British Gas default from address I lived at over 8 years ago

rizla_king

Seems like they employ more than one complete moron. Possibly a whole office full.

uppershelf

rizla_king wrote: »

Seems like they employ more than one complete moron. Possibly a whole office full.

Do you think i should reply to them again or go straight to the Obudsman now? Is there anybody else i should go to? I already made a complaint to the CRA.

rizla_king

You have a phone number?

Tell this muppet that if they have added more than one default then they are in breach of the data protection act. That any default they do record must have an accurate default date. 5 years after the fact is not accurate. The ICO will rip them a new back orifice on that one.

lolavix

I'm having a similar issue. They've registered a default against me last year for a debt from feb 2009 at a property I had moved out of and was never on the bill for.

They can't tell me when I was added or how, and apparently wrote to me in feb 2009 - I have never had anything so now have the nightmare of trying to remove the default. I wrote a complaint which they signed for on 3/1 this year but they can't even tell me if they received it...

Good luck, I'll be following to see what happens!

uppershelf

rizla_king wrote: »

You have a phone number?

Tell this muppet that if they have added more than one default then they are in breach of the data protection act. That any default they do record must have an accurate default date. 5 years after the fact is not accurate. The ICO will rip them a new back orifice on that one.

I have a phone number for BG. I did read somewhere never to call them and just make contact through post or email. I will be writing back to them explaining what you have said and will let them know i have contacted the Obudsman and ICO.

rizla_king

Didn't you post above from the email?

If you would like to discuss your complaint further you can contact me directly on 0800 294 4326 or email me lee.carroll@britishgas.co.uk.

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lolavix wrote: »

I'm having a similar issue. They've registered a default against me last year for a debt from feb 2009 at a property I had moved out of and was never on the bill for.

They can't tell me when I was added or how, and apparently wrote to me in feb 2009 - I have never had anything so now have the nightmare of trying to remove the default. I wrote a complaint which they signed for on 3/1 this year but they can't even tell me if they received it...

Good luck, I'll be following to see what happens!

They are an absolute disgrace! Like Rizla king says, they cant do anything without proof. I am going to be writing to the Obudsman and ICO to try and get this issue resolved. I would recommend you do the same. Let me know how you get on. Good luck

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rizla_king wrote: »

Didn't you post above from the email?

Yes i did. I have just been told through another website that you should never call them. BG always try and get you to call them apparently and people are advised not to call them and only contact them via Post or email. Do you disagree on this?

rizla_king

Besides the ICO and the ombudsmanthe only other recourse against them would be to seek an order through the county court due to breach of the Data protection Act for recording and processing inaccurate information. requiring removal of the default and compensation. Last resort but may be worth threatening that.

Would I phone them?

uppershelf

Right... I emailed them back on the 5th..

"Hi Lee

Thank you for your response. I most definitely would not have spoken to anybody in 2007/2008 and confirmed that I would make a payment (as I had no idea of this). If you believe this to be the case, I would need proof. This is in breach of the Data protection act for processing inaccurate information. As this account was closed in 2006/2007. You cannot apply a default 5 years later.

If I have not heard anything back within the next 7 days I will have to inform the ICO and Ombudsman regarding this situation.. Especially as you cannot provide me with any information or details.

Regards"

I have just received a response from them today..

"Dear Mr Davies

Thank you for your email.

I’m waiting for clarification from our data disputes team regarding the default registered.

There are two points I’ve asked for clarification on

• Do we issue default notices. My understanding is we do not as energy accounts do not come under the consumer credit act.
• Why the default was registered sometime after the final bill. My understanding is we only issue the default once we are satisfied that we have exhausted all efforts to collect an outstanding balance from a customer and this is the point we register the default.

I will call the disputes team tomorrow to and will send you a further update once I’ve spoken to them.

Kind regards

Lee Carroll"