Scottish electric decided I owe them money despite never having an account with them.

HJC2009

Going to try and cut a long story short and get some advice from you knowledgable money savers.

We moved out of our property in 2011, the bills were all in my husbands name, we took our electric supplier to our new property where we have been ever since.

1 month ago I recieved a letter from a debt collecting company seeking money for above energy company in my name. I tried to call said company and got no answer, presumed it was fraudulent and contacted the energy company directly involved. The energy company said the money was a period in 2015 for the above property, having looked on right move I can see our buyers sold our old property then so I think it's the time in between buyers that is being chased.

I explained to the electric company that I have never had an account with them and my husband still has an account with them and can see dates when we moved in to our existing property 2011. They apologised said they would look in to it and when challenged as to how they got my name I was told most likely from the electrol roll.

I received another letter today again stating I owe the money and threatening legal action, I have re contacted the company moaned again and I have also checked that I am registered and have been since 2011 on the electrol roll at my current address.

I am astounded someone seemingly can pick out a name with no evidence set up an account number and decide I owe them money.

This has directly affected my credit rating and I am now writing a stern complaint letter, but does anyone know if what they have done is legal? As i can't get my head round how they have got my name. Just wondered if anyone had any legal advice as To how a company can do this without evidence as it just seem so wrong. TIA.

undaunted

I'm not sure if I am understanding your post correctly here. Are you saying that


You left and sold a property you had owned in 2011 which had been supplied by Scottish electric .


They have supplied and been paid for utilities in your new home since then.


Scottish electric are chasing payment for your former property - not the one you then bought / moved into in 2011


If yes whose name was / is on the bills is irrelevant. Though there is a joint and several liability (you can't just say the bill was in my husbands name as they could legally chase either of you if they can find you) for any monies which were legitimately owed to them neither you or your husband hold any liability for a property you sold 4 years previously.


I suggest you include sale dates, request that your name is removed from their records and your credit file amended, together with a token gesture of goodwill for your inconvenience. Thereafter you can refer them to your / if you can the other parties solicitors should they be having trouble locating your former buyer. It isn't your problem.

HJC2009

Hi to clear up any confusion, we sold our house in 2011 and were with Scottish power, we took them to our new property and are still paying happily with a separate account number in my husbands name.

The first I knew of an issue was a letter addressed to me by debt collection agency for Scottish power, the debt was from our previous propery for a period in 2015. They can see we have paid our bills and it is nothing to do with my husbands account it's just they have decided I owe this money, found my name and attached a bill to it. They have no evidence of this as I have never had an account with them and did not live in the property at this time. I am just concerned that a company call seemingly pull a name out of a hat, attach a bill to it and hound someone with no evidence. Hope that clears up any confusion from the previous post.

HJC2009

The other problem Is Scottish electric have sold the debt on to a debt collector and it will have messed up my credit rating.

I have never received any corospondance from Scottish electric only the debt collection company threatening court and baliffs.

undaunted

They may have sold on the debt but could just as easily simply be contracting these people to try and collect their debt.


You have nothing to fear from them. They cannot send in baliffs to sieze goods for an unproven debt. They can only knock on your door and seek to discuss the alleged debt with you. You are perfectly within your rights should they do so to inform them that you no longer even owned the property at that time and ask them to leave.


Whilst they could issue a Court Claim to try and prove the debt, given that you can evidence the fact that you had sold the property and are not liable for the bill it is unlikely matters will reach that point and even if it did , so what if they do - that claim is doomed to failure once you issue your defence it is quite likely to be withdrawn or thrown out before ever reaching hearings.

HJC2009

Thanks, how do I get them to repair any damage that has been done to my credit score?

undaunted

http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/learning-centre/what-is-a-credit-report.html


https://equifaxuk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/656/~/what-is-a-notice-of-correction%3F


http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/faq/AR5.html


http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/askjames308.html