Please advise?

killerpeaty

I'm a student, so moved into my current student house in september but rented it from july, I think, with my boyfriend, we're the only ones in the house. We moved in and found a letter from british gas telling us to pay £100 for the summer, we rang up saying we haven't been here and the metre is actually under the beginning quote. Apparently sorted.

A month later, they billed us for the summer again, this time it's more, we rang up and again sorted.

A month ago we got another bill from the company that "our" debt has been sold to, this for the september-november period, we had already paid for this period (80ish), for more than £130! The letter also told us that if we didn't pay then we'd be fined and then taken to court. Again, rang up, apparently sorted.

This past week we have received another letter telling us to pay the money or we'll be taken to court. Rang up, apparently there's nothing more we can do, we have contacted our landlord and the agency who has rented this to us who are apparently trying to help us. Apparently the agency had made a mistake that we now are being threatened over.

So what can I do? We really can't afford the extra payment, we're both students, our rent is high, my boyfriend works but he's strugging. I would work but I have a pain disorder that means I can't stand for too long so all the typical student jobs (bar work, sales assistant, etc) are pretty out of reach. We've paid (or overpaid) every other bill we have gotten without fail, can this work in our favour?

So now you know what's going on, any advice? Anywhere I can go? My boyfriend wants to just pay it and get it over with, but it's not our debt and once paid it'll be so hard to get the money back. What would you do?

Thanks in advance.

KimYeovil

Contrary to your suggestion the agency do not appear to be doing much to help nor is the landlord. It is the landlord's responsibility to assume the account between tenancies and any dispute over missing reads is their problem. Unfortunately they have technically foisted it on to you by way of you taking over the contract.

I would concentrate on demanding money from the agency and landlord - it is up to them to track down the previous tenants.

Unfortunately disputes like this are private matters between tenants and landlords and not suppliers. Pay the money and keep a note and if the landlord does not cough up claim it from your deposit when you leave.

killerpeaty

Thank you, I will talk to my boyfriend about it.