Urgent Help needed Re:Help!! Robinson Way Ltd Unknown Debt

Fabstar

Hey Everyone,

I am in need of some serious help, a couple of weeks ago I posted a thread on here regards a debt that I had no knowledge of.

Hey Everyone,

I'm new to this forum, so please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong forum.

I've just registered in order to obtain some advice regards a debt demand, which I have received out of the blue.
Basically, a couple of weeks ago I received a letter from Robinsons Way Ltd, which was asking me "for the purpose of validation" if I had lived at the address stated in the letter, I had indeed lived in the address stated but was concerned how they knew. I had found out that they were debt collectors and read another consumers issue with them exactly like mine, in which they were told to avoid them as they were "fishing" at the moment. I also did the same and avoided them until recently.

Recently I received a demand from them for £147. Its stated as due to Robinsons way limited (ex british gas), I am unaware if they are collecting on behalf of British Gas or they have bought the debt themselves off british gas in order to collect. It has been 3 years since I have lived at my previous address and the debt they are chasing is confusing. The reason why I say it is confusing because, with the gas supply and electricity supply in my previous house they were only operated by key/card so no bills were sent home. I am very concerned about this debt and I would really appreciate it if there is anybody out there who could help me with this situation that I am stuck in.

Any Suggestions or help is very much appreciated.

Michael,

Regards to that thread, I took advice from some very helpful people and sent Robinsons Way Ltd the "prove it" letter. Since then I have received another demand from them and they have not given me proof or evidence that I owe them the money. In this letter it consists of an account number, Due to Robinson Way Limited (Ex BRITISH GAS) and the amount due to them which is £147.

They have also written NOTE...IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED. along with TAKE NOTICE, if you fail or neglect to pay this account further action maybe taken to recover the amount due.

I am concerned about this debt and I do not know what I shall do. I am concerned for my family and own health and safety. Please help me.

Any comment or advice is much appreciated.

SusieT

Do you have the date that the letter you sent was delivered (you can check on the Royal Mail site), if so could the letters have crossed in the post?
Have they sent any aknowlegment for your letter? If you did not send it recorded delivery then unless someone who knows more than me says differently I would send it again (making sure it is signed for) so that they cannot say they did not get it.
Whatever you do don't phone them!

Fabstar

Thank you guys for your replies, SusieT, answering your question first I did not send it recorded signed delivery, only by first class post which was very foolish of me to do and I will be sending them another letter by recorded signed delivery. To GeorgeUK, I did not have any reason to contact BG regards me moving because all of the Gas and Electricity facilities were operated by Card/Key inserted into a gas/electricity box which was already there when I moved in, in order for me to be able to operate the Gas and electricity would mean for me to top up the card/key.

My very last question, If i send them the prove it letter and they still demand the amount without providing me evidence that I do owe it to them, what shall I do?

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

Michael,

IceNinja

Hi Fabstar,

My Mum experienced something similar to this with a car/key meter. Basically the meter was set at the wrong rate and wasn't fully covering the gas/elec she was using, hence a bill still being sent. She didn't pay but when we looked at the fine print we were wrong and had to settle the outstanding amount.

M

Principia_2

I know it's more money but don't send it recorded delivery send it special delivery next day.

Recorded delivery is often signed for by the posties and doesn't necessarily show as delivered on the RM website even when it has been. It's much more secure to send it Special Delivery.

GeorgeUK

I'm not sure of the best way forward with this, but it may depend on when they billed you for the extra gas. If there was an error in the meter readings, then they can only reclaim back 1 year's worth. You would need to know how many units you used in that time and how many you paid for (one year after they issued that bill). If it was more than a year ago then you don't owe anything.
http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5406&p_created=1210073284&p_sid=9Kz5crrj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD02MjYsNjI2JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

Not sure if you need to send a SAR to the company to get this information or not, but before you even look at this, you need to know if the debt is yours or not. You have already asked them for this information and have received nothing - do not volunteer any more information to them. If they ask when you lived at that address, do not tell them.

IF the debt is yours, they need to show that this is the case.
IF they show this, then they also need to inform you of the amount they are reclaiming, when they are claiming this from, when their original claim was made so you can see if it was more than a year between them requesting the backdated payment, and also you need to know how many units were used in the year from the date of their claim and how many units you paid for in that year.

First thing though is to send a letter of complaint to BG headquarters as you have requested proof that the debt is yours, then you require proof that the debt is owed. The DCA has not given you any information and should not be hounding you for payment if the debt is not yours or owed.

DVardysShadow

Fabstar wrote: »

Hey Everyone,

I am in need of some serious help, a couple of weeks ago I posted a thread on here regards a debt that I had no knowledge of.

Regards to that thread, I took advice from some very helpful people and sent Robinsons Way Ltd the "prove it" letter. Since then I have received another demand from them and they have not given me proof or evidence that I owe them the money. In this letter it consists of an account number, Due to Robinson Way Limited (Ex BRITISH GAS) and the amount due to them which is £147.

They have also written NOTE...IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED. along with TAKE NOTICE, if you fail or neglect to pay this account further action maybe taken to recover the amount due.

I am concerned about this debt and I do not know what I shall do. I am concerned for my family and own health and safety. Please help me.

Any comment or advice is much appreciated.

Original thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/36100131#Comment_36100131

Fabstar it really is best to continue posing in the same thread to give some continuity to those trying to help.

You are not in need of very serious help, they have just frightened you and I am afraid to say, you are overreacting. They probably recognise the 'prove it' letter and are deliberately ignoring it, hoping to panic you into paying up. You have sent the 'prove it' letter and until they prove it, there is nothing they can do. If they take it to court, they have to prove it. And if they try to take you to court after you have asked them to prove it, without actually having proved it, they will look stupid as well as being in the position of having breached court procedures.

Relax. Send the 'prove it' again, get proof of posting and keep a copy of your letter. Let them run around avoiding your letter if they must.

Fabstar

Thank you very much for your help, much appreciated.DVardysShadow, Thank you for your reply, I understand that I may be overeacting to the situation, and I am genuinely sorry. This is my first time dealing with DCA as I have never been in debt before. I intend to resend them the prove it letter with proof of posting and see what they have to respond to this. I will update this thread once my current situation changes.

Thank you all for your help,

Fabstar,

DVardysShadow

Fabstar wrote: »

and I am genuinely sorry.

Don't be sorry. It is understandable that you are, but if you are dealing with a debt collector they tend to see if they can intimidate deferential people. So don't be deferential. Practice growling and clawing the air in front of your mirror so you know what to do if they can be bothered to send someone round to you.

Fabstar

Practice growling and clawing the air in front of your mirror so you know what to do if they can be bothered to send someone round to you.

Will bear that in mind , thank you so much for your advice.

Fabstar,

Fabstar

Hey Everyone,

First and foremost I would like to thank all those who have given me useful advice. I have recently received a letter from Robinson's Way limited regarding to the "prove it" letter that I sent to them.

In this letter, they now refer to my 2nd previous address rather than the one they sent me a letter about "for the purpose of validating, could you please confirm you live here etc." This has confused me because, if they were to referring to a debt that I supposedly owe, why have they not contacted me regarding that address but instead using my previous address. for example, I received the letter for the purpose of validation regarding my previous address, but now they have written to me about an address of my residence before my previous address.

In addition, the debt is regarding a british gas electricity bill which the billing period is for the 18th of may 2006 - 1st of november 2006 and then billed on the 7th of february of 2007, in which I had already moved out onto temporary accomodation from november 2006 until 21st of January 2007, where by then I moved into my permanent house.

Not sure what they are trying to do and I have not got a clue on what to write to them or what proof I need to submit.

If you require me to type the full letter so that you can help me, please let me know.

And thank you for taking your time to read this. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you