Debt agency for housing association repairs

jimboh1976

Hi.

I hope some of you can help on this.

My pensioner mother lives in a Housing Association flat. In 2014 the housing association had to call out Dynorod (or similar) to unblock the drains as they had fat in them and were backing up.

Shortly after this my mother revived a bill for the clean up. I tried to argue this but failed, they said it was her fault. Then my mum was in contact with them over the phone and the employee agreed it was not her fault. No further correspondence was sent.

Last week when my mother recieved a letter from a dept collection agency saying she owed £212. I have just spoken to the housing association about this and they said my mother owes the money and they have no record of anyone saying otherwise.
I asked if it was standard procedure to send depts to a debt collected 2 to 3 years after the issue with no letters/ phone calls i between, they couldn't answer.
I spoke to the debt collectors who said they have been inundated with calls today about old debts that had not been communicated about for 2 or more years.
I still don't believe my mum was at fault. Also how long can a company wait before using debt collectors?

sheff6107

A debt collector (they're not bailiffs) has no powers so anybody can pay a company to write a threatening letter for them whenever they like. Any debt will become statute barred after 6 years though.

£212 is a lot for each flat though. What was the original bill for the whole development? You're entitled to ask for the information

eddddy

jimboh1976 wrote: »

Also how long can a company wait before using debt collectors?

A company can instruct a 3rd party (such as a debt collector) to chase a debt at any time - there's no minimum timescale.

Whether your mother owes the debt depends on what leases, contracts, etc say - and what your mother agreed to at the time.


For example...

... if maintenance of the drain pipe in question was your mother's responsibility, and she agreed with the HA that they should call out a drain company on her behalf...

.... then she's probably liable for the charge.


If the circumstances were different, then your mother may not be responsible.

As a starting point, ask the HA why they believe your mother is responsible for the charge.