Can dept collectors find me via electronic rolls

Shams122

Hi, I have just finished uni and want to improve my credit rating and sign up to electoral roll. The problem with this is I own around £1200, from 2 years now to spark energy and afraid incase they find me. They've never come to my house, since I kept moving when I was a student but have received many calls from them and also dept collectors, which I ignored. The reason I didn't pay the electric bill was because it was too high for a 1 bed room property and couldn't afford as a student. I didn't realise the house was unfurnishedand, when I paid the deposit over the phone, so had to buy all furniture. The bill was for a period of 4/5 months. I was always at uni and never cooked and always ate out, and never watched TV as well, but used to shower daily.i did pay the first 2 months which came to around £200/£300 (ridiculous) The electrical bill in my previous house was about £20 a week, using a key, for a 2 bedroom, in which my brother used to cook almost daily and used to watch movies too. I did tell them many times and that they made the mistake but they weren't interested. Can someone please advice on what to do. Btw I've left it for so long as I had a hard time in uni, and this was the last thing in my mind. Thank you

sourcrates

They can find you by various methods, electoral roll just being one of them.
If or when, you do get contacted, you could dispute the debt ?

Your choice really.

National_Debtline

Hi Shams and welcome to the forum.


A couple of things to bear in mind:


- You mention wanting to improve your creditworthiness. In that respect, this old debt to Spark Energy could be problematic if left unaddressed. Many energy companies will report payment data to the credit reference agencies that lenders use when assessing applications for loans, credit cards etc.


- Spark could end up suing you for the debt if they haven't already done so. They would only need to issue proceedings at the last address you gave them for this action to be valid. Chances are that they won't sue you if they can't locate you, but if you want to have some degree of control over what your credit file looks like you may be better off contacting them to make some sort of payment arrangement - or, for that matter, to dispute the bill. Bear in mind though that it may be harder to dispute the bill so long after the event.


- Bear in mind that the debt will most likely now be in the hands of debt collectors, as opposed to court bailiffs. Debt collectors rarely make doorstep visits as they have no powers to enter properties or remove debtor's belongings.


Dennis
@natdebtline

datlex

Sorry to be harsh but not paying a bill because in your opinion it is too high is not a valid reason to just ignore it. What evidence do you have that you spoke to the electricity company? Did you take meter readings when you moved in and out of the property. Was the flat self contained or was it part of a converted house? Unless you query things you don't have a leg to stand on regarding whether you have to pay. The bill was in your name, they can go after you for in. Hiding is not the best option- are you planning on never having utilities again?

People on here will often advise to correspond with people you owe money to only in writing. I personally do not think that is the best way, especially during the early days.

I do happen to agree with you that £200 is excessive for a couple of months, I actually think the £20 a week you previously paid was high. I pay £23 a month to British Gas for mine, I am out at work in days and do have solar panels- fitted by landlord, so not clear exactly how much they generate.

In regards to the electoral register, you can apply not to be on the edited register. There are two versions, the full register which enables you to vote and the edited register which people can access.

Sorry to hear you had a bad time a university, hope things look up for you soon.