Thames Water have passed my details to a Debt Collector

Skintgirlx

I recently was late paying my bill, I rang TW and told them I would be late, I then paid it when I said I could. The TW employee at the time, said it would be no problem so I didn't worry. However got a typical DCA letter, a few days ago, for the bill (which was paid), also they have phoned me!! I told them the first time the bill was paid, but they said I still owed them!! in the end I put the phone down and rang TW who confirmed they had received payment, so all contact would cease frm the DCA. However have had more calls and another letter arrived a few days ago.

I have now blocked my phone and written to TW.

So am waiting to see the outcome.

My main question is how are Thames Water allowed to pass on my home telephone number to the Debt Collection Agency? Surely that is protected under the Data Protection Act 1988?

Can anyone point me in the right direction re: this as I would like to take this further.

Thanks.

BackOnTrack

Thames water are permitted to pass your details to a debt collection agency, as at the time the information was passed a debt was outstanding. See http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/the_guide/conditions_for_processing.aspx for more information.

The issue is these days is that the bill will be passed to a DCA automatically by computer x days after the bill is overdue. So although you have called them to say you will pay by a certain date the computer won't know this and there is unlikely to be anywhere to put this information into a computer. Therefore the bill was most likely passed to a DCA just before you paid the bill. To be honest it sounds as though the DCA is most at fault here as when you told them the bill had been settled with Thames Water they should have gone back to Thames Water and verified this.

Gothicfairy

BOT..tee hee (sorry, in a very stupid mood today) is right.

Someone on the phone can say " oh yeah no problem, pay whenever" but the billing system will still go ahead and do what it is programed to do. Agents are not allowed to suspend billing (front line phone agents that is) as they would then be doing it for everyone and most people do not go on to pay as agreed ( I understand you did but most don't)

It can take up to 14 days for accounts to come back from debt collectors as it is done in batches , it is normally much quicker but it can happen and as it is main billing for RV bills it is probably slower then normal anyway.

Passing on your phone number is allowed so nothing I am afraid you can do there.

You can of course write to the debt company and complain about the many phone calls etc as it would seem they are at fault rather then TW

Skintgirlx

thanks for the replies, I wont bother to pursue the debt collection agencies as whats the point? all I will get is a "sorry letter" if I am lucky. I have blocked my phone which is the main thing. The reason Thames Water had my home tel no. (I never give this out) is that I was trying to get a Water meter and they need my contact details...ho hum, I have blocked Thames Water no. as well seems the only thing I can do to make me feel better about the whole thing, I was only about 13 days late paying as well!! I think TW are a disgusting company!!

BackOnTrack

Yeah charging you £175 for a years worth of clean safe water and sewerage what a complete bunch of b*stards

Skintgirlx

BOT Obviously you work for TW, and you have a foul mouth!! As for the service TW - what do they actually charge an extortionate amount for a natural resource. I can understand the sewage charges but Water falls from the sky!!

Gothicfairy

Problem is that late is late..The system just picks up all late payments and sends them on.

I might have issues with water companies or more correctly OFWAT / Government but in the grand scheme of things a debt going to a debt collection agency and getting phone calls is really not that big of a deal
I think that " disgusting company" is a touch strong when all they did was chase a debt (when it was a debt)

Skintgirlx

A 13 day debt? come-on. Do you work for them as well?

Gothicfairy

Skintgirlx wrote: »

BOT Obviously you work for TW, and you have a foul mouth!! As for the service TW - what do they actually charge an extortionate amount for a natural resource. I can understand the sewage charges but Water falls from the sky!!

So only clean drinking water comes from rain water ? Sewerage is processed, rain water is cleaned and processed so that it is fit, used water is processed.

Nothing is free even if it does fall from the sky..When was the last time it rained enough to give every single person in the UK water at the turn of a tap ? Clean, safe water at that..People are dying the world over for what we pay very little for (check out water aid http://www.wateraid.org/ :eek:)

Sorry but that arguement is just silly..They charge the going rate (assessed for you) or RV or on a meter and that is agreed by OFWAT so maybe your complaints would be better turned to OFWAT.

Gothicfairy

Skintgirlx wrote: »

A 13 day debt? come-on. Do you work for them as well?

Yes of course I do, is that what you want to hear ? Would it help ?

No I don't, I wish I did cos it would then mean I had a paying job. I worked in the water industry for many years until I was made redundant but that does not change my view.
There are plenty of issues within the industry..SWD being one but a debt is a debt once it has passed it's due date..13 days or 30..How do they know you where going to pay it ? Just cos you said so :T

Skintgirlx

Thanks for being so smug, if this enhances your poor little lives then I feel sorry for both you gothic and BOT. Just so you know, I have always paid my bills on-time but that means nothing to TW.

Glad I cheered up your sad little lives!!