Bill payer but not named on statements

sicon75

I pay 'half' to the utility bills of the house I jointly own (now separated from ex partner). The bills, which are in her name only, have been redirected to a different address so I don't get to see them. The agreement while we were together was she paid all bills and I paid the mortgage and car insurances. Now we are separated the bills are split down the middle, but even though I now pay half towards the utility bills she has to pay from her own account, she has refused to show me the bills, saying it is her name on them and I have no right to see them. She has admitted that at least one utility bill was £200 in credit at January 2012 (so she is already knowingly taking more money off me than need be). Do I have a right to see all bills that I pay half towards even if I am not named on them?

Would appreciate any advice or help in dealing with this matter as I am at my wits end as I have been trying for 8 months to get the statements.

Thanks

dogshome

I think you are asking this question in the wrong place and you need to take advice from whichever Legal Eagle drew up the agreement

I don't think any Utilty Co. would be prepared to send out 2 bills to different addresses for a single account, but what would be an answer if agreement can be reached is to opt for an Online account to which both you and your Ex have the passwords for.

balmk

She is right - the bills are in her name, so you have no right to see them.

It may, however, motivate her to be more communicative if you remind her that the bills are in her name, so she is solely responsible for paying them.

No see - no pay.

Terrylw1

As you jointly own or occupy a property, you are jointly liable for the utilities.

The name issue is irrelevant, that's just the way some people do it. Once it becomes a debt, very quickly all responsible names get added to the bill.

You only have to prove to the supplier that you are jointly responsible and they will, simply add your name to the bill.

They won't want to send 2 bills out, but they will then talk to you and you can use the online option.

In terms of credits, this is where it gets difficult. Typically, a supplier will just pop a cheque out to the bill payer so you both cash it in the nominates account...when together. Since you have split, this needs explaining to the supplier since any credit will need splitting. They probably won't like this.

Debts work the say for opposite reasons, you are both liable and they will chase both off you...and its not their responsibility to split the debt.

DVardysShadow

sicon75 wrote: »

Do I have a right to see all bills that I pay half towards even if I am not named on them?

As someone said, no see - no pay.

You have no right to see the bills in respect of the fact that they come from a utility supplier. But you have every right to see those bills, deriving from your right to see evidence justifying the amount the ex is demanding you pay.

And in your position, I would not be paying half of a direct debit monthly amount, because it is all too easy to get the supplier to up the DD, build up a credit and extract money. I would only pay half of billed usage. The DD is effectively a private arrangement between the bill payer and the utility. You are only due to pay half of usage.

You should ask [in writing] to see all bills to date [to verify that there has been no extraction of credit by cheque] and make further payment subject to making those bills available.