British Gas/Moorcroft chasing for previous owners debt

alsa1

Hello all,

I moved into a new house on the 26th of July last year. I promptly took meter readings and rang BG to inform them of my new details as I noticed an overdue bill for the previous tenant. They told me to ignore the old bill and carry on as normal.

Several months later I received an email from 1st Locate UK/LCS asking me to inform them who was resident in the property around July to August 2013. I told them that I moved in on the 26th of July and also scanned a copy of my tenancy agreement which confirmed this.

Another several months passed and I was shocked to receive bills from British Gas saying I owed them £100 for 3 July-24 July 2013. The bills were now in my name despite previously being 'the occupier', and I can only believe that the joke 1st Locate harvested my information from the tenancy agreement to stick the bill on me as they couldn't be bothered locating the actual tenant!!!

Fast forward and now I am receiving letter after letter from Moorcroft chasing this debt. They have amended the account to produce a new bill for the period 25 July - 31 August 2013, which was during the time I stayed there. I only recall paying from 01 September so should I pay for this period? The period in dispute is the bill for 03-25 July.

Is there any advice on what to do about the bill when I was not living there? At the moment BG refuse to help and keep telling me to ring Moorcroft but I will not call them as I was wondering what the advice would be on here first!

Many thanks

[Deleted User]

There are two issues here.

The fist is the bill for the period when you were resident.

If you haven't paid for all the energy you have used, then you are liable to pay the difference between what you have paid for, and what you have used.

I suggest you dig out all your utility bills, calculate the units you have used (subtract the starting reading from the first bill, from the reading on the latest bill), then compare to the units BG say you have used.

As for the bill for the previous occupier, that's not your responsibility, so they can take a running jump.

alsa1

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

There are two issues here.

The fist is the bill for the period when you were resident.

If you haven't paid for all the energy you have used, then you are liable to pay the difference between what you have paid for, and what you have used.

I suggest you dig out all your utility bills, calculate the units you have used (subtract the starting reading from the first bill, from the reading on the latest bill), then compare to the units BG say you have used.

As for the bill for the previous occupier, that's not your responsibility, so they can take a running jump.

Thank you for your post. I have had a look for the bill when I was resident and it does look like the bill for 26 July - 31 August is about right. Therefore should I make payment to Moorcroft for this? I have read a few times that they can continue to chase you for debts which have been paid, but when I rang BG to pay just now they have said only Moorcroft are dealing with this!

For the bill for the previous owner they are saying as it is in my name it's my bill! This despite the tenancy agreement which shows the dates I moved in, do you think I should ignore the letters or send a generic reply to them?

[Deleted User]

alsa1 wrote: »

Thank you for your post. I have had a look for the bill when I was resident and it does look like the bill for 26 July - 31 August is about right. Therefore should I make payment to Moorcroft for this?

Yes.

You've used the energy, so you should pay for it.

For the bill for the previous owner they are saying as it is in my name it's my bill!

They're talking spherical objects.

do you think I should ignore the letters or send a generic reply to them?

I'd probably write to them once, stating you dispute the debt, on the grounds you were not resident.

If they were stupid enough to sue you for it, the Judge would laugh them out of court.

alsa1

I've spoken to BG and they have amended the account finally, it seems you have to explain it quite clearly because if they get confused they will try the trick 'contact Moorcroft' because they don't want to try and go into the account.

I think everyone should try and contact the original company direct because it has been impossible trying to reason with the DCAs!

sourcrates

alsa1 wrote: »

I think everyone should try and contact the original company direct because it has been impossible trying to reason with the DCAs!

Exactly why this forum exists, and why there are so many posts asking for advice for dealing with DCA`s, unless a DCA owns the debt outright, you are under no obligation whatsoever to deal with that DCA, and there is nothing they, as a company, can do to you, except "advise" there client, you wont deal with them.

alsa1

sourcrates wrote: »

Exactly why this forum exists, and why there are so many posts asking for advice for dealing with DCA`s, unless a DCA owns the debt outright, you are under no obligation whatsoever to deal with that DCA, and there is nothing they, as a company, can do to you, except "advise" there client, you wont deal with them.

You are right, I didn't realise this at first, and so it seems some of BG call centre staff don't actually realise that if the customer calls them to settle the account they don't HAVE TO contact Moorcroft etc. Cut these people out of the loop and they will improve their practices.

I also had some dealings with the company 'LCS' or sometimes known as 1st Locate, I sent my tenancy agreement to them which outlined exactly when I moved into the property but they choose to ignore it. I am fuming at this because I can only imagine that people are suffering heavily because of these tactics, I will be posting this in a separate article to make others aware of these poor practices!

sourcrates

alsa1 wrote: »

You are right, I didn't realise this at first, and so it seems some of BG call centre staff don't actually realise that if the customer calls them to settle the account they don't HAVE TO contact Moorcroft etc. Cut these people out of the loop and they will improve their practices.

I also had some dealings with the company 'LCS' or sometimes known as 1st Locate, I sent my tenancy agreement to them which outlined exactly when I moved into the property but they choose to ignore it. I am fuming at this because I can only imagine that people are suffering heavily because of these tactics, I will be posting this in a separate article to make others aware of these poor practices!

You have to bear in mind a DCA is simply in the business of making money, as quickly, as it can, simple as that, they are not interested if you have lost your job, or fallen off a roof and cant work they simply have no other interest than getting money from you, if you don't play there game, they put you on the back burner, and go after someone else, if you contact them, they never let go, like a dog with a bone, myself I would never pay a DCA, all my debts eventually were repaid via an IVA, so I have paid them in a way, but on my terms, not theres.