Warning and advice about LCS Utility Investigation Civil Enforcement Debt Recoveries

fatbelly

HardDoneBy62 wrote: »

Hey, I’ve only been offered a 10% Discount :mad:
Also the letter is addressed to “the legal owner”. Do they really not know the name of the debtor?

If it's LCS they won't even know what day it is

HardDoneBy62

HardDoneBy62 wrote: »

Hey, I’ve only been offered a 10% Discount :mad:
Also the letter is addressed to “the legal owner”. Do they really not know the name of the debtor?

Just to put this in context, I was attempting to reply to post which stated they had been offered a 20% discount if they settled the account now. I have only been offered 10%

I have a similar letter and it seems like they are doing me a favour big time. They are of course disappointed that I still haven't paid despite all their efforts. Their client - SSE - will instigate legal proceeding against someone and they may incur further expenses.

To be honest, I have no idea who this is for or who will be liable for the additional expenses.

And who is 'Rebecca Carter'? I think she should get a proper job.

WhenIam64

I have also reported them to the OFT etc

OFT was closed down in 2014.

fatbelly

See https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=72974617&postcount=277

tobyadams

This thread has been really useful so thank you to all who have contributed.

My situation is that we were moved out of our house in Feb 2017 and put up in a temporary let by the NHBC who were dealing with our claim on our house under the ten year warranty. We moved back into our house in July 2017, but we didn't pay for anything as this was dealt with by the NHBC. Over two years later we have received a letter from LCS demanding £1183.84 for the gas and electric. They are claiming this for the period from Feb 2017 - Feb 2018 at the let property. We can prove that we moved out in July 2017 as we have a letter from the removals firm and we also took meter reading along with photos. We have sent the removals letter along with the readings and are awaiting them to recalculate but they seem to have gone quiet. With the usage we had, the bill would be about £200 max I would think, so not sure what to think???

Should I just wait and see if I hear back? I don't mind paying for energy we have used, but no more than that.

sueturnersmith

I have today received a letter from LCS saying that they are investigating a water supply to my old address and saying that I am the person responsible for that address until 12/08/19. They are demanding payment of 1687 pounds.

The account was in my late husband's name, and he died on 17/08/18. I moved to stay with my daughter when he died, and the house was sold on 11/02/19.

Am I really liable for my late husband's debt, and surely I am not liable for the period 11/02/19 until 12/08/19 when I didn't even own the house?

I am really worried about this. I have a life limiting illness, am disabled, and am in my seventies. I do not have the funds to pay this debt, even if I am liable.

fatbelly

sueturnersmith wrote: »

I have today received a letter from LCS saying that they are investigating a water supply to my old address and saying that I am the person responsible for that address until 12/08/19. They are demanding payment of 1687 pounds.

The account was in my late husband's name, and he died on 17/08/18. I moved to stay with my daughter when he died, and the house was sold on 11/02/19.

Am I really liable for my late husband's debt, and surely I am not liable for the period 11/02/19 until 12/08/19 when I didn't even own the house?

I am really worried about this. I have a life limiting illness, am disabled, and am in my seventies. I do not have the funds to pay this debt, even if I am liable.

If you take a look back at this thread you will see that LCS are notorious for trying to pin things on people who have no liability for a debt. There's nothing to worry about as these are just standard letters sent out by a 17 year-old who will leave the company after a few weeks.

Now it may be, if you were resident till 17/08/18 that you were using water and therefore jointly liable. Equally if the water was billed on a rateable value basis (not metered) then that may apply until 11/02/19 if the property was still furnished*. You certainly would not be liable beyond that date.

However the problem here is that they have only quoted an end date and not a start date.

It is their responsibility to show how much you owe and why, not yours to do their sums for them.

So send a prove-it and let us know what comes back

*

Ofwat say: However, it seems reasonable to regard unfurnished vacant properties as being unoccupied, so we recommend that your company should not charge you.

J115

Firstly, thanks for all the replies above from everyone, they have been very helpful.

I have just been lucky enough to get a letter through my door asking for close to £500..
The letter just says 'THE LEGAL OWNER'.

I had conformation from British Gas that my account had been closed with a balance of £0.

How do you think I should respond? I have been having issues with British Gas for months.

Thank you in advance.

fatbelly

J115 wrote: »

Firstly, thanks for all the replies above from everyone, they have been very helpful.

I have just been lucky enough to get a letter through my door asking for close to £500..
The letter just says 'THE LEGAL OWNER'.

I had conformation from British Gas that my account had been closed with a balance of £0.

How do you think I should respond? I have been having issues with British Gas for months.

Thank you in advance.

So LCS have written to you to say that you owe a sum to British Gas and British Gas have told you that you owe nothing. Hopefully you have that in writing. If so, I'd just ignore LCS.

You say you 'had' confirmation of a zero balance then you have been having issues with British Gas for months. Did they initially say you had a zero balance then change their mind? If so, use the prove-it letter.

J115

Thank you for your reply.

When I say 'had' I meant prior to receiving the conformation of zero balance. This was sent to me in a text from BT when they closed my complaint.

Do you think this is enough? Should I respond, or wait for further communications?