BT and debt collection agency

Moneysavingjames

Hello,

I moved house in June 2014 and prior to my move I arranged BT to move my broadband over to my new address and cancel the service at my existing address. Unbeknownst to me the house I was moving to had a business broadband line and a few days after moving to the new property BT informed me that they would be unable to activate broadband for 4-6 weeks. I told them this was unacceptable and informed them not to bother as I would go elsewhere.
Bizarrely their IT system seemed unable to cope with these events and continued my broadband service at my old address after I had moved out. For months I have received letters demanding payment from BT and every time I have phoned them they have said I do not owe this money and it will be sorted, only to receive another letter a month later. Today I received an email from a debt collection agency demanding payment.

I am after some advice as what to do. I have written to BT asking for the transcript of the last telephone call to BT customer services I placed in January where I was again told that it will be sorted and not to worry. :mad:

What powers do debt collection agencies have (ballifs?:eek:)

Many thanks in advance.

James

National_Debtline

Hi

Debt collection agencies are not bailiffs or enforcement officers and don’t have similar powers to take control of someone’s belongings. All they can really do it ask you for payment.

In your case you’ll obviously be disputing the debt. You could use our sample letter to write to them disputing liability:

www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/sampleletters/sole-letters/Pages/Complaining-to-debt-collection-agencies-that-you-do-not-owe-the-debt-(sole-name).aspx

It’s best to keep everything in writing with BT from now on. If you aren’t able to resolve this with BT you can make a written complaint to them.

You could also escalate the complaint to the section of Ombudsman Services that deals with telephone and broadband companies if you still have issues.

www.ombudsman-services.org/communications.html

James
@natdebtline

Moneysavingjames

Many thanks.

kerrie2012

Hi I missed a few payments to bt and now they have said that the debt collectors involved how can I ring them ?

sourcrates

kerrie2012 wrote: »

Hi I missed a few payments to bt and now they have said that the debt collectors involved how can I ring them ?

Hi,


You NEVER ring a DCA, ever, under ANY circumstances.


Wait until you are contacted in writing, then respond the same way, or via the DCA`s website.


Debt collectors hope and pray you will ring them so they can bully full payment out of you over the phone, its there preferred weapon of choice, don't give it to them.