Help Required - Hounded for a settled debt

Caliga

Hi There,

A little background: a few years back I moved into my first flat, and was automatically signed up to a company called Spark Energy in the smallprint of my contract for all energy supply.

The company were expensive and over the course of a year I made several failed attempts to move to British Gas as they would always block the move, eventually I managed to get free, or so I thought. I had managed to move to British Gas for only electricity, and never realized I was still with Spark because over the course of the next year or so I never received a single call, email, letter or text from them. A debt accumulated and I only found out about it after I had already been living in my new flat, which I moved into a year before I found out about the debt (all energy being supplied by British Gas now).

When I found out I rang Spark Energy, making a record of the call using my tablet to record it. I assured them I had not lived at the address for the last year, paid the debt which had been reduced from around £1000, to just over £200, and was assured that the matter was completely settled and no further action would be taken. I made very sure that there was no possible way I could misconceive this!

This was last October, and unfortunately I have since reformatted the tablet completely losing the voice recording.

Today I have been contacted by a debt collection agency, Opos Limited, claiming that I owe Spark Energy a further £800. I have contacted both the agency and spark, but haven't had a reply yet. I am sick with worry as I have only recently gotten a handle on my debts, and have begun making great strides to get myself back in the black.

With no voice recorded evidence left to support my claim, and knowing full well what crooks Spark Energy can be, I fear that I will be left with no legal leg to stand on and have to pay the £800. I have no idea how they could have made this mix up!

I am wondering if any of you money savvy individuals could give me some advice on how to proceed with this matter, I would be hugely appreciative as I'm losing my mind over the matter.

Thank you

Tixy

How were you contacted by the debt collector today? By telephone or in writing?

How have you contacted Spark and Opos today?

You say

paid the debt which had been reduced from around £1000, to just over £200, and was assured that the matter was completely settled and no further action would be taken.

Did you have an original bill that stated the debt was £1000?
At what point was the debt reduced to £200? had they sent you something to confirm this in writing? or did they just agree on that phone call to settle the debt for a payment of £200?

Caliga

Hi Tixy,

I was contacted by the debt collector via Email, I have checked the client reference numbers against the ones that I have with Spark and they match, so I'm as confident as I can be that this isn't Spam - I can only dream it is!

I have contacted both Spark and Opus via email today, as I am at work and cannot call over the phone.

It was agreed over the phone that the debt would be reduced as I hadn't lived there for the last year or so. I asked to receive a letter to confirm the transaction, but received no letter. I stupidly never followed it up safe in the knowledge that my debt was sorted.

I imagine I have done something rather stupid in thinking that a phonecall would be enough, haven't i?

sourcrates

Caliga wrote: »

It was agreed over the phone that the debt would be reduced as I hadn't lived there for the last year or so. I asked to receive a letter to confirm the transaction, but received no letter. I stupidly never followed it up safe in the knowledge that my debt was sorted.

I imagine I have done something rather stupid in thinking that a phonecall would be enough, haven't i?

Err, yes, unfortunately, things can be agreed on the phone, and you have no record of what has been agreed, it is essential to get agreements like this in writing, before parting with any money.

In theory they have not acknowledged this reduction in writing, so they are free to sell on the remainder of the debt, which appears to be what has happened.

Former Spark Representative

Hi Caliga


I'm so sorry to hear about what's happened.


I would be happy to help you get this sorted out and I can help stop the payment reminders you're receiving.


If you would like some assistance please drop me a line to the email address on my profile.


Hope to hear from you soon.


Kind regards


Jenny
Customer Relations Manager

avoidspark

I was also just hounded from Opos for a final bill from spark which was only 3 days late.

What I can't understand is that I emailed them 7 days before the invoice due date that I wanted them to close my account (not just limited to the moving home feature on their website). They replied asking for my full address and postcode, which I gave but then I didn't get any response.

Now instead of contacting the account holders directly via email or phone, they have immediately passed the debt onto Opos.

I would avoid Spark Energy. They clearly sold the debt for a profit rather than in the first instance try to settle it.

They were automatically selected by Foxtons who let the property. They are both money grabbing scum bag companies which you should always avoid.

JTA

Spark_Energy wrote: »

Hi Caliga


I'm so sorry to hear about what's happened.


I would be happy to help you get this sorted out and I can help stop the payment reminders you're receiving.


If you would like some assistance please drop me a line to the email address on my profile.


Hope to hear from you soon.


Kind regards


Jenny
Customer Relations Manager

Dear Jenny

I've recently (22 November) transferred my energy account from Spark to another provider. Over a period of 18 months I amassed a credit of over £700. I'd like to know when i will get my final bill and when my credit will be refunded to me.

i look forward to hearing from you.

thanks for your help.

June Taylor

worried_jim

JTA wrote: »

Dear Jenny

I've recently (22 November) transferred my energy account from Spark to another provider. Over a period of 18 months I amassed a credit of over £700. I'd like to know when i will get my final bill and when my credit will be refunded to me.

i look forward to hearing from you.

thanks for your help.

June Taylor

You might want to use the email in the Spark Reps signature rather than just posting randomly in a two year old thread. She may not even work there anymore.