Taking a housemate to court over unpaid bills

Dan_24_2

So can we take housemate (A) to court over this as he has stolen the house money?

Comms69

aneary wrote: »

Most want DDs to get the lower fixed rate.

Yes, that worked out great here...

Comms69

Dan_24 wrote: »

So can we take housemate (A) to court over this as he has stolen the house money?

Yes. seriously that's been answered 3 times

Dan_24_2

And what is the right way to go about this?

Should I pay the debt collector off? or tell them what is going on?

Comms69

Dan_24 wrote: »

And what is the right way to go about this?

Should I pay the debt collector off? or tell them what is going on?

1: write a letter before action
2: apply via MCOL
3: attend court
4: win
5: enforce judgment


Optional: contact the utility company (NOT DCA) and explain
Optional: if you can afford to pay it off now, pay it. BUT accept that in eiter case you may not get the money back

saajan_12

1. Check the water co, gas co, electric co, broadband co, council for bills in your name and ensure they are paid, to mitigate any late penalties.

2. Calculate each person's share of the bills you paid. For housemate who held the 'joint' account, add the amount you paid in that wasn't for rent.

3. Ask each housemate informally, then write a formal letter before action, then file a money claim online, providing the emails as proof of the agreement and bank statements showing your payments to the 'joint account' as well as your recent payments to the council/utility co directly.

In future, better ways to sort houseshares are any of the below
1. each pay 25% or pay every 4 months direct to the utility co / landlord / council. Plus keep track of statements so you catch other people's missed payments early while you still are friendly and know their contact details.

2. To take advantage of Direct debit deals or avoid havign to remember each month, each person pays 25% of the expected bill for 1 year ahead so the account is in credit. Then set up a direct debit from one person's account (which will collect £0 each month). If the amount isn't enough, they can request shares from each person but the shortfall should be much less than the whole year outstanding.

3. Bill only in one person's name (A) and they pay the full bill. Other housemates pay the expected total bill for 6 months / 1 year, so A bill doesn't take the risk of others not paying them. Keep statements to check the amounts requested reflect the bill amounts. If A doesn't pay up, the company would chase them, not the rest.
* Note don't set up the account in multiple peoples names as that links your credit for a long time.

xsor

My post is probably not helpful.. but omg, what a scumbag that ******** is.

Dan_24_2

Thanks everyone for your help on this. It has/is a bloody nightmare and I hope we get this b******d for this!

TBagpuss

Dan_24 wrote: »

And what is the right way to go about this?

Should I pay the debt collector off? or tell them what is going on?

You will have t pay them. IF the bill was in your name, then you were the one who had a contract with the energy supplier and are the only one they can pursue.

They have no legal relationship with your former housemates and no claim against them - your relationships with your former housemates are irrelevant to them, and I very much doubt that they do anything, or delay the action they are taking, if you told them you were chasing the others.

Obviously you can agree with all the other housemates except the thief, that they will pay towards the debt and then share the risk of getting it back (or not) from the thief but unfortunately for you, you are the one who had a contract with the energy co., not them.