Interest from debt collectors??

sugarplum10

Hubby had a debt with npower from way back when, it is not statute barred as he has made Ad hoc payments up until 2 years ago. The debt was for gas as he was on an electricity key meter ( was there when he rented the property and ll wouldn't change it) so we know he can have more than 1 account.
We had a letter from b c w to collect the money saying the total owed was £245 which he is paying.
We have since had another letter from npower with a different account number claiming he owes them the same amount?????
Today we received a letter from past due credit claiming he owes £452 to npower and they have added 29% admin fee!!! Now I understand debt can be sold on etc so I called npower for him and they agreed that it was a mistake letter that they had sent him so that's one delt with.
However I don't even know where to begin with past due as they claim to have bought the debt and apparent this 29% extra they have added is perfectly legit!
I seriously fail to see how they can claim that they need in excess of £100 to cover the administration cost of posting a blooming letter. This is mental, how can this be allowed??.
We are paying of debts as fast as we can and the SOA has been gone over again and again so we can plough as much as possible into clearing debt but this is a massive set back!
Please say we can contest this charge as I just don't think we can manage this too?
Thanks
Sorry for my spelling and Grammer I find it really had to keep my trail of thought as I'm so tired.
Thanks guys.:A

fermi

They can't just add on what they feel like. They can only add actual and necessary costs, and only when there is contractual provision to do so.

See OFT here ---> Charging for debt recovery

sugarplum10

Thanks fermi!

AlexLK

I would like to second that thanks as I too was unsure what collection agencies could charge.