LCS Utility Debt Recovery??

mrjack

Hello,

We have a house, which we moved out of on 16th July 2011. Our current tenants moved in on the 29th August and have been there ever since.

A few days ago, I received a letter to my parents address from "LCS" where I used to live a long time ago saying that I owe £125 to British Gas for a period of 17th July to 28th August. I certainly don't remember having anything outstanding and I have received no letters saying from BG demanding payment. I wouldn't have missed any letters since I forward them to my new address.

The letter is addressed to me but they misspelt Somerset with "Summerset" (very professional).

The content of the letter says that I should contact them regarding the above "invoice" to discuss the "outstanding payment".

First, the house was empty and even if it wasn't, I seriously doubt we could rack up £125 worth of gas and electric usage in the middle of the summer.

Second, I received nothing from BG and my credit report says that account is closed.

What should I do? I don't want to contact them in case it's a scam and they are fishing? Should I call BG first to discuss it with them first (I am their existing customer still)?

Ideas?

Thanks,
Alex

Terrylw1

If you owned the property, you should have remained on the account until the date your tenants moved in since you are less liable for standing charge to that date as the owner. As a landlord, you will be liable for periods inbetween tenancy agreements hence they will expect you to set accounts up.

In terms of the value, its for more than standing charge so you need to look at the readings for the previous closure and now. Did you take readings the day the tenants moved in? If so, you owe to this point.

Its likely there has been some estimation done and that won't take into account the vacant period thus in calculating the estimate, its likely you could have some of your tenants consumption. If so, the estimate should have been pro rata'd to your leaving date to get an it more accurate.

Did you provide your closing reading?

You need yo understand the bills so if all you have is a value of debt, call the supplier to get the value explained first.

mrjack

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the detailed reply. I did take the closing readings on the day I moved out and have the receipts to prove my payment for the final bill with my final readings on them.

I don't have the readings on the day my tenants moved in, as it's not on the inventory for some reason (my letting agents are generally useless), but have asked for these to be provided if they do have them somewhere.

I will be phoning BG today and try and sort it out. Definitely don't want to get involved with "collections agencies".

Alex

Terrylw1

That letting agent reading will be key. I wonder if they have made an error and its too high?

It would be possible for the supplier to analyse a weeks readings now to work backwards to the opening reading date to prove this if the tenant agrees their usage has been consistent. The trouble is, if they dispute it, the supplier doesn't know who's right so it takes some arguing.

Letting agents, landlords, contractors...they make mistakes that cause this. Since its a tricky issue to resolve and it can happen again, so if there is anything you can do to protect yourself, its worth it.

mrjack

Got it sorted - ish. The letting agent didn't have the readings (idiots) from when the tenant moved in and neither did the tenant give the opening readings to British Gas. This means ... estimated bill for the closing account ("The Occupier") from when the house was empty.

I have given BG the readings I took when I moved out and explained that the house was empty and no energy could have been used. My readings from July have now been made my tenant's opening readings, so she may well dispute it.

However, I can prove my final readings (I have an email sent to BG with those readings) and that the house was empty (the house was on the market for 6 weeks).

BG are also going to call off the dogs at LCS. So, it's kind of sorted but I may get a dispute from the tenant. But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Terrylw1

Well if the tenants didn't take one, they will, have a hard time proving it.

It then becomes a case of monitoring current usage and working out a daily average to work backwards to the opening reading.

If that's supported your reading, great, but if it doesn't its an argument really and sometimes suppliers write it off as its too much of a headache.

Hopefully it won't come to that.