Scottish Power charging me for a house I don't live in

System

FDizbo0312 wrote: »

They were satisfied when my dad had died as I took over the bill and had it put in my name (this is for gas sorry, the electricity was a meter), when I informed them I was moving out and wasn't the owner back in 2016 and that no one would be living there, I cleared my final bill and assumed that would be the end. How would it fall into my responsibility for an empty property with no usage that I don't own?

I cannot comment on your personal situation but if a property stands empty for, say, 3 years and the meters are not removed then there will at least be a daily standing charge that has to be paid. The debt falls to The Executors of the Estate until such time as Probate is granted. From this point, it becomes a personal liability for the person/s bequeathed the property. This liability runs on until the property is sold or let.

FDizbo0312

Hengus wrote: »

I cannot comment on your personal situation but if a property stands empty for, say, 3 years and the meters are not removed then there will at least be a daily standing charge that has to be paid. The debt falls to The Executors of the Estate until such time as Probate is granted. From this point, it becomes a personal liability for the person/s bequeathed the property. This liability runs on until the property is sold or let.

Ok, thanks, so any advice on how to proceed with this situation at all? I am considering just ignoring the debt collectors, as the letters were sent to the property and not my own address.

Sparx

OP you said the account was transferred to your name? Ultimately the DCA can trace and pursue you for the debt, through the courts if necessary and obtain a CCJ and look to take enforcement action. The fact letters are going to your dad's property are irrelevant. Depends how far the DCA are willing to go for the sake of a £297 debt, they might not take it that far. Who knows!

The issue is regardless the house stood still, gas/electric still has a daily standing charge, which I imagine is what the outstanding bill consists of... At best you could try complain to Scottish Power and ask if they would reduce the bill under the circumstances, but they have no obligation to do this it'd only be a goodwill gesture.

FDizbo0312

Sparx wrote: »

OP you said the account was transferred to your name? Ultimately the DCA can trace and pursue you for the debt, through the courts if necessary and obtain a CCJ and look to take enforcement action. The fact letters are going to your dad's property are irrelevant. Depends how far the DCA are willing to go for the sake of a £297 debt, they might not take it that far. Who knows!

The issue is regardless the house stood still, gas/electric still has a daily standing charge, which I imagine is what the outstanding bill consists of... At best you could try complain to Scottish Power and ask if they would reduce the bill under the circumstances, but they have no obligation to do this it'd only be a goodwill gesture.

The account was transferred to my name, then closed, as I paid off my final bill, I have checked this online by logging into the site and can confirm there's no charges showing on there as I told them I was moving away and wouldn't be responsible for the property back in early 2016. As far as I'm aware from the letters I've found they only started charging again in 2017 (from estimated readings), so I'm baffled by the whole thing.

Essentially, I feel its stupid, unfair and I don't want to pay it (who does though right). I'm aware of the escalation process and debt collection side of things etc as I work in finance myself, seems daft to pursue a debt of that size through court (especially if the DCA has actually purchased the debt outright).

Seeing as I suffer with depression and anxiety, would anyone know of how energy companies support people with these? Potential vulnerability seems to be a factor companies consider a lot these days.

sevenhills

FDizbo0312 wrote: »

The property was completely empty for 2 years (I notified them of this over the phone when I moved out) and I believe the final bill for my own usage was paid off in June 2016 (dad died back in March 2013, so his own bills have long been done and dusted).

I assume that you mean between your dad dying and you moving in; its either your dad or you that must pay for while it was empty, so its down to you.
You may need to tell them more than once, in an email would be good, then you have a record of it.

FDizbo0312

sevenhills wrote: »

I assume that you mean between your dad dying and you moving in; its either your dad or you that must pay for while it was empty, so its down to you.
You may need to tell them more than once, in an email would be good, then you have a record of it.

I'm fine with giving them an email. I'm also considering making them aware they're making me feel like committing suicide with the pressure they're putting me under.

Cardew

Whilst your frustration is understood, I assume you accept that the bill is valid; for the daily standing charge if nothing else.

In that case, if not yourself, who do you think is responsible for that bill?

trickytree1963

Who inherited the property when the estate was administered ?

FDizbo0312

Cardew wrote: »

Whilst your frustration is understood, I assume you accept that the bill is valid; for the daily standing charge if nothing else.

In that case, if not yourself, who do you think is responsible for that bill?

It is frustrating yes. I don't accept it as valid, as I informed them when I left the property that no one was living there, and I was neither the owner, nor responsible for the property. They closed down my account, I paid off what was due, and I assumed the matter done.

Based upon this, charging me for what was an abandoned property owned by no one (along with issuing threats to a man who's been dead for 5 years - which they were aware of) does not make sense to me.

How frequently do energy providers instigate court action? I couldn't care less about CCJ's and credit file impact etc, that doesn't scare me, but being charged for an empty property with 0 usage of gas from 2016-2018 is ridiculous. Like I say, I'm considering sending them a letter re: suicide.

FDizbo0312

trickytree1963 wrote: »

Who inherited the property when the estate was administered ?

No one inherited the property. There was no will. The property was only ever owned by my father, who died in 2013.