Is there a legal process energy companies have to follow to chase outstanding balance

Wilsden5

Is there a legal or even recommended process that energy firms are required or expected to follow when a customer has an outstanding balance?
Please if anyone knows as I have just been referred to a debt management agency for a debt from May 2014 which I knew nothing about even though the company have my email address, phone number, postal address and i have had a new account with them since June 2014.

Stevie_Palimo

Check if the debt if yours first and foremost and once confirmed offer a repayment plan to the collection Company of what you can afford, If it is not yours then tell them so but in a more blunt way.

Casey_Ryback

I am in a 2 years long fight with scottish power. They claim money but their payment system won't recognise their very own payment confirmation emails. Gone to the financial ombudsman but SP fails to contact them! Now some debt handler trying to get money but they fail to show any letter which states that SP authorized them to deal with this case...I have a feeling that we are unprotected against these crooked companies

Wilsden5

The debt is mine but my point is they have failed to notify me of it for two years then set a debt management company on me who have threatened to default my file.
First Utility have said they sent me ONE letter in June of this year to notify me of the balance. That's it. Then they refereed me as a non payer. I did not receive this letter by the way.
I have raised a complaint with FU and spoken to the debt people and explained I am not happy with the process they have gone through to notify me this money was outstanding and they have given me some time to sort it out with FU but I am going to try to take it as far as I can

Cardew

Casey_Ryback wrote: »

I am in a 2 years long fight with scottish power. They claim money but their payment system won't recognise their very own payment confirmation emails. Gone to the financial ombudsman but SP fails to contact them! Now some debt handler trying to get money but they fail to show any letter which states that SP authorized them to deal with this case...I have a feeling that we are unprotected against these crooked companies

My suggestion for anyone who is absolutely sure that the energy company's case has no merit, is to take them to the Small Claims court.

footyguy

Casey_Ryback wrote: »

I am in a 2 years long fight with scottish power. They claim money but their payment system won't recognise their very own payment confirmation emails. Gone to the financial ombudsman but SP fails to contact them! Now some debt handler trying to get money but they fail to show any letter which states that SP authorized them to deal with this case...I have a feeling that we are unprotected against these crooked companies

Really?

Scottish Power don't subcribe to the Financial Ombudsman service, but do subscribe to the Energy Ombudsman scheme.

Not sure if you really meant the Energy Ombudsman, but if not, I'm really surprised the Financial Ombudsman service did not advise you that you should have contacted the Energy Ombudsman.

However, no ombudsman service will entertain your complaint until you have first allowed the supplying organisation an opportunity to resolve the complaint themselves.

Once you have met the ombudsman's acceptence criteria, it will be the ombudsman that contacts the supplier, not the other way round

Casey_Ryback

footyguy wrote: »

Really?

Scottish Power don't subcribe to the Financial Ombudsman service, but do subscribe to the Energy Ombudsman scheme.

Not sure if you really meant the Energy Ombudsman, but if not, I'm really surprised the Financial Ombudsman service did not advise you that you should have contacted the Energy Ombudsman.

However, no ombudsman service will entertain your complaint until you have first allowed the supplying organisation an opportunity to resolve the complaint themselves.

Once you have met the ombudsman's acceptence criteria, it will be the ombudsman that contacts the supplier, not the other way round

Really? Is that your best tone to spread your wisdom?