Gas Payment Demands For A Previous Tenant

Lolzicles

Over the last few weeks we have been getting a number of British Gas letters in the post for a company name which we assume belongs to a previous tenant (company name includes the surname of personal post we have seen before).

We have been continually marking as return to sender and putting back in the post but recently they are coming thicker and faster, one or two letters a day now. One that came today you can clearly see through the envelope window as demanding payment and threatening court action and bailiffs.

This is starting to get worrying now. Our power is not with British Gas, it was with nPower when we moved in and we quickly transferred it to EDF anyway.

Could they cut off our gas and electric?

Could this be affecting our own financial/ credit records?

What do we do if bailiffs come round?

Should we contact British Gas to explain that nobody at this address owns a company with that name, or should we just continue to return to sender and forget about it?

We have a newborn baby so losing power would be really serious, even for a day or two. We are paying our bills to EDF each month as required and have no financial issues of our own. Please help. :eek::eek:

pmlindyloo

First of all rest assured that bad credit is not connected to an address but to a person.

You are doing the right thing by sending them back as 'not at this address - return to sender'.

You could contact the letting agent or landlord and explain and ask if
they have a forwarding address for the named person/company.

You could also ring British Gas since the name is on the envelope and explain to them that you do not have an account with them and are with EDF.

If you should be unfortunate enough to have bailiffs round just have your tenancy agreement ready to show them and your letter showing them that you are signed up with EDF.

Since you are with EDF then I do not see how British Gas can cut your electricity off.

So, either keep on sending the letters back or contact your LA/LL or Britsh Gas or EDF or contact everybody.

What a pain!

dimbo61

Ring BG and explain that you have moved into the property and are now the new tenants, you have no forwarding address and that you now pay EDF for the gas/electric at the property.
Keep a copy of the tenancy agreement close by the front door if you do find any Bailiffs call! DO NOT LET THEM IN THE DOOR.
If they knock ask for ID and lock the door while you get the tenancy agreement and proof of your ID to show them.
This is not your problem or debt and should not effect your credit rating but give BG a call and explain that you want the letters to STOP

angelsmomma

I emailed British Gas about the previous persons debt that kept coming. They had passed the debt onto a collections agency.

They told me to just ignore them as they were attached to the person not the property.

They still keep on coming even though its a year now and just this week someone came asking to speak to him.

I told this person he moved out over a year ago and he just said thanks and left.

It is a pain but try not to worry. They have to go through the system before they write off the debt and unfortunately that mean writing to the last known address for the person.

In my case there are about 10 people writing about debts for the previous owner and I just keep my proof of moving in date handy and don't worry anymore.


Oops, took so long to type others have posted similar advice.:o

ic

I was in this situation after I moved in to my house. I'd set up postal forwarding with the royal mail so all my post from my old address was forwarded to me. I naturally assumed the people that had moved out of my house had done the same. After two weeks of marking stuff as "send to xxx at yyy", I got bored, and let the stack grow. After three months I went through and opened anything that looked interesting. They had an electricity refund cheque (binned it), and then a demand for a payment for gas, so I rang British Gas and gave them the new address.

I also get loan demands for somebody I don't believe has ever lived at the house - its an active account, they're making payments, but less than they're supposed to be paying. I rang RBS and told them they weren't known at the address - they wanted me to write them a letter telling them this. As I explained to them, I'd already gone out of my way to tell them of their mistake by ringing them, and would be doing nothing more. I now just bin the demands when they arrive.

Fundamentally, if its not addressed for you, don't worry - they can't come after you. Also don't go out of your way trying to sort it, nobody will thank you for it!

Fire_Fox

This is not a housing issue it is a debt or utilities issue and there are boards for both, it's worth running an advanced search. Just wanted to add DO NOT let any bailiffs in under any circumstances, DO NOT leave them standing at an open door whilst you find your tenancy agreement/ EDF bill, DO NOT leave any windows open, call the police if they will not leave.

Lolzicles

Does it complicate matters that the bills are addressed to a company name rather than an individual? I have just looked up the company on Companies House Web Check and it is in liquidation, so I don't think the bills will be paid any time soon.

chris_m

Lolzicles wrote: »

Does it complicate matters that the bills are addressed to a company name rather than an individual? I have just looked up the company on Companies House Web Check and it is in liquidation, so I don't think the bills will be paid any time soon.

Nope - not for you, anyway. Might make thing more complicated for BG but certainly not for you.
As others have advised, tell BG that you are new tenant, keep a copy of your tenancy agreement to hand in case bailiffs turn up and don't let them in under any circumstances.

Lolzicles

I have written to British Gas by the email contact us form on their website. I thought it better in writing. I will continue to return to sender any further letters. I do find the prospect of bailiffs turning up for something we have nothing to do with quite worrying though.