Co-housemate falsely accusing of non-payment of bills.

Apexilon

Thank you to everyone that has posted, just a quick update:

1) Regarding the outstanding bills the estate agent that managed the property said the lease only goes so far as names for the council tax, and the monies for deposit and rent: my last month rent I instructed the estate agent to take from my share of the deposit, and a quick calculation of my original contribution, less my agreed deductions to give the figure I expect back - the ex-housemates however are still disputing this figure (claiming I am entitled to less) but still not presenting any calculations to what they feel the figure should be.

The estate agent has said not a penny will be released without agreement from both sides on final release figures, which is fine by me as long as they do not get a penny of my share.

2) Regarding the other utility bills:
i) council tax went in my favour as the council could clearly match-up my payment amounts, dates and receipt numbers to see I had infact paid more than half so overturned my court summons and issued an attachment of earnings on the pair. Result.

ii) Phone bill that the pair claim I owe £75 a month x 3 months (bearing in mind line rental of £14.60 and broadband of £18, my share being half so work that out) which is in her name, and she took the line with her to new address. Phone company said they have no agreements with me nor liabilities to chase me for, but they do with her (ie, the other pair).

iii) Gas/electricity: seeing as they lied about the payment schedule, which was confirmed from the dates when I called the company, contrary to the dates they left me on one of their "notes" which included an extra month to be put in THEIR bank account (hence a month early off me) it was fitting I had nothing to pay for the last month of the lease as I had moved out a whole month prior anyway - they believe I owe this, I argue I was not there to consume. The utility company forwarded the bill to their new address as it was in their name.

iv) TV license: they watched what they wanted in the living room so I ran an extra length of wiring through the attic to my room, then (on their request while we still go ton) ran a Y-junction from the attic-connection to their room, but as the signal was now weak they disconnected MY leg of the Y-junction so they could watch TV in their room as well as living room and I had none... on MY extra length of cable I purchased, yet expected me to pay for TV license, also in their name. No deal there.

v) Water bill that I had paid Q4 of 2011 and (unfortunately) Q1 of 2012 (as they had failed to pay the company, and were away the weekend the company called requesting payment) yet they insisted both in April AND June that I had not paid a penny, even though the 2012-2013 bill sent in Feb showed 2 transactions "Paid in full - thank you" and that I owed the sum, the water company closed the account on receipt of my share of the new bill and sent the outstanding also to their new address.

Regarding the harassment and violent threats, I contacted the police, downloaded and printed all the text messages (6x A4 pages worth!) as well as 8 voicemails, burnt it all to CD but the police could only give them a written (official) harassment warning (the way they explained it, its one report hence one count, they need 2). gutted as all of at least 6 months nuisance from them was told the CPS would not be able to make a case in court with. At least they have the written warning.

My solicitor has however advised regarding bills he does not see me having a case to answer as the trickiest one was the council tax which has resolved itself, the deposit to jut sit tight and wait for them to crack (I went back to the old address to pick up any of my unredirected mail, they had left a bank statement page dated after our move out date which showed a failed standing order for first month's rent to the estate agent of their new address) so they needed the money more. As for the harassment to just wait on the police: he advised the reality would cost me more financially to push through any form of justice I sought, but not impossible.

And yes, I have kept all the proof of everything else which I did show the police, to (very) few who have asked I have simply said "they claimed one thing, the truth is the opposite of which I have proof, up to you if you want to see it or if you want to believe them". Sadly none of them came back (and chose to mingle with them) - oh well, not my problem.

What I'm waiting for now is the police to refer their details to customs as owing to their jobs, they have a habit of bringing home "import products seized by customs" which they then personally consume,.. and I have the photographs of these (which places the items as part of their belongings as at the time we house shared) which the police have shown great interest in. Only time will tell what happens next.

Thank you all for your advice and support.

keyser666

Nice result. I remember when this was posted but wasnt a member at the time.

What is left owing minus you last rent and the deposit the agent is holding? I cant see them letting it go, especially how vindictive they have been as well as now having a visit from plod. It might be better to walk away now if there is not a substantial amount owing

CIS

i) council tax went in my favour as the council could clearly match-up my payment amounts, dates and receipt numbers to see I had infact paid more than half so overturned my court summons and issued an attachment of earnings on the pair. Result.

You were exceedingly lucky with the council that they voluntarily stopped action against you as they could quite easily have carried on recovering the monies from you (and can still do so in the future if the monies aren't paid).

Apexilon

CIS wrote: »

You were exceedingly lucky with the council that they voluntarily stopped action against you as they could quite easily have carried on recovering the monies from you (and can still do so in the future if the monies aren't paid).

Hiya,

Whether it was luck or due diligence on my part maintaining clear records, am thankful the council (and the rest of the utility companies) agreed with me - even the estate agent agreed with me and refunded to the penny my share of the deposit which the ex-housemates did not like, but failed to dispute by show of their calculations.

The only real disappointment is that the police could not use the information I gave them (8 harassing voicemails with threats against my life, plus over 6 pages of text messages!) to bring charge him as, they described, it counts as one report - they need 2. And so the ex-housemate changed tactic to online/social media addressing me with more nasty messages but, as he did not include my name, the police can do nothing about.

I just find it baffling that:

"Apexilon, I will find you and get my money back one way or another even if I have to break your legs - so watch your back"

is different from:

"Remember my words, I will find out where you now live and turn up on your door so watch for the 'knock knock', look over your shoulders"

And the police can do nothing as apparently he can claim it was not to me. so its a victim-less crime??

I was looking up a lot of stuff malicious communications act but the police say it won't stick and are advising I close my account on said social media to avoid it, but why do that? Its not as if he will stop looking for me with intent to do harm (if his threats are true - and his 'history' suggests it). Besides, in most institutions if one person bullies another, you don't remove the person being bullied - you deal with the bully.

As this fellow is still posting stuff on a daily basis (since June when we moved out right upto last weekend), if anyone has any advice on how the law can get a definite on him it would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

marmitepotato

Can the social media site help you? I thought trolling etc can be dealt with by the media site and the police.

Good luck OP, you have had a tough time.

Apexilon

marmitepotato wrote: »

Can the social media site help you? I thought trolling etc can be dealt with by the media site and the police.

Good luck OP, you have had a tough time.

I asked - I was simply told they [the site admin]:

1) have no jurisdiction over offline (real world) events
2) are not there to get involved in personal disputes
3) cannot get involved with the police matter unless approached by the police.

They have however ignored the ex-housemates "status messages" even though there is a clear site/forum rule that you cannot use your profile/status messages for sending snide remarks or getting at people. Oh well.

wangtastic

I have to say, big respect to you for remaining so level headed throughout.
Nice to see your diligence paid off re: bills.

Imo your friends were lucky to know someone like you and it's their loss.
I'll be your friend hahaha