Letter Template/Letter Guidance Needed.

BennyB1

Hi all,

I posted a thread on here a couple of days ago explaining about how I was dragged in on debt for a British Gas bill due to living in a house share with a tennant who hadn't paid some bills. This has now been passed onto BC&W, but I really want to get it resolved.

Without going into the matter once again, i'm making this thread to seek advice on how to write a letter to them, or possibly even a template. I'm 20 years old, and really don't want to be dealing with debt, so really am prepared to get this paid off under the following terms.

The debt is on a joint account, therefore I want to play the 'i'll make a 50% contribution' card. I've been reading online of people in similiar situations in which their DCA's have accepted 50% liability. I want the letter to state I am prepared to pay a lump sum of £532.00 in one transaction, but after this, want no liability towards the remaining £532 and my name taken off debt records from BG and BC&W.

The reason I seek this advice is i've never dealt with debt before or sending letters like this to these type of companies, so really don't know how to communicate effectively with them whilst sounding mature and confident about the situation.

To wrap it up, I want to pay half the debt, a sum of £532.00 and want in writen confirmation that I will no longer be held responsible for the rest.

I know some of you may think they might not accept this, but I feel it really is worth a try. It's simply either a yes or no reply. They offered me a settlement amount of £700, so by this, i'm assuming they purchased the debt for nowhere near its full amount and would therefore be profiting from my 50% alone. Nevermind any contributions the other party makes.

Thank you so much,
Ben.

taffy056

I saw and contributed to that thread, I don't believe they will go for it to be honest, as I mentioned on there you are liable for only the period you were living there, I think you said it was 3 months before that person was kicked out. What you propose is far higher than that, and you are paying somebody else's debt. You need to fight your corner with British Gas and resolve it that way IMO.

BennyB1

If it means getting DCA's off my bank and eliminating any risk of affecting my credit rating at aged 20, i'm prepared to pay what I have too, that being not a single penny more than half the debt.

I never dreamed of having debt people chasing me, as I have no loans or anything of the kind (except my student funding), so being honest, i'm petrified having this on my back at my age.

taffy056

Yes but paying half the debt means that they chase the other person, but you said yourself you didn't know where they are , by letting British Gas add your name to the account they have found you as they can't find the other person, they will want it all off you IMO, you need to fight this as its unfair, you will find its pointless going the route of the DCA all they want is the money, you need to fight BG directly.

BennyB1

BG told me they no longer have control as it's been passed on.
As for the other person, I have recently found out he works for Vodafone. Could I pass this piece of information on?
I'm sure them finding out he works for Vodafone will result in them finding him instantly?

taffy056

That is rubbish, this is a British Gas debt, and you are not fighting the debt by the way you are fighting them, you moved in there and after 3 months the person who was supposed to pay the utility bills was kicked out. You got a new account as BG closed the old one off, there is no way on earth that bill of almost £1100 is over that period you were there. BG has added you to the account which IMO is not entirely proper. You have had advice on that thread please follow it, make a complaint to OFGEM if needs be, but please don't pay other people's debts, you don't have to do so.