Unexpected iQor & Severn Trent water bill

Jimf83

Over a year ago I was living in a shared rented apartment with a friend/work colleague. I then left the apartment and bought a house on my own, and haven't seen or heard anything of the other person since.

A couple of weeks ago I recieved a letter and called the number on it. I was told that there was an outstanding payment of around £240 from a Severn Trent bill from 2009 some time. I said that when I'd left the apartment im sure i'd arranged all the bill etc, and thought i'd paid up with Severn Trent. I have never (until a few days ago) seen a bill from them, they new I no longer lived at the appartment but never sent it to my new address.
They [people on the phone] went away to queried it.

Yesterday I recieved a phone call from iQor demanding payment etc. etc. I said I would not be arranging anything until i've seen some paperwork from them. They left it at that. I had another phone call today - to which I told them I had spoken to somebody yesterday, to whichthey went away again.

If payment is genuinly due, then I'll pay it. But my main query is, both my name and the name of the other person is on the letters and the bill. I never put JUST my name to anything (and sure i didn't sign anything with Severn Trent), so do I only need to pay half. As i don't hear from the other person, i cant get the other half of the money - but is that really my job? Surely they're the recovery agency, and they've got hold of my address etc from somewhere so surely they can get hold of the other person in the same way!?!

Any help and/or advice would be much appreciated.

Kindest Regards,

J

DVardysShadow

All the parties named on the bill are 'jointly and severally' liable. Google on 'jointly and severally'. It means they can pursue any person named on the bill for the whole lot - none of this 'my half' cuts any ice.

A hard lesson to learn, you could take the other person to court if you can find them and they won't pay up. When you left, you should have told ST that you were leaving and paid a bill up to date. You should demand copies of all bills and check them carefully. If the bill goes beyond the date you left, then you should challenge it after that date, particularly if you did tell them at that time.