Debt collectors - British gas

demri

Hello everyone, I'm new to this board and would appreciate any help!:)
My flatmate and I used to live in a house 1.5 years ago for just 6 months. Now I live on my own, and received recently 2 letters from 2 different debt collection agents (Wescot and LCS). They claim I owe them about £350 and are threatening with court action. My flatmate was responsible for payment of gas utilities and she can't remember the account number or whether we paid them at all. She and I used to live in 3 different flats, so I lost track of that, too. I don't think we ever received a welcome letter from them or anything. I think the account was only under her name, and given that she since left the UK, they are targeting me.
I'm an international student here, so I don't want to get into any trouble. I'd rather pay the money, which we probably owe any way. What can I do? The debt collectors seem a bit dodgy for me, can I after all this time pay British gas directly? Please help!

longlucy

I have got a similar letter charging me £680 when I was in the property for 2 months.
I've proved the length of time and they have reduced it to £211, which still seems extortionate given the length of time. We were a house if four and they are onky targeting me.

MY ADVICE WOULD BE NEVER TO CALL THESE PEOPLE. I GOT CHARGED £25 FOR A SINGLE PHONE CALL.

They emailed me detailing that I needed to call them for an update, complete charlatans.

I'm going to see if I can liaise with EDF as I wasn't even aware of the debt, I don't know how realistic possibility that is.

Good luck!

macman

You 'didn't receive a welcome letter from them'? But suppliers are not psychic, they only know when properties change hands when you tell them. It's your responsibility as occupier to contact them when you take up residence.
If you can't dispute the debt because you kept no records, then you've got no evidence to contest the debt.

advantix

If the account / debt is in your ex flatmates name they cannot legally chase you for the debt. If they are chasing you then i would guess that the account was either in joint names or just your name.

undaunted

You do not necessarily have to prove that you don't owe it - it's for them to prove that you do owe it should they proceed to court. Letters suggesting they might don't necessarily mean that they will.

That said it's not unreasonable to expect to pay for your usage. You say your flatmate was responsible. Did you use energy / pay anything towards the bills ?

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

demri wrote: »

Now I live on my own, and received recently 2 letters from 2 different debt collection agents...

Were they addressed to you by name or to "Occupant"?

spiro

Was the property rented? If so where both your names on the tenancy agreement?

kingrulzuk

Maybe OP got scared and ran away from the country