British gas/credit resource solutions

trashit

:wave:
Hi all, I'm totally new to this and have no idea if i'm even in the right part of the forum, I was baffled as to which section this query fit in.

Right so i'll just get straight into it.

My mum has always ranted and raved for as long as I can remember about how all round crap British gas are and so when I very first moved out I went with EDF and never had any problems with them. I stuck with them when I moved house until my dad told me to check out money supermarket to see if I could be paying less for my gas and electricity. When I did it said British gas were the cheapest in my area so rather foolishly I ignored my mum's life time advice and switched over to them thinking i'd save money. At that house they were fine, however when I moved into my next property this is when it all started to go down hill.

I asked for pre-payment meters to be fitted so I could keep on top of the amount I was paying, I'm notoriously bad at forgetting to pay bills on time and I didn't want to find myself in debt because although some do get paid a little late they do always get paid and had up until that point never been in debt. They came...three months after we moved in after a hell of a lot of phone calls from me and told us that they couldn't fit the gas meter because of "health and safety" hazards (the cellar was damp). So I immediately called British gas and asked them for a payment card so I could pay a certain amount week by week, we arranged £10 a week and we always paid it. However as much as we paid off of the existing debt the debt was climbing because obviously we were still using gas if that makes sense. Anyway after eleven months in the property we moved out a month before our tenancy was up because of problems within the house. I called British gas the day before we moved out to give them final meter readings but they said their systems were down and that they would text me the following day to ask for them, they never did. So as soon as our landline was set up we called them to give the final meter readings and they said they would send a final bill out for us to pay off...we never heard from them again. So I said to my partner well they haven't got in contact with us, we did try to get the final bill from them it wasn't as if we ran off from the property leaving the debt behind or anything so lets just leave it, they mustn't see it as being that important. How wrong we were... Forward five months and we started to get text messages from "credit resource solutions" telling me to contact them immediately. I had no idea who they were and we were getting a text every day so I googled. I came across a lot of people saying they were scam artists and to just ignore them and so I did. But they kept on coming and were worrying me so I caved in and rang them.

The person I spoke to was pleasant enough, he explained that the British gas debt had been passed on to them and told me the amount. It was £460 but it was until July of this year, we moved out at the beginning April. I told him this and so he said he was emailing me their address and that I should send out the tenancy agreement for my previous property but I explained that we left a month earlier than when it ended so he said I should send out both tenancies from my previous and current property so they can get together a final bill. I agreed and got straight onto my landlord to get a tenancy agreement. I'm renting from a distant relative and so we never bothered with a tenancy agreement, he said he'd get me one ASAP, this was two weeks ago. We've text him twice since them and heard nothing, he is notoriously useless at getting things done though. Anyway since then the threatening texts have kept on coming, I've even had a couple of emails from them and so I replied to the email. I sent a rather long winded email explaining the situation with the tenancy and also explaining that we didn't just run away from British gas they just didn't contact us again with a final bill and they had our mobile and landline number, my email address and even our new home address so no excuses and so we're shocked that they've felt the need to pass it on to debt collectors instead of getting it sorted in the first place- I mean if they had have sent out the final bill to begin with it probably would have been paid off by now. They sent one back saying they were dealing with my query.

Fast forward two days, threatening texts start again. I got one today saying they can't stop further action if I don't call them so I did call them. I explained to the woman that this was a joint account with British gas and that I would appreciate if my partner could deal with it (because I suffer with depression and to help that my partner deals with finances otherwise I get overly worried and stressed and it never helps me) but she refused saying she had to speak to me. So I explained that I had already rang a couple of weeks ago and sent an email explaining but explained again about the tenancy so she told me to push my landlord for it, I said well I can't exactly do much more we've called him and text him twice, he isn't responding. So she said "well i'll note that we're waiting on the tenancy and as soon as you get it post it to us" and that was the end of that.

I wouldn't mind if it was thousands of pounds they were chasing up but its probably around £350- £400 so its not a vast amount that they can't afford to lose.

Basically i'd like to know if anyone has any dealings with credit resource solutions? Are they scam artists and cowboys like so many people claim them to be online? Or is this serious and I could have the bailiffs coming around if I don't get it sorted asap? Also we're on quite a low income and I was wondering if I do have to pay it would we be able to pay in installments or will they insist on it all up front? Because we don't have that sort of money lying around... I've never been in debt before so its worrying and ideally i'd like to get it sorted so I can forget about it and stop over-stressing.

Thanks in advance.

justruth

My initial advice would be to complain to British Gas, preferably in writing, and take it back to them and arrange a repayment. I agree that it was poor management on their part not to get back to you and I am certain that there are pleanty of people that get away with moving out and ignoring large bills. They should have on their system that you called, and a final bill should have been completed based on the readings you gave. There will be a record on your phone bill that you called them on that date. I certainly would not start paying anyone anything until this has at least been sorted out or this could be seen as acknowledgement of the big bill.

It would however be wise to start putting some moeny aside now though, as if it comes to settling later it would be far better to be able to settle in full.

forestlands

Hi Trashit, :wave:

Welcome, glad you posted, have had texts and phone calls - harrasing and intimmidating :mad:

Moved 14 years ago, son and partner lived in the house since, gas and electric still in my name. Bills always paid in full untill EDF started to hike the price of electric, didn't use meter reading given etc.. Beginning of July my son and I went on line to sort best prices for electric and change, also to get account name changed, son does not have computer as he claims he is a technophobe. Gas already with British Gas, electric changed over and DD set up while still in my name. Contacted British Gas and explained, apologised for any inconvenience, had to input my bank details and my name in order to transfere. Son's partner phoned through meter reading and relevant details ready for change over of supply and ensure account details changed. Electric supply changed mid Aug.

About a month ago I started to get daily text from Westcot Credit Services, thought it was spam, contacted Vodaphone as could not stop these text. Vodaphone said they were not able to stop them.:( Getting phone calls several times a day from an 0844 number, rang off as I picked up phone, slow mover as waiting for hip replacements. Last Friday I received a letter from Westcots Credit Services, debt collection, stating their client was British Gas and there was an outstanding balance of £31.04 including £5 for British Gas admin charge.

Phoned British Gas, was told as account had been in my name for a number of days I was responcible for that payment. Stated that I had written confirmation that account was in my sons partners name when British Gas started to supply electric. Had a couple of probs when gas went over, was sorted and I received a very nice letter from customer services - and a phone call, apologising for the mix up. My son and his partner have paid bills, sentto the address in their name, since the change over.

As I see it, debt collectors used by British Gas use harrassment and defamation - as in implying late payment and default as well as sending daily or twice daily texts and using cold calling techniques on a regular daily basis. This action is disturbing! British Gas didn't even send me a letter asking for £26.04 so that I could querie it and the matter resolved! Strait on to debt collectors!

Trashit, hope this info helps, obvious that British Gas do not always do their homework before getting stuck into people asking for payment. Sure they should send round a meter reader when you move to ensure correct reading! Also, there should be a system in place to cover times when computer is down to prevent this sort of thing happening! You are not responcible for other peoples bills. Phone Consumer Direct, get a ref. number from them, send a written complaint about lack of care to British Gas then ombudsman if it is not sorted after 8 weeks.

Please feel free to correct me folks. I am :mad: at the lackadaisical way British Gas have dealt with the changeover and the harsh methods used to try and get money out of people without checking it is owed - esp. a pittance like £26.04!! Many older disabled folk, like myself, would be extreemly distressed at receiving such shabby treatment!

Off to lie down in a dark room! :laugh: