Warning and advice about LCS Utility Investigation Civil Enforcement Debt Recoveries

LAINEY81

Yes please. I'll email you.

Rippone

Hi all,

I have a similar problem as one posted above.

I moved out from my old house one year and some months ago.
I phoned EDF Energy to close my account (as I was going to open one with British Gas in my new accommodation).

Surprisingly after one year I discovered that EDF Energy didn't close the account and that the people living in my old house never paid the gas bill - and they never tried to put it under their name.

The debt is of £400 more or less. I tried to collect the money from the people living there but they refused.

I was on benefits the day I changed address so I have a proof I have been living in a new place. But I have no written confirmation I closed my EDF account.

Would you write to LCS explaining them that's not my fault and that I have proofs I moved out more than one year ago?
Or I have no excuses as the bill was under my name and I have to pay?

Thanks for any help. Although I am lucky enough to have a job in this bad economic situation, £400 will hurt very badly my savings.
Moreover, I am also afraid of how much money I will have to pay in case LCS will bring me to court. Any ideas of the fee in case I will lose the trial?

Shake2wake

I'm a Landlord and my previous tenants moved out of my property last year leaving behind a number of outstanding utility bills. I have recently received a letter from LCS exactly as a number of you have detailed, however, I didn't read this forum before I emailed them a reply about 20minutes ago.
Fortunately, I only gave them my name and my "spam" email address as I now live overseas and do not have any UK contact details.
I have proof of previous tenants' dates and copy of their tenancy agreement, but I do wish I'd taken the time to read this forum prior to emailing them. Let's see what happens from here. Thanku all for your helpful posts.

the_foz

i got a letter from these clowns demanding payment of a gas bill from june 11 until jan 12 for £189 when i said i moved out before in the april 11 they told me to provide documents which i sent them photocopies registered post since then i have had 2 letters a week demanding payment of the bill and also stating in the letter that i am lying about getting in contact with them i then sent the photocopied documents once more plus a threatening letter of legal action against them for bullying and harrassment and a bill for ink costs envelopes and postage to send documents to them i havent heard anything since touch wood

jjenzz

I just received the following from LCS:

Dear Sir / Madam,
Our Case Ref: [???????]

Utility Investigation

We are currently conducting an investigation into the utility supply at Flat [???], [?? ???? ????], London, [?? ???]. In order to help us progess with the investigation we would greatly appreciate you confirming the details below.

* Your name:
* Date of Occupancy to the Address Detailed:
* Name of Previous Occupier if Known:
* Forwarding Address of the Previous Occupier:
* Landlords Name and Telephone No/Address:
* Any other information deemed relevant to this enquiry:

There are a number of ways to confirm these details, please choose the most convenient for you.

* Online at www [dot] lcso [dot] co [dot] uk
* By email to contact [at] lcsdr [dot] com quoting our case reference
* By post to - FREEPOST LCS INVESTIGATIONS (Please do not include a postcode)
* By phone on 0808 208 4560 (freephone)

Any information you provide is used purely to assist with the resolution of the utility supply at the address stated above and we will not release your details to any third parties. All information received is regarded with the strictest confidence.

Thank you in anticipation.

Yours Faithfully,

My first reaction when reading this was "this sounds dodgy"...

They know nothing about me, the previous tenant, landlord or who provides utilities to this flat. It doesn't even mention that I owe any money?? After reading that, I have no idea who they are or why I need to provide the information they are after! I googled and came here and wasn't surprised to find what I've found.

I can only assume they are trying to find out information so they can check if any debt is owed and then will chase me if there is... no way I'm falling for that.

I'll be keeping quiet as others are and will let you know if I hear anything else from them.

datlex

I just got a letter from them. Rang them withholding my number. They said case was on behalf of Scottish and Southern Electric. Told them I had moved in in December. Did not tell them my name. Told them previous tennant was guest of her majesty!! Did not tell them his name. Told them to contact Landlord themselves.

Any further correspondence will be shredded!!!

No worries about court proceedings as they have to prove debt is person's who is being pursued. Can totally ignore any court threats!!

rosy12

Hi i am looking for a it help please !
I have received several phone calls from LCS phoning on behalf of British Gas saying that I am owe about £300 from an unpaid Gas and electric bill from my previous address. On the first call they had said the bill was up until 1st June 2012 however I advised them I moved out on 27 April 2012 and it was wrong.
They said they would look into this and then called the next day saying the bill was until 27th April 2012. I told them that my landlord had withheld my deposit in order to settle these bills and offered to give the landlords address as he had the money set aside for these. I was told this was not an option and I needed to pay that day and sort things out with the landlord myself. I refused and asked them not to send anything to my old address as I was no longer there. They then asked for a forwarding address which I refused to provide.I have then received several phone calls from them and seem to just go over the same thing time and time again with them but yet they still just don’t give up.
They are saying I am responsible for this bill as the account was in my name and don’t listen to me when I say that they had the incorrect dates and the landlord has there money and speak to him. Unfortunately me and my old landlord are not on talking terms as a result of this whole deposit situation so its not as if I can contact him and say for him to phone them (pretty sure he would refuse anyway)

What can this company do and how can I get them to stop hassling me???
Hope somebody can help !

fatbelly

Do you suspect that this amount is not genuinely the amount due up to 27 April 2012? It's a shame you gave them that information first as they then knew what date to quote back to you and you may find that confirmed in writing. You could try contacting British Gas to ask them 'how much do you allege I owe and for what period?'

Unfortunately they are correct (unless you had some other contractual arrangement) to say that you were liable for the gas/elec charges during the period you lived there.

If the landlord has withheld your deposit without good reason, then you should start a court claim against him. The first step would be to write demanding the deposit in full and requiring his response within 14 days 'otherwise I will start a county court claim against you'

rosy12

thanks for your response

i think that the amount is about right but i am still reluctant to pay this as my old landlord has the money for this which should have been returned to me.
if i am to contact british gas or my old landlord and give them my new address to reply to then LCS would get it straight away and then i assume there bullying letters would be coming all the time. i tried to explain for them to contact the landlord who should pay but the are just refusing.
other than my phone they have no way of getting in touch with me so is there much they can do ?
im in no way trying to avoid paying a bill that is mines as at the end of the day i used the gas and electricity but its the fact my deposit was witheld to pay them and it hasnt been done.

LAINEY81

I'm a bit the same as yourself and I just completely ingnored them!!!!

Haven't heard from them in 8 months since!!!!
so I'm hoping thats the end of it. Whatever you do don't give them your new address if at all possible.

Hope you get it all sorted
Lainey81