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Severn Trent Water

Hello,

I am writing this on behalf a friend of mine.

Today he got a letter from Severn Trent Water telling him to pay £361 because they had been to the county court and got a judgement in their favour, after looking more it's now £584.26 to pay. :idea:

He never got a letter from the County Court to defend him self.

Where does he legally stand?
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Comments

  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    Is the debt for the same property he lives in now or a previous property?
    What correspondance has he had prior to this?

    He may possibly be able to get the judgement setaside.

    Can he afford to pay the debt?
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • It's from his new flat, he's been in there just over a year and he's got a £300 + bill and it's just ludicrous.

    He is on JSA so he can't afford much and they are asking for £25 per week when he only gets £50 every two weeks, he lives in the middle of no where so money is tight with food etc ...

    He will only be able to afford a bit..
  • king100
    king100 Posts: 1,565 Forumite
    I didnt pay my water bill for over a year and they never went near a court, they demanded £900 and I told them they might have to readjust that, they did and I pay monthly

    You need to ask your friend to check his credit file and also look at http://www.trustonline.org.uk/

    to check if he really has a CCJ against him. Then we can go from there, if they are lying then a big time compalint can be made.
    I all have learnt is from others on many sites.
    Seek legal help if unsure.
    Dont pay Private Parking tickets - they are mere invoices.

    PRESS THANKS
    }
  • king100 wrote: »
    I didnt pay my water bill for over a year and they never went near a court, they demanded £900 and I told them they might have to readjust that, they did and I pay monthly

    You need to ask your friend to check his credit file and also look at http://www.trustonline.org.uk/

    to check if he really has a CCJ against him. Then we can go from there, if they are lying then a big time compalint can be made.

    It's on his credit file
  • king100
    king100 Posts: 1,565 Forumite
    It's on his credit file

    Can you post what it actually says on the credit file please.
    I all have learnt is from others on many sites.
    Seek legal help if unsure.
    Dont pay Private Parking tickets - they are mere invoices.

    PRESS THANKS
    }
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    Is he on a meter or unmeasured?

    What has he paid for water so far since he moved in?

    Does he agree with the amounts on the invoices for what they are claiming is owed?

    When they wrote to him originally to say he owed this amount what did he do? did he at that point offer a monthly payment or just ignore it?

    If he definitely didn't send court papers through (and do get him to double check that its not just in some unopened post) then he should be able to get the CCJ setaside. However they could then in theory just apply for another CCJ and the debt would still be owed.

    He needs to work out what he can afford to pay per month towards this debt (remembering that he'll also be incurring another debt for the current usage).

    Has he checked he is getting all the benefits he is entitled to? would it be feasible to find some cheaper living arrangements whilst he is out of work - eg housesharing/flatsharing with someone, or could he get a lodger in at his property to help by splitting bills between 2.
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • Here is the information from his report;

    County Court Judgements

    Entry reference: C1


    Amount:£361
    Case Number:0QP15677
    Judgment Date:05/04/2011
    Court:NORTHAMPTON
    Status (Active/Satisfied):Active
    Date Satisfied: --
    Name:MR ***** ****
    Address:** ********** ***** ********* *******


    He said he set up a direct debit when he moved in to his flat but never kept an eye on it as his mum usually does (he's not all with it) and she usually makes sure it's paid. He does not agree with it being £300 just over a year, he only lives in a tiny one bedroomed flat. He is on un-metered and it on benefits (JSA, Council Tax, Housing Benefit) He never got any papers regarding it going to the county court, I am sure he is allowed to defend himself. His mum said he will struggle to pay £10 a month because JSA just wont cover it with other living expenses.
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 34,446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    He should have been sent one or two payment slips with the original bill for the water rates. Did he get that?

    Did he get the notice of court action?
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • He never got any letters from them, only the court action letters, he got no notice of court action or we would of intervened earlier.
  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,050 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    he got no bills, no payments went out his bank.....I wish my bills did that
    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.
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