Being chased over a debt that's not mine.

theunderground

I moved into a flat Summer 2009. When I moved into the flat I received a letter from Eon saying please contact me regarding the electricity supply. I contacted Eon and they said that there was a mistake, they don't supply my apartment, they supply the apartment below (Apartment 1, mine is Apartment 2) and my supplier was EDF. Since then I have been paying EDF until I moved out Summer 2010. In Jan of this year I received a letter from Buchanan Clark and Wells at my new address, demanding £700 + £200 admin cost for Apartment 1 (the apartment below) I contacted them and said it wasn't mine. They instructed that I sent in a signed copy of my Tenancy agreement for Apartment 2, which I did and they then put the debt on hold. They are now aggressively chasing me demanding the money, saying that Eon have instructed them to do so, as its my debt!!! I have explained the situation again and they say if I don't pay legal action will follow. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do???

Help much appreciated

eurmalian

Did you ever compare your meter serial number against the ones on both bills? As you may find out that this actually is your bill and what's happened is the flat numbers are incorrect on the industry systems. It's a phenomenon known as crossed meters and is unfurtunately more common than anyone would like.

If it does turn out that this is the bill for your meter, even if they have the wrong address, then you'll need to speak to EDF and try to get a refund from them, explaining what has happened (though I don't envy you that).

If the bill that BCW are chasing you for is not your meter however, I'd contact Eon and find out if they actually have any of your details on the account. If they do then you need to get them to sort that out before BCW will leave you alone.

If Eon have none of your details however, then it becomes a case of trying to convince BCW that although they need to pursue someone for this they've got the wrong person, as even though it's Eon who are telling them to get payment it's BCW who have chosen you as the person to harrass, so it's still their resopnsibility.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi theunderground

I agree with eurmalian, this sounds like a crossed meter issue. Was the flat part of a new development?

Sometimes, property developers/builders give us the wrong meter details when they sign developments over. This can lead to an entire set of properties having the wrong meters attached to their accounts.

Not saying this is the case here as crossed meters can occur in other situations too.

We have specialist crossed meter teams who deal exclusively with these issues. I would talk to one of these teams.

Ask for a complaint to be raised. This will put a stop on debt follow up whilst an investigation is carried out.

I can't speak for other suppliers but, if E.ON has received payments for a property supplied by someone else, we will refund the money directly to the customer.

As eurmalian says, if it turns out we are the supplier, you will need to speak to EDF about payments made to them.

Hope this points you in the right direction. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.

Malc

theunderground

Thanks for the advice, the flat was 5 years old when I moved in and the landlord had lived here 5 years previously, but I forgot to ask at the time who the supplier was. I did discuss with EON initially when I moved in and they said it was a mistake on their behalf and that may supplier was EDF. I will contact Eon directly, as BCW are a waste of time. I also never compared the meter and the bill, as I never realised a problem until 5 months after leaving.

t0rt0ise

I'd just like to have a little rant about this if I may. Why is it that Eon and no doubt other suppliers think it's fine to demand money from someone like this without any explanation whatsoever? If Eon know that the meters were crossed why didn't they contact the previous customers and explain the situation instead of simply sending in the boys? They should also have assisted the person to get their money back from the other supplier. What is wrong with people in businesses that they can't see that this would be the right way to behave?

undaunted

t0rt0ise wrote: »

I'd just like to have a little rant about this if I may. Why is it that Eon and no doubt other suppliers think it's fine to demand money from someone like this without any explanation whatsoever? If Eon know that the meters were crossed why didn't they contact the previous customers and explain the situation instead of simply sending in the boys? They should also have assisted the person to get their money back from the other supplier. What is wrong with people in businesses that they can't see that this would be the right way to behave?

:T:T

The trouble with the Energy industry is it's weakly regulated & hence they are always happy to blame someone else - the customer didn't tell us, the developer gave us the wrong information, we didn't know, it wasn't our fault etc - even to the point where the customer states they have been told of the situation previously & they have told him another supplier supplied him?

undaunted

theunderground wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, the flat was 5 years old when I moved in and the landlord had lived here 5 years previously, but I forgot to ask at the time who the supplier was. I did discuss with EON initially when I moved in and they said it was a mistake on their behalf and that may supplier was EDF. I will contact Eon directly, as BCW are a waste of time. I also never compared the meter and the bill, as I never realised a problem until 5 months after leaving.

As you have previously contacted the two suppliers involved & say you have acted in good faith based upon information they provided I suggest you now write to each telling them to talk to each other & get it sorted out between them if there is any doubt about who is supplying this property, also that should you hear from them or BCW again re thye claimed debt in the meantime you will be seeking legal advice re harrassment (it is not harrassment to chase a genuine debt but may be if it's not - Google Npower & Mr Poncelot for an example of a fairly recent successful claim against Npower).

As for BCW I just wouldn't talk to them at all (tell them so in writing) if you wish but you're not obliged to do so. They have no interest in disputes only collecting cash & their fee for it.

It's upto Eon not them whether any legal action is taken & in these ciscumstances (ie you submitting a complaint) I very much doubt that it will be - what Judge is going to symapathise with their negligence?

theunderground

Thanks for the advice. I have sent a recorded letter to BCW saying my stance and too stop calling, I have also written a letter to both EDF and Eon (recorded delivery), explaining the situation. I find it strange that after the initial week of moving in, I heard nothing from Eon, until a letter from BCW 9 months later.... It seems that Eon don't have particularly strong organisation skills.... I also managed to find the name of the guy I spoke to at Eon in one of my old diaries who said that they weren't the supplier, so that went straight in the letter. We will see....