3 Year Old Bill I'm Suddenly Being Chased For

griffiths604

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum but I hope you can help. I had a text message and a call today from Frederickson debt collection agency for a debt with Utility Warehouse over 3 year ago. They say I owe £800 for gas and electric for 3 months while I was living in a house for 6 months.

I've gone through everything, but I don't have the paperwork any more. I've spoken to the debt agency and explained I do not owe this, I had paid any final bills when I moved out. I also rang Utility Warehouse and reiterated that but they are insistent I owe them just over £800 for the 2nd 3 months of the time I lived in the property. When i moved out I rang and gave them a forwarding address, and got a final bill for the estate agents to get the deposit on the house returned. I've checked google and seen the billing code but not sure if this applies. I received nothing from Utility Warehouse, however they say I must have although they deny having a forwarding address now. I've had the same mobile number which they knew, but no calls to inform me or attempt to contact me.


is there anything I can do as I can't believe they can say I owe £800, not provide information other than that's usage for X time frame and without attempting to contact me pass to a debt collection agency.


Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

sithmaster

griffiths604 wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum but I hope you can help. I had a text message and a call today from Frederickson debt collection agency for a debt with Utility Warehouse over 3 year ago. They say I owe £800 for gas and electric for 3 months while I was living in a house for 6 months.

I've gone through everything, but I don't have the paperwork any more. I've spoken to the debt agency and explained I do not owe this, I had paid any final bills when I moved out. I also rang Utility Warehouse and reiterated that but they are insistent I owe them just over £800 for the 2nd 3 months of the time I lived in the property. When i moved out I rang and gave them a forwarding address, and got a final bill for the estate agents to get the deposit on the house returned. I've checked google and seen the billing code but not sure if this applies. I received nothing from Utility Warehouse, however they say I must have although they deny having a forwarding address now. I've had the same mobile number which they knew, but no calls to inform me or attempt to contact me.


is there anything I can do as I can't believe they can say I owe £800, not provide information other than that's usage for X time frame and without attempting to contact me pass to a debt collection agency.


Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

hi welcome to the forum,
as you have done everything you can to make sure they have correct information and cleared the final bill(s), they now can not chase you for this debt.
its called back billing and it means if the energy company is at fault they can only chase you for energy used in the past 12 months.
call utility warehouse and remind them of this fact, if they don't back down raise a formal complaint in writing put at the top of letter in large writing COMPLAINT and send recorded delivery so they cant say they have not received it.
if they don't comply after 8 weeks of your letter you can go to the regulator who will sort it for you

hope this helps

dogshome

Doesn't seem to make a lot of sense - You were a tenant for 6 months and paid bills, yet you are now being chased for Utilities used just for the first 3 months of your term.

Forget the D/Collectors, get onto UW and insist on a fully detailed bill showing dates & meter readings for the period which they are claiming for

Wywth

sithmaster wrote: »

hi welcome to the forum,
as you have done everything you can to make sure they have correct information and cleared the final bill(s), they now can not chase you for this debt.
its called back billing and it means if the energy company is at fault they can only chase you for energy used in the past 12 months.
call utility warehouse and remind them of this fact, if they don't back down raise a formal complaint in writing put at the top of letter in large writing COMPLAINT and send recorded delivery so they cant say they have not received it.
if they don't comply after 8 weeks of your letter you can go to the regulator who will sort it for you

hope this helps

The 12 month back billing rule is a voluntary code of practise, and only 5 of the Big 6 suppliers have signed up to it (and no small suppliers)

Unless their contactual terms otherwise restrict this, suppliers are only limited by the statute of limitations act (or equivilent). This means creditors have 6 years (5 years in Scotland) to collect their debts, by legal means if necessary.

Wywth

griffiths604 wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum but I hope you can help. I had a text message and a call today from Frederickson debt collection agency for a debt with Utility Warehouse over 3 year ago. They say I owe £800 for gas and electric for 3 months while I was living in a house for 6 months.

I've gone through everything, but I don't have the paperwork any more. I've spoken to the debt agency and explained I do not owe this, I had paid any final bills when I moved out. I also rang Utility Warehouse and reiterated that but they are insistent I owe them just over £800 for the 2nd 3 months of the time I lived in the property. When i moved out I rang and gave them a forwarding address, and got a final bill for the estate agents to get the deposit on the house returned. I've checked google and seen the billing code but not sure if this applies. I received nothing from Utility Warehouse, however they say I must have although they deny having a forwarding address now. I've had the same mobile number which they knew, but no calls to inform me or attempt to contact me.


is there anything I can do as I can't believe they can say I owe £800, not provide information other than that's usage for X time frame and without attempting to contact me pass to a debt collection agency.


Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

All you can attempt is to reason with the creditor over their apparent error (provide copies of evidence if necessary).

Ultimately, you may need be prepared to explain your defence to a judge in court if no other settlement can be reached.

MillicentBystander

dogshome wrote: »

Doesn't seem to make a lot of sense - You were a tenant for 6 months and paid bills, yet you are now being chased for Utilities used just for the first 3 months of your term.

Forget the D/Collectors, get onto UW and insist on a fully detailed bill showing dates & meter readings for the period which they are claiming for

The OP stated it was for the '2nd three months' so probably not as nonsensical. However, as already advised, you need to ask UW to send a bill showing all the charges incurred and dates they relate to etc. Then get back on here with your findings so we can advise further.

spacey2012

Write by recorded deliver and demand they provide "Proof of claim".

Dear Debt Scammers
: Having received a speculative unsupported demand for monies you claim to be owed I make it very clear that ant debt is denied and any further correspondence will only be entered in to if you can provide PROOF OF CLAIM.
Without sight of proof of claim evidence within 14 days I shall deem the matter closed and the speculative alleged debt shall remain denied.
Do not not sign anything in your usual signature .
See what they come back with, if its threats, they have no evidence to back it up.

VitaK

Start with the 'prove it' letter and see what they come back with. They will have to prove it is a genuine debt owed by you.