Buchanan Clark & Wells - Advice Needed PLEASE!

BennyB1

Hi all,
This may be a slightly long winded read, but if you bear with me, i'd greatly appreciate it. I'm 20 years old, so being faced with debt is really worrying me.
I left home when I was 18 with my partner, and moved into a house share with complete strangers. Cutting a long story short, we knew one of the tenants had a lot of debt, we shall call him Paul, and was behind with british gas payments. Straight off the bat from moving in, we provided our shares of bills, but a few months later the individual was kicked out. I then rang British Gas to explain the debt holder had left and I wanted to open a fresh account for the property in my name. Little did I know, this little phone call down the line would link my mobile number to Paul. As for the past year, I have received countless calls asking for Paul from British Gas and other Debt companies chasing this. 1 year later, we decided to move out, all bills had always been paid, wether they were wrong or not, the bill amounts were paid. Upon the day of leaving, I rang British Gas to close my account, they confirmed no amounts were left to pay under MY name and were happy to close the account. This was of April 2011. Now lets fast forward to 1 year to today of 1/5/12. I just this morning received a letter from a company called Buchanan Clark & Wells stating they were looking for me to discuss a private matter with the address of the property discussed. Panicing straight away I phoned them, and they told me there was an outstanding British Gas debt of $1200 (Sorry, my keyboard is US, no pound signs). They stated they had found out I was a tenant in the property, I asked how they got my name and address and they wouldn't reply to the question. They said the bill had been put joint between me and Paul, and BG want the payment. I explained how it was a house share and I was nothing to do with Paul. I don't know him. They have traced me to collect the payment. I said I had my own BG account on the property, paid all my bills, then closed the account upon leaving.
After arguing a little, they don't care about this, only what's on paper, that I lived there in the dates they have of the debt. I asked if I DID agree to pay, would I only have to pay half, as it's a joint debt, they said no it just needs all paying and will continue to pursue it until the whole amount is cleared.
I have now asked for a copy of the bill from British Gas, Why I don't know, maybe just to stall the process. What I did find peculiar was they said I could pay a settlement cost of only $700 if I pay within 2 weeks, which is $500 cheaper than the amount they originally wanted early in the phone call. Is there any catch as to why they're offering this?
I literally have no way to prove I paid all bills in my name or that I closed the account. Any help would be seriously appreciated. I don't want debt collectors knocking on my door and threatening to take all my items i've worked hard to purchase. To me it sounds just like a huge confusion, in which i'm unable to straighten out.
Thank you all.

Extra:
Both British Gas and them have me cornered by saying my name is joint on the account, there's no way for me to combat that.
I had a huge phone call with BG before, who themselves said things seem a little messed up and have no idea why my name is there. However, now that it is, there's nothing they can do. They stated there's also missing payments on my account, which i'm addament I paid, I asked if it was all potentially BG's fault due to somebody not putting something down right, she confirmed that could be correct, but of course they will never take the blame and it's up to me to proove it all. I have not kept any receipts for bills from 2 years ago, and I never paid by bank. Seems i'm stuck with it and will have to pay. The only good thing is, she confirmed I can actually only pay half, being £503. Even still, I really shouldn't be having to pay all this money out for something that isn't my fault but there's nothing I can do. Does anybody know what Buchanan Clark & Wells are like? Will they be knocking on my door over this? What stage does it have to get too for them to take my belongings? Im really worried about this, I've worked hard for everything I have in here, being expensive laptops, TV's and more, and for them to be taken from me for something that isn't my fault really gets me down. I do work part time, so could pay a little a month towards it.

EDIT:
After more phone calls between the two, BG have now changed their mind and stated I can't just pay half and it's all up to BC&W now. I rang them and they stated I have to pay it all, but said I can settle it all for £700. I requested this to be sent via a letter, and they said itll all be written off if I pay that amount at the end of May. I'm really not experienced with debt so I'm feeling it's just going to be best to pay the £700 and get it gone out of my life. It just angers me to boiling point that they are unable to trace the other individual on the account therefore making me pay it all and he'll never have to fork out a penny. I was considering ringing the landlord to see if he was able to give me half to cover the other persons half. Could he at all be liable for this or is there anything legally that could make him pay for his other tenants share?

woohoo_postingid

Someone will be here with more knowledge than me but Don't pay any money!!

These guys (BC&W) are schysters and will tell you all sorts of things to get money out of you.

Thegirl

It wasn't your account so you do not owe the money.
Do not pay them.

BennyB1

Both British Gas and them have me cornered by saying my name is joint on the account, there's no way for me to combat that.
I had a huge phone call with BG before, who themselves said things seem a little messed up and have no idea why my name is there. However, now that it is, there's nothing they can do. They stated there's also missing payments on my account, which i'm addament I paid, I asked if it was all potentially BG's fault due to somebody not putting something down right, she confirmed that could be correct, but of course they will never take the blame and it's up to me to proove it all. I have not kept any receipts for bills from 2 years ago, and I never paid by bank. Seems i'm stuck with it and will have to pay. The only good thing is, she confirmed I can actually only pay half, being £503. Even still, I really shouldn't be having to pay all this money out for something that isn't my fault but there's nothing I can do. Does anybody know what Buchanan Clark & Wells are like? Will they be knocking on my door over this? What stage does it have to get too for them to take my belongings? Im really worried about this, I've worked hard for everything I have in here, being expensive laptops, TV's and more, and for them to be taken from me for something that isn't my fault really gets me down. I do work part time, so could pay a little a month towards it.

chanz4

BCW now are owned since last year by Utility management services, and they do field visits. Companys are taking people to court for utilitys more these days. Bg would of got your details from the l/lord also.

taffy056

You are only liable on the few months you were living there before this Paul was kicked out, I suppose you can prove you lived elsewhere before you moved there, ask for a breakdown of the bill for that period and pay only that. Also they can't just add your name to an account (could be wrong?) that someone else holds, that would mean your linked financially to this person, have you checked your credit files ?

DVardysShadow

BennyB1 wrote: »

Both British Gas and them have me cornered by saying my name is joint on the account, there's no way for me to combat that..

Sorry, that is nonsense. If you did not put your name on the account, then it is for BG to prove that you did.

BennyB1

Added another section.

awayinchina

It might be worth sending BG a request all data letter (data protection act) costs about £10 and send postal order and do not sign paper. See when your name appeared on the "joint" account do the same for BCW and compare both. Also, compare to the date you moved in as if your name went on it for the entire bill then somone has been very naughty (possible fraud) as you can prove when you mived in and when you went single name on account.

geoffky

benny can you use paragraphs more as it really is hard to read..

chanz4

It will also depend on the bill period, its likely the letting agent/landlord has informed them