Patience is starting to run thin....what are my next options???

Plantlover66

Back In December, I went through the complaints process on Resolver, to sort out an ongoing issue I have with British Gas.
Just so you have a bit of background, I had a default on my account from British Gas, but when I contacted them to start making payments towards the debt (I'm trying to improve my credit and wanted lenders to see that I wasn't ignoring it) British Gas had no idea where the debt was, couldn't give me a straight answer on the amount of outstanding debt I had with them etc.

In the end, with the help of the energy Ombudsman, I was able to get a letter of apology, £90 deducted from the final debt and was advised that my debt was with a company called Past Due Credit Solutions. I planned to contact Past Due this weekend after receiving my reference to set up a payment plan. However, today on Resolver I have received a letter from yet another debt collection agency called Lucas Credit Solutions??!!!

I am getting pretty frustrated with this now as the whole reason I went to the ombudsman in the first place is because BG couldn't confirm who the debt was with. Now it appears after "resolving" this issue they once again can't get their story straight and can't commit to one debt collection agency.

Can anyone advise if they have had defaults cleared from the credit report before? If so, do I have the grounds to have the default removed? I'm trying to better my credit but surely it is illegal for them to sell the debt to multiple debt agencies?

I just need some help and any is appreciated....not too sure where to turn to next since I've already been through the ombudsman service??

TadleyBaggie

Perhaps Past Due sold it on to Lucas Credit Solutions and it may have nothing to do with British Gas.

StopIt

Also, they can sell the debt to anyone they like.


Their sheer incompetence not withstanding, you're unlikely to get a default removed because they sold it on and then the guys who they sold it on to also sold it on.


However, sometimes these DCA companies do not buy the debt from the utilities, but merely manage them, and BG can change their DCA of choice at any time in this case also.


If you're not disputing the debt, contact the current DCA and set up a payment plan.

sheff6107

BG won't remove the default because it's accurate - all you can do is put a Notice of Correction on your credit file saying something like "Paid in full on 2/6/17 after amount corrected to £999.99 following complaint upheld by Ombudsman ref 1234546"

You're under no real obligation to pay the full amount anyway. By all means send a cheque for 75% of the amount to Lucas stating it is in full and final settlement and write it on the back of the cheque as well.

Plantlover66

So basically British Gas have done nothing wrong?? Both companies say the debt is with them so please tell me how I'm meant to know who the debt is with and who I should be setting up a payment plan with???

Plantlover66

It has everything to do with British Gas, that's why they apologised for their incompetence and reduced the debt. Why apologise for something and then do the same thing again???

StopIt

halexis91 wrote: »

So basically British Gas have done nothing wrong?? Both companies say the debt is with them so please tell me how I'm meant to know who the debt is with and who I should be setting up a payment plan with???

Write a letter to Lucas, stating that the previous DCA still claims the debt and to sort it out between themselves.


Note that none of us have said that BG has done nothing wrong. In fact, I called them incompetent. Does that mean you don't owe them for energy you've used? No. Does that make a default any less valid? Also no.


You've already had compensation for this issue and if there is a DCA mix up, you may be able to get some more towards this debt. But it still must be paid and the default is also valid.

Plantlover66

StopIt wrote: »

Write a letter to Lucas, stating that the previous DCA still claims the debt and to sort it out between themselves.


Note that none of us have said that BG has done nothing wrong. In fact, I called them incompetent. Does that mean you don't owe them for energy you've used? No. Does that make a default any less valid? Also no.


You've already had compensation for this issue and if there is a DCA mix up, you may be able to get some more towards this debt. But it still must be paid and the default is also valid.

I totally understand that the energy was still used and that the money is still owed...but I've gone way beyond what I should have done already.
BG are saying the debt needs paying, I've tried my best to pay the debt and every time I do I'm advised of a different debt collection agency. If they want the debt paying surely it's on them to get themselves in order. Why should I have to keep making an effort to pay the debt if they're not going to try and resolve it.

At the end of the day, if they're unable to come to an agreement on how much is owed (bearing in mind they still haven't confirmed the full amount - they have just advised that they're going to take £90 off) and can't give me the name of one debt collection agency I should be paying, then yes, in my eyes the default is less valid because they can't even confirm accurate and correct details relating to it.

I totally understand I have no obligation to pay, but am I not right in thinking it looks better on myself if I do? As the defaults going on 4 years I'm tempted just to ignore it and wait for it to drop off in 2 years. Who knew it would be such a hassle getting them to take my money. Ridiculous.

sourcrates

Hi,

I`m sorry for all the trouble you are having with this matter, i know it can be frustrating when debts get sold on, but can i just clarify one thing for the avoidance of doubt, although BG may of been incompetent in the way they have handled your account, it in no way affects the reason why a default was added to your credit file, you did after all, owe the money, and it wasn't paid within the timescale specified, therefore the default was applied accurately, and has nothing really to do with the rest of the problems you have been experiencing.

Although you could use the other circumstances as leverage for removal of the default, i doubt that you will be successful, but by all means try.

Debts get sold all the time, it can be confusing as one company may buy it, then appoint another to collect it, my advice would be to pay whoever next writes to you, and keep proof of that payment, then if in the future, another DCA attempts collection, you have proof the debt was satisfied.