Wescot?

On another note, does changing address at your bank with a normal current account put a note on your credit file? Or only those with credit services such as overdraft, credit card etc?

gozaimasu

I wrote them a letter saying they breached OFT guidelines.

Any ideas on the next step?