Energy bills from previous owners

Cynical_Sid

We moved into our house about 5 years ago now, the previous owners were a bit of a nightmare and we kept getting their post (including credit card bills and statements) for ages. We just put "not at this address" on the envelope and put them back in the post, eventually they all dried up.


However, this week we got one that we could see through the envelope was a energy bill for the previous owner but at this address. I know it's bad form but we were concerned so opened it.


It is indeed an energy bill from a company we've never heard of, for a property that isn't ours but using our address as the contact address. The account shows he has not paid since starting with them!
We've heard horror stories before about people racking up bills at properties and then not paying so the question is what should we do?
Do we contact the provider and tell them (we'd have to admit opening the letter) or is there somewhere else we should go?
Thanks

captain747

Yeah just contact them and tell them ... they'll be off your back!

Mojisola

Cynical_Sid wrote: »

It is indeed an energy bill from a company we've never heard of, for a property that isn't ours but using our address as the contact address. The account shows he has not paid since starting with them!

We've heard horror stories before about people racking up bills at properties and then not paying so the question is what should we do?

Do we contact the provider and tell them (we'd have to admit opening the letter) or is there somewhere else we should go?

There's nothing wrong with opening post that arrives at your address.

Contact the company and explain that you have been at your address for five years and this bill is nothing to do with you. They've got the address of the other property so can use that to chase up the debt.

45002

Cynical_Sid wrote:

We moved into our house about 5 years ago now, the previous owners were a bit of a nightmare and we kept getting their post (including credit card bills and statements) for ages. We just put "not at this address" on the envelope and put them back in the post, eventually they all dried up.


However, this week we got one that we could see through the envelope was a energy bill for the previous owner but at this address. I know it's bad form but we were concerned so opened it.


It is indeed an energy bill from a company we've never heard of, for a property that isn't ours but using our address as the contact address. The account shows he has not paid since starting with them!
We've heard horror stories before about people racking up bills at properties and then not paying so the question is what should we do?
Do we contact the provider and tell them (we'd have to admit opening the letter) or is there somewhere else we should go?
Thanks

Any post for previous owner

On the envelope

Cross out there name/address

Then write

Left this address 5 years ago

Return to Sender please.

Then next time you go out, pop in the post box you don't even need to put a stamp on it ..

End of ...

45002

45002 wrote: »

Any post for previous owner

On the envelope

Cross out there name/address

Then write

Left this address 5 years ago

Return to Sender please.

Then next time you go out, pop in the post box you don't even need to put a stamp on it ..

End of ...

Or have a read of this

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/youre_receiving_someone_elses_mail.htm

BitterAndTwisted

It would be wise to contact the supplier by phone and tell them that the addressee hasn't lived in the property for five years, and that you don't have a forwarding address. They would only have to consult the electoral register to verify the info you give.

If you don't contact them a summons or debt-collectors are likely to be arriving, and those might be more troublesome to deal with..

45002

BitterAndTwisted wrote:

It would be wise to contact the supplier by phone and tell them that the addressee hasn't lived in the property for five years, and that you don't have a forwarding address. They would only have to consult the electoral register to verify the info you give.

If you don't contact them a summons or debt-collectors are likely to be arriving, and those might be more troublesome to deal with..

For Reference

Missing people from the electoral role

http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2015/feb/05/missing-voters-individual-electoral-registration-disaster