First utility are at it again. Bills over a year after leaving

clough99

We left FU over a year ago to a new supplier who picked up everything ok.

FU seemed to have trouble noticing they were not my supplier any longer . Even though they had the final meter readings there was no bill and despite being in credit they tried to keep taking money out of my account via the DD that I had stopped.

I took me three months of struggling to get through to them to get my credit back - I tried to start ombudsman proceedings - but they wont help without a deadlock letter that you can't get if the company doesn't respond.

But now it turns out they refunded more than they should have and now over a year after I thought I had closed the account they have started sending overdue bill reminders. I have called them and I got some rubbish about their T's&C's allow them to take up to a year to prepare a final bill and they expected me to be checking my on-line account ( That doesn't work ) to look out for it .

It is only a small amount but to me the principle that I had closed the account and they finally paid back what I was owed should have been the end of it , If they paid back too much that really is their hard luck. And the fact that they took over a year to try and get me a final bill is a bit of a joke.

So now in just over a week I've had two calls two letter's two texts all telling me I'm overdue - but no actual bill. Apparently it is already with the debt collectors ( who seem to be themselves ) and although I am contesting it (as it is over the year in their t's&c's ) Customer services told me the letters will keep on coming.

I suppose if it wasn't for the fact I had to put hours of effort in to get my original refund of credit I would just pay it to make it go away , but it cost me much more in my time time to get my money back I really don't want them getting any more off me .

I suppose time will show which of their random actions will be taken next .

clough99

Well today I got home to a letter from "Fredrickson" Telling me that my account has been sent to them and they would like to arrange payment.

Clearly as I didn't owe any money in the first place ( according to First Utilities own T&C s) . I'm just going to send them a letter denying the debt and telling them to refer it back to their client .

Interestingly in the letter they claim First utility have written to me about this but this has never happened texts 18 months ago yes but no letters.

The amount they are asking for is only £35.00 which seems a really small amount to get debt-collectors on - it cant be worth their time , unless I just pay up I suppose which I wont do

GingerBob_3

Be careful with this. Although the fact scum are chasing you for a mere £35 should be of no real concern, you need to check that FU (or maybe the scum) have not blacklisted you at the credit reference agencies. If FU have sold your debt - real or otherwise - there's every chance they will have done. Check it out.

dogshome

Saga that is typical FU
However you seem to agree that FU refunded you £35 too much, and I'm afraid that your only course of action is to pay it - Legally they have up to six years to recover moneys they have mis-billed

DO NOT take this as an opportunity to repay FU for some of the grief they caused you, the law is on their side - Not paying will end up with legal action for the £35 + D/collector costs + Court fee's, and a trashed credit score

clough99

Actually I believe I don't owe them the money - it took them over a year to present me with a bill which is contrary to their own terms and conditions.

dogshome

Whoa ! Clough99

Your post sets out the saga of getting a Final Bill from FU, which after much chasing you managed to get, within apparently FU's own T&C's 12 month window
The bills total was a Credit balance which you also recieved, so FU were operating within their own T&C's

Now FU are asking you to repay £35 because the Final Bll was incorrect, and this is an entirely different situation
If FU hadnot produced a bill, which they did, or failed to pay back the credit, which they did, you would have had recourse to the Ombudsman for notfollowing the agreed terms.
BUT
The fact is you did get a Final Bill, which FU want to adjust
Whatever FU's terms say about 12 months, you are now in a completely area of Law and FU have 6 years to adjust their billing if it's in error, and 6 years to make your a misery trying to collect the money.
Only £35 ? - FU's systems are ruled by computer software, and right now it see's you as a debtor and is determined to collect the money

Please re-read the final para.of my post #4 and act upon it

clough99

FU Took nearly 15 months to provide a bill and they verbally stated at the time that it had already been passed to a debt collector - Before they presented me with a bill.

Thus why I have written to them today. They never sent a "reminder" or a "final demand" so what have I got to loose my complaining to them - nothing. I do have a genuine grievance here and I would like FU to recognise that.

I have also told the DCA in writing that the amount is in dispute.

clough99

RESULT !

As a backup to the letters I posted on FU's facebook page , They asked for a PM in which I detailed the full tale. As a result they have "Written Off" the outstanding balance .

God news for me - And shows it is always worth questioing a bill you dont expect .

D_M_E

Make sure the debt collectors have also been called off - did you get confirmation of the write-off in writing?

Also make sure they have not damaged your credit record and, if they have, make sure they rectify what damage they have done.

clough99

Yep I got them to confirm they are calling off the debt collectors - and I had done a credit report check last Friday which was clear .

That said the DCA have just text me asking for me to get in touch - I'll ignore that as they haven't had time to open the letter I sent them