Warning and advice about LCS Utility Investigation Civil Enforcement Debt Recoveries

snake152

Hi all,

This is my first post - I was hoping I could get some advice on an issue with LCS.

I moved out of my [rented] house in October to a new area and closed down accounts etc. with all my utility providers (sending proof to the landlord as requested, in the form of screenshots of the final payments being completed online).

I am now getting emails from LCS as below:

Dear Sir / Madam,

We need to speak to you about a EDF Energy matter as soon as possible. Please contact us quoting your reference number XXXXXXX.

- You can call us on 0808 208 4560
- Request us to call you via (their weblink) (over 90% of calls are returned within 10 minutes)
- Reply to this email, ensuring your case reference XXXXXXX remains in the subject line


Thank you
LCS

Now, I am assuming LCS don't have any other information aside from my email address, as they're not stating the property in question, and addressing me as 'Sir/Madam'. Reading through this thread, the best course of action I am assuming is to just ignore these people. My fear is that the account with EDF wasn't closed for some reason, and a bill has racked up (and been unpaid) after I left the property. I do know new tenants moved in almost immediately after I left, so surely EDF would be been alerted they're billing 2 accounts for the same property? Right? If this is the case, am I responsible, and do I have to pay the outstanding fees (I have no idea how much they are) even though I moved out of the property?

My biggest concern is that I left a forwarding address with my landlord (he insisted I did before he returned my security deposit) which he passed onto the new tenants to forward any letters with. If LCS send someone to the property, they can likely get my details from them.

So, my questions I guess are these:

- Should I contact EDF/LCS and explain the situation as outlined above?
- Should I be concerned that they could get my details from my previous address' current tennants?
- Am I liable for the outstanding ammount?
- If LCS attempt to start legal action, will I be effected (credit rating etc.)

Thanks in advance for any assistance/insight you may be able to offer. This thread has already been very useful so far, as I've never been in this sort of situation before and have no idea what to do.

[Deleted User]

snake152 wrote: »

My biggest concern is that I left a forwarding address with my landlord which he passed onto the new tenants to forward any letters with..

He is in breach of the DPA.

Marrtinnn

Hi，everyone I‘m a international student in Scotland. Recently I was received a letter in my new address from LCS claiming i owe them £883 for a british gas bill of my old dress. I was moved from this property at 3/09/2013 and according to the letter, the bill is about the gas supply between 06/08/2013 and 31/08/2013. Actually
before i moved out, every bill I've got has been paid. I do not know why this letter has been posted to my new flat after 6 MONTHS later. I do not know to do with
this letter.

Should i just ignore it? Or should I just write 'Wrong mail' on the cover and pop it in the mail box when the second letter is coming?

From my opinion, I do not think I should pay for the bill. They cannot just ask a company to mail me 6 month later for charges I do not know.

Can anyone help me please! I cannot afford the bill.

Thank you very much!

Marrtinnn

Even if I just left a bill unpaid in the old address but its not as much as they claimed，that is an impossible number. And this property is managed by a letting agency. I trust they do have responsibility to close the account when we moved out.(Some new tenants moved in at 04/09/2013).

Marrtinnn

Dear fatbelly, can you help me? I‘m a international student in Scotland. Recently I was received a letter in my new address with my name from LCS claiming i owe them £883 for a british gas bill of my old dress. I was moved from this property at 3/09/2013 and according to the letter, the bill is about the gas supply between 06/08/2013 and 31/08/2013. Actually
before i moved out, every bill I've got has been paid. I do not know why this letter has been posted to my new flat after 6 MONTHS later. I do not know to do with
this letter.

Should i just ignore it? Or should I just write 'Wrong mail' on the cover and pop it in the mail box when the second letter is coming?

From my opinion, I do not think I should pay for the bill. They cannot just ask a company to mail me 6 month later for charges I do not know.Even if I just left a bill unpaid in the old address but its not as much as they claimed，that is an impossible number.

Can you help me please! I cannot afford the bill.

Thank you very much!

fatbelly

Marrtinnn wrote: »

Dear fatbelly, can you help me? I‘m a international student in Scotland. Recently I was received a letter in my new address with my name from LCS claiming i owe them £883 for a british gas bill of my old dress. I was moved from this property at 3/09/2013 and according to the letter, the bill is about the gas supply between 06/08/2013 and 31/08/2013. Actually
before i moved out, every bill I've got has been paid. I do not know why this letter has been posted to my new flat after 6 MONTHS later. I do not know to do with
this letter.

Should i just ignore it? Or should I just write 'Wrong mail' on the cover and pop it in the mail box when the second letter is coming?

From my opinion, I do not think I should pay for the bill. They cannot just ask a company to mail me 6 month later for charges I do not know.Even if I just left a bill unpaid in the old address but its not as much as they claimed，that is an impossible number.

Can you help me please! I cannot afford the bill.

Thank you very much!

This is probably going to sound obvious. You have two options. One is to ignore this. The downside is that this may follow you around, even if you change address.

The other is to engage with them and see if they can prove you used £883 of gas in 25 days and didn't pay for it. The standard prove-it letter is a sticky at the head of this board. The problem here is that they may well just send you numbers that 'prove' their position.

If you go down the latter route there is an Ombudsman who you can refer this to once you have BGas's final response:

http://www.ombudsman-services.org/complaining-to-the-company-energy.html

nicoswart

Its not only British Gas using these debt collectors, I just received an email asking for me to contact them:

Dear Sir / Madam,

We need to speak to you about a EDF Energy matter as soon as possible. Please contact us quoting your reference number 6269565.

- You can call us on 0844 543 9011
- Request us to call you via (website) (over 90% of calls are returned within 10 minutes)
- Reply to this email, ensuring your case reference 6269565 remains in the subject line


Thank you
LCS

I have decided to delete it after coming on this site.

Marrtinnn

fatbelly wrote: »

This is probably going to sound obvious. You have two options. One is to ignore this. The downside is that this may follow you around, even if you change address.

The other is to engage with them and see if they can prove you used £883 of gas in 25 days and didn't pay for it. The standard prove-it letter is a sticky at the head of this board. The problem here is that they may well just send you numbers that 'prove' their position.

If you go down the latter route there is an Ombudsman who you can refer this to once you have BGas's final response:



Thank you very much ，I decide to ignore this letter after check my payment record.

snake152

Hi all,

So further to my post dated 06-02-2014, I have received the following letter from LCS:

My name,
My adrdess,

06/03/2014

Our Case Ref: xxxxxxx
Our Client: EDF Energy
Client Ref: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Offer of Settlement - Without Prejudice

We have previously written to you concerning your outstanding balance of £54.52 owed to the above named client. We are disappointed to see that despite our efforts the balance remains unpaid.

We have recommended to our client two potential scenarios for the recovery of this outstanding debt.

1. We will instigate formal Legal proceedings against you within 10 days. Further expenses may incur including court fees, legal representation, interest and admistrative charges.

Alternatively

2. We provide you with an opportunity to settle the account now and take advantage of a one off full and final settlement discount of 20% (i.e. the amount required to settle this account will be £43.62)

This will be your only opportunity to settle the account at a discount. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the reduction, made without prejudice and subject to withdrawal and expiry after 14 days from receipt of this letter.

Please contact us on 0844 543 9011 within the timeframe indicated above to make payment.

For and on behalf of,

Rebecca Carter
LCS

As I suspected, they have obtained my details from the current tenants in my former property.

Owing to a previous letter explaining the due fees, they refer to a period between July 2012, and October 2013. Though I was the tenant at that property during this time, upon moving out and closing my accounts with EDF I settled all due funds on my account in November 2013. (Thankfully my former landlord wouldn't release my security deposit until I emailed proof these bills were payed, and as such I have screenshots of the payment process (in November) sitting in my email account).

What is the best approach here (keeping in mind I have about a week left before they 'allegedly' will "investigate formal legal proceedings"). Should I continue to ignore their correspondence in the hopes they'll give up, or throw the towel in and pay the reduced amount?

Any thoughts and advice here would be greatly appreciated.

Widelats

snake152 wrote: »

Hi all,

So further to my post dated 06-02-2014, I have received the following letter from LCS:



As I suspected, they have obtained my details from the current tenants in my former property.

Owing to a previous letter explaining the due fees, they refer to a period between July 2012, and October 2013. Though I was the tenant at that property during this time, upon moving out and closing my accounts with EDF I settled all due funds on my account in November 2013. (Thankfully my former landlord wouldn't release my security deposit until I emailed proof these bills were payed, and as such I have screenshots of the payment process (in November) sitting in my email account).

What is the best approach here (keeping in mind I have about a week left before they 'allegedly' will "investigate formal legal proceedings"). Should I continue to ignore their correspondence in the hopes they'll give up, or throw the towel in and pay the reduced amount?

Any thoughts and advice here would be greatly appreciated.

Totally ignore them. You do not owe this money.