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Warrant out? - Please Help!

rara879
rara879 Posts: 56 Forumite
edited 3 June 2011 pm30 2:26PM in Debt-free wannabe
Hi,

I am in arrears with my electric company - Utility Warehouse and need some advice on what to do!

I have been in arrears for a few months. I last paid up to January, missed February and March due to financial difficulties, however I did set up a direct debit once I sorted out these financial difficulties and paid the bill for April. In total my arrears are £151.86

I have sent them about 5 letters throughout my financial difficulties asking them to agree to a payment plan to repay the arrears and every one has been ignored.

I have two problems now:

After paying the April bill by direct debit I fully intended to pay the May bill by direct debit too, however the bill arrived the working day before the direct debit was due to be taken and there is a charge on the bill for £188.10 which just says "Debt/Legal fee" which I cannot afford to pay and do not understand what this is for so I cancelled the direct debit. Does anyone know what this is for and if they can charge me it?

Also, on Saturday (the day after I cancelled the direct debit) an envelope was posted through the main door of my block of flats - we have an entry system and they obviously couldn't get into the block - The envelope had no postage on it so had obviously been hand delivered, and a letter inside saying that they have tried to come and see me today to discuss whether I have problems paying my arrears and if I do not call Stan on "mobile number" then they will be going to court to apply for a warrant to enter my property and disconnect my electric supply.
I sent them a letter by Special Delivery which they would have received yesterday, informing them that I have repeatedly tried to come to an arrangement with them regarding paying the arrears, asking them if I can pay half of the arrears on 27th June and the other half on 26th July which are my next two pay dates, showing my incomings and outgoings to show that that is as much as I can afford and also asking them exactly what this extra charge is for on my bill for May.
When I got home from work yesterday there was another envelope that this time had actually been posted through the door of my flat, also hand delivered. Inside the envelope there was just an envelope saying that I need to contact Stan immediately on "mobile number". However on the outside of the envelope scribbled in pen it says "Warrant Out - Urgent"

Can anyone please give me some advice? Does this mean they have gone to court and got the warrant? It doesnt seem very professional to me to just scribble it on the outside of the envelope and if they had the warrant I thought they would have just entered the property?

I am getting worried that they will come and enter my property whilst I am at work so if someone could give me some advice it would be greatly appreciated!!

Many thanks

Comments

  • Hi, I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you but it does sound highly suspicious. Have you tried putting the mobile number into the website 'who calls me'? Other people may have had the same problem and logged it.

    Bailiffs cannot enter your property without being invited, unless it is for council tax, so should anyone turn up I would recommend you do not answer the door.

    In the meantime, I would suggest you call the utility company, explain the situation, and ask if they can verify the person they are sending. This will at least provide you some peace of mind as to whether the company even knows someone is visiting your property.

    Good luck!
    Before you ask, yes, I work for a bank, but no, I didn't get a bonus!
  • NeverAgain_2
    NeverAgain_2 Posts: 1,796 Forumite
    This does sound highly dubious.

    But to answer your question about genuine utility company warrants.

    Yes, they will have gone to court.

    A man from the power company turns up at court, usually with a few warrant requests.

    Each case only takes a minute, but he does have to tell the magistrates on oath that all other avenues have been exhausted.

    It's a public hearing, although I've never seen a debtor turn up, so I don't know if they are informed in advance.

    Courts are reluctant to discuss individual cases in detail on the phone, but if you get a helpful clerk, he may confirm if a warrant has been issued against you or not, because that decision was taken in public.

    If it's an option for you, best to rock up at your local magistrates' court and ask at the inquiry desk.

    Take some identification, and bear in mind courts place a high value on old-fashioned courtesy.

    The more you say 'please' and 'thank you', the more information you are likely to get.
  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    With a warrant of entry they can enter to disconnect, it sounds like a pre-disconnection visit. Call him and set a plan up, it will go in your favour but you must keep to it to avoid court costs. If not ask for a pre-payment meter.
    Don't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.
  • rara879
    rara879 Posts: 56 Forumite
    Hi, Just thought Id let you know that I wrote to Utility Warehouse and got this response:

    I can confirm that the charge for £188.10 was for the warrant that was subsequently cancelled. Please accept our apologies for this administrative error and be assured that this charge has now been credited back.

    Thanks for all your advice with this!
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