Utilita expect me to pay previous tenant’s debts.

TheAlcibiades

Hi there, I recently moved in to a new place and have contacted the energy supplier, Utilita, to take over the accounts. The previous tenant seems to have been in debt. Anyway Utilita will not let me switch providers or go on a zero standing charge tariff unless I pay the previous tenant’s debts. I can only change to another supplier if I pay the previous occupier’s debts AND use Utilita up to one month on a standing charge agreement. I’m convinced the legality in this is questionable. Could you please advise? Thankyou!

lstar337

They cannot make you pay it. The debt is not yours. Tell them to start you with a new account of your own, with a balance of zero. Once you have an account set up you will be free to move away.

They cannot make you pay somebody else' debt, so remind them of that. Don't budge, they are just trying their luck to see if you are an easy target.

TheAlcibiades

Yeah have set up an account but they won’t let me switch or move on to their no standing charge tariff until the last tenant’s debt is paid. Lol. They’re threatening to close the account and make it impossible to switch unless i put money into this account which I’ve just taken over which they will then start deducting over the last occupier’s debt. This obviously is not legal but isn’t surprising with a barely known provider.

House_Martin

Utilita and all the other suppliers frequently get an account holder with debts, ( and it could be thousands ) just trying on the scam of changing the account holder to rid the prepayment meter of up to £16 a week debt.
You have to prove you have no connection whatsoever with the previous tenant by providing a new short term tenancy lease in your name. Send them a copy of it showing the date you took over the property. If possible try and find the forwarding address of the old tenant.
If they are not accepting this tell them you will escalate this complaint to the Ombudsman.

lstar337

Yes, tell them you are going to start a complaint against them with the Energy Ombudsman. This may be enough to budge them. If not, start the complaint.

trickytree1963

lstar337 wrote: »

Yes, tell them you are going to start a complaint against them with the Energy Ombudsman. This may be enough to budge them. If not, start the complaint.

You cant complain directly to the EO. Need to raise a Complaint with Utilita. Like others have posted get them a copy of your tenancy to show when you took it on.

lstar337

trickytree1963 wrote: »

You cant complain directly to the EO. Need to raise a Complaint with Utilita. Like others have posted get them a copy of your tenancy to show when you took it on.

My thought was to simply mention it as a means to get them to operate as they should be, instead of like a bunch of thieves.

Sometimes a threat is enough to get them moving.

Cardew

Did you contact Utilita as soon as you moved in and give them meter readings?

TheAlcibiades

Did complain to Utilita and they have totally dismissed the complaint and told me to pay the previous tenant’s debt again. Lol. The irony is I had considered staying with them because they’re cheap but moving on to another tariff with them which has no standing charge but because they are keeping me held into a standing charge tariff unless I pay another person’s debts, I’ll hightail it to Ebico or some other provider the moment this issue is sorted out. At the moment, however, Utilita are refusing to let me switch. I even said that they should track the previous tenant and sell the debt to collection. It’s not hard, as he’s got three middle names and I tracked him within one hour online. Utilita are just lazy and vexatious.

TheAlcibiades

Keeping people without electricity unless they pay another person’s debt when it’s approaching November in less than a week is questionable.

System

TheAlcibiades wrote: »

Did complain to Utilita and they have totally dismissed the complaint and told me to pay the previous tenant’s debt again. Lol. The irony is I had considered staying with them because they’re cheap but moving on to another tariff with them which has no standing charge but because they are keeping me held into a standing charge tariff unless I pay another person’s debts, I’ll hightail it to Ebico or some other provider the moment this issue is sorted out. At the moment, however, Utilita are refusing to let me switch. I even said that they should track the previous tenant and sell the debt to collection. It’s not hard, as he’s got three middle names and I tracked him within one hour online. Utilita are just lazy and vexatious.

How did you complain? I would have done so in writing with a copy of the document stating when legal responsibility was assumed for the property. If they disagree, then the supplier should say so, and why, in writing. At this point, you ask for the complaint to be deadlocked. You are then free to take the matter to The Energy Ombudsman for resolution.