Demand from Mil Collection for First Utility

Cardew

dazza.mk wrote: »

I've just had the same issue! Although dogshome is incorrect in purely quoting standard timelines on chasing debts. Since 2007 Energy suppliers have given a commitment to OFGEM to not backbill customers over 12 months where they are at fault

https://www.first-utility.com/help/bills-and-payments/what-is-back-billing

I suspect FU are claiming that they did produce a bill within the 12 months and those posters have failed to pay.

There have similar cases with other energy companies have 'sold' a block of this type of 'debt' on to Debt Collection Agencies. Often these debts are where the company produce a final bill using customer supplied meter readings; readings which are later disputed.

However I really am surprised that they are pursuing such small amounts.

croissantneuf

eidman wrote: »

I too have just received an email requesting £14.34, I assumed it was a scam & advised them so. As have not been a customer for at least 4 years.

Having read these threads am wondering if it could be legit. How can it be worthy them chasing such small amounts?!

Not sure how hey have come to this, but will ask for proof etc.

Has everyone else also received emails, or other communications, etc?

This is common. I have just had the same from MIL for £19.60. Which is amusing as my last letter threatened FU with court for failing to send the money they owed me when I closed the account with them.

Our debts have been "sold" to MIL who will have bought a swodge of old debts (which is why lots are showing up right now) and will now proceed to dun each person by letter and try to recover more than they paid for the debts - we will get a series of increasingly insistent letters. There is a high probability that somewhere down the line these debts will be sold to another agency.

It's happened to me before. 02 debt of £20 went on for six years. It eventually stopped.

I have written to MIL: "Your ref: R0000000

You are asking for payment of an outstanding account with First Utility. I have no recollection or records of any outstanding amount.

I will address this if you would send me a copy of statements from First Utility which will prove that this amount is in fact owed. Note that I will not respond to any more dunning letters that do not provide proper documentation of the amount you claim is owed.

sarahmccallum

had an email from MIL this morning alleging an unpaid debt of £16.80 to First Utility. I don't recall this debt and have asked for evidence. I suspect it was an error on FU's part as they were pretty poor as far as I remember.

It looks to me from this thread that MIL have bought a large number of small debts, probably for pennies and are simply emailing en masse to try and get some easy wins. I doubt debts of this size are worth pursuing and I certainly shan't be paying unless someone provides evidence I owe them money.

I shan't be losing any sleep over this but it is useful to read other's experiences.

Caznco

Ive just had one of these too for £13.34 I never owed them any money . The account has been closed for years . Im really not sure what to do for the best . This thread is really helpful as i wasn't even sure the company was legit. I will phone on Monday and request proof

badmemory

Remember to withhold your number or you will be getting calls from them all day

footyguy

badmemory wrote: »

Remember to withhold your number or you will be getting calls from them all day

Not if payment for what is owed is made

Sounds like they have already benefitted from years of interest free credit ... which other customers like you and me have to ultimately pay for :cool:

MothballsWallet

IIRC, MIL Collections also work for Private Parking Companies (PPCs) - have a look at the Motoring board's Parking Tickets board and you can find out what they're like.

Also, FU switched to the SAP system for customer billing a few years ago: many utility companies do this, and they tend to buy the entry level version instead of the industry-tailored one and then spend more money trying to get it changed to their needs.

It's like buying a little Fiesta 1.0 and trying to get it to go as fast as a Bugatti Veyron....

But many of the utility companies that bring in SAP seem to have a lot of problems once they've done it.

brewerdave

footyguy wrote: »

Not if payment for what is owed is made

Sounds like they have already benefitted from years of interest free credit ... which other customers like you and me have to ultimately pay for :cool:

.....but no-one has come back to say that they have received an explanation/recalculated bill for these petty amounts, so whether they have gained from "an interest free loan" is open to debate:)

markharding557

footyguy wrote: »

Not if payment for what is owed is made

Sounds like they have already benefitted from years of interest free credit ... which other customers like you and me have to ultimately pay for :cool:

You are just making an unfounded assumption, some or all of these claims may be wrong.
Anyone with common sense would demand evidence of any owed monies. I could claim that you owe me £10 from an alleged transaction, without an admission it wouldn't count unless I could actually prove it.