Utilities bill after BR for vacant property

Mollie_Guinness15

Was made BR in early Dec 2014, handed keys back in voluntary repossession end of Dec 2014. House officially repossessed April 2016. I have just received and electricity bill for the period between voluntary repossession date and July 2016.
Should this amount be classed as a contingency debt in the BR?

NotEvanAPot

No, liable for any bills after BR date (even the standing charge if your utilities are isolated).

Mollie_Guinness15

Thanks for clarifying that..
Even though I had no keys or access to the property?

NotEvanAPot

Yes, even with no keys or access - the utilities providers had no bearing on your ability to access therefore you lack of being able to enter property and use utilities they continued to provide was not impacted by the company billing. They will want to know why they have not been contacted at your time of moving. As they could have discovered your up-to-date address from the IS website or OR directly, it is odd they have taken so long, but they are never the sharpest of companies.

Just be glad the local marijuana farmers did not discover a vacant property and leave you liable for the cost of cultivating their illgotten gains for over 2 years! Particular case details slip my mind, but not a million miles from your situation.

Having said all of the above, if you speak with the company, they may take pity and wipe the account. It does not hurt to ask, and given your cleaning up post discharge, you do not want a blemish on your credit record.

Mollie_Guinness15

Thanks for your help.
I did advise them of the date I moved out and gave them meter readings which they confirmed they received, and when I spoke to them today they again confirmed they had received them. The person I spoke to said she's going to try and find out more about what to do... She's asked me to send confirmation of receipt of keys, which I have and any other documentation I have that could help. I'm hoping for it to be wiped, but as you say I don't want to impact the credit record recovery for the relatively small amount involved.

NotEvanAPot

You're welcome, and I hope that it turns out just to be an automated system error in sending the bill.

If it is a small, manageable amount, pay it and then enter a dispute to avoid the dreaded late payment marker going on and needing fixing. You will also be arguing from a position of being owed money rather than owing, which is a good bargaining chip to hold.

Mollie_Guinness15

Thought I'd update you on this, now it's resolved. I sent information regarding the voluntary repossession and the BS's actual repossession dates, Then received an automated letter threatening passing the debt on to a DCA. I called this morning, with the intention of paying it, but after reading through the notes on the account the adviser said, she would speak with her managers and call back. She called back to inform me that the balance has now been removed. Result