Warning and advice about LCS Utility Investigation Civil Enforcement Debt Recoveries

amyjade20

Hi just wondering if anyone had some advice for me
I have received a letter today saying that I owe 557.37 to Scottish power, we're I have been sent a letter from lcs, the thing is when I lived in the property payment was paid every month with out fail. When I moved out I rang Scottish power to close my account I then received a letter saying I had no outstanding payments yet they are now trying to tell me that I owe them money, I have spoken to them before and they told me the reason why I owed this money was because I was put on the wrong rate which is not my problem it's there's.
Therefore I am only young and a worriery and wondered if anyone can help

Thanks

SensibleSally

I have received a letter today saying that I owe 557.37 to Scottish power, we're I have been sent a letter from lcs, the thing is when I lived in the property payment was paid every month with out fail. When I moved out I rang Scottish power to close my account I then received a letter saying I had no outstanding payments yet they are now trying to tell me that I owe them money, I have spoken to them before and they told me the reason why I owed this money was because I was put on the wrong rate which is not my problem it's there's.

I can't post links, but if you google 'uSwitch' and back-billing, there is some info explaining your situation.

In short, it says you won't have to pay if it's been more than 12 months since you moved out, or if the error is solely theirs, which it seems to be.

VEA88

I have had 1 phone call from this company who inform me that I owe Scottish Power for an outstanding debt ... even though I was never supplied by them as I switched to British Gas before I even moved in!!


They had my previous correspondence address as somewhere in Manchester!! I have never lived in Manchester in my life!! I asked where they had got this address from and they said they couldn't tell me .. I informed them they have the wrong person and now want me to send a copy of my tenancy agreement to prove the date I moved in .. how about no!!!


This debt does not even appear on my credit rating!! And I can no longer log into my Scottish Power account (as I closed it instantly!) I have so far only had 2 phone calls, neither of which I have answered and the first time I called them back from my works number only because I googled and found they were a debt recovery agency!


They said they had written to me ... I have received nothing so they said 'oh it must've gone to your previous correspondence address in Manchester' .. before this house I lived with my parents so I didn't even have anything to do with the utilities!!! They even told me the address I lived at as to which they were chasing the debt ... I still haven't received any letters!!


JOKERS!!!!!

ArianSandra

Beware telephoning this company. It has cost me £19 to speak to them about a tax credit reclaim error. Their website says to call on the number they give you in the letter or alternatively 0113 297 7530. The number in the letter is an 0844 number - why not just give the 0113 number in the letter? Shady behaviour!

Ian011

ArianSandra wrote: »

It has cost me £19 to speak to them about a tax credit reclaim error. The number in the letter is an 0844 number!

New FCA regulations effective 26 October 2015 require an 01, 02, 03 or 080 number. The new rules ban the use of 084, 087 and 09 numbers.

Make sure they refund your call costs.

woodworm001

Hi everyone.

Received one of these letters from LCS today (with my name on) regarding an outstanding balance of £1300 I supposedly owe British Gas. I've spoken to BG this evening and they are going to call me back next week.

I moved out of a property on 1st December 2014 and forgot to take meter readings, so when I contacted them at the time they closed the account with an estimated meter reading. As I paid by monthly DD my account was in credit and I received a refund of £330 in December. In February 2015 I received an email from them stating my account was £914 in credit which they later refunded that month.

Although I thought this was nice bonus I didn't really question it as when I checked my accounts previously they had always been hundreds of pounds in credit (they had refunded in previous years).

I don't mind repaying the money if I owe it to them, though I'm annoyed at the way it's occurred as they contacted me to tell me they were going to refund me and I'm even more annoyed that they haven't contacted me once since February and the first I hear about it is a letter from LCS (I'm not contacting them).

Anyway, when I spoke to BG tonight they have said that they have revised my estimated meter reading (maybe the new owners sent them one). The lady at the call centre said it would take 5 days to update my account hence the phone call next week.

I take it I'm doing the right thing dealing with BG directly and ignoring LCS? What should I be saying to them when they do ring back?

Jaycee1946

I have been arguing with these people for 6 months over an alleged bill outstanding with British Gas. i have an email from British Gas saying that the account is cleared, but LCS just keep sending computer generated letters. Eventually they did send me a copy of the "bill". It was for an amount less than they are claiming and I have a receipt for that bill anyway. I have now reported LCS to the energy ombudsman and asked for compensation for harassment.

fatbelly

Jaycee1946 wrote: »

I have been arguing with these people for 6 months over an alleged bill outstanding with British Gas. i have an email from British Gas saying that the account is cleared, but LCS just keep sending computer generated letters. Eventually they did send me a copy of the "bill". It was for an amount less than they are claiming and I have a receipt for that bill anyway. I have now reported LCS to the energy ombudsman and asked for compensation for harassment.

See what they say.

The option of a court claim for compensation is still open to you after they give their verdict.

You can't do it the other way around.

Raewood_2

I have just received my first letter from LCS stating that I owe over £100 for an 'unresolved British Gas matter'. Relating to a previous address which I rented from Dec 2011 until Dec 2013. They state it is for a gas connection at this address between Dec 2008 - Dec 2014. As far as I am aware there was no gas connection when I lived there. Everything was electric so if the gas was connected I wasn't using it for anything. I had no dealings at all with BG when I lived there which proves I was not using gas, so this is extremely suspicious.
What has annoyed me the most is that somehow they have managed to track me down to my current address and yet I also have no dealings with BG at this address as there is no gas supply here either.
I intend to ignore this letter but am worried that this may show up on my credit score? Does anyone know if this is possible please?
Many thanks in advance.

fatbelly

Raewood wrote: »

I have just received my first letter from LCS stating that I owe over £100 for an 'unresolved British Gas matter'. Relating to a previous address which I rented from Dec 2011 until Dec 2013. They state it is for a gas connection at this address between Dec 2008 - Dec 2014. As far as I am aware there was no gas connection when I lived there. Everything was electric so if the gas was connected I wasn't using it for anything. I had no dealings at all with BG when I lived there which proves I was not using gas, so this is extremely suspicious.
What has annoyed me the most is that somehow they have managed to track me down to my current address and yet I also have no dealings with BG at this address as there is no gas supply here either.
I intend to ignore this letter but am worried that this may show up on my credit score? Does anyone know if this is possible please?
Many thanks in advance.

It's unlikely to appear on your credit file but you can get a free check from Noddle, and a £2 statutory report from Experian/Equifax may be worth doing.

Personally I would recommend you send them a prove-it as they have made a specific allegation.