Utility bills, debt collection, and credit score?

kirstyprune

My partner and I moved into a new place a few months pack, switched our energy supplier and somehow forgot to find the previous supplier and pay the bills.

This just occurred to us and we've discovered that the previous bills have been passed to a debt collection agency - under other people's names.

If we call up and pay these bills now, will this affect our credit scores? We are considering paying one each, rather than one of us taking a double hit. The debts are small, £50 and £35 (including debt agency fees).

Any ideas how this will affect us? Any experience/advice?

[Deleted User]

The only way debts will impact your credit history is if they appear on your credit files.

[Deleted User]

How do you know they've been passed to an agency if they're under the previous tenants names?

Your "score" won't be affected as a. the debts aren't under your names and b. the score are made up

System

The previous bills for the previous owners/tenants are not your responsibility. If they're not paid it won't affect you.

macman

You cannot switch suppliers without knowing who the outgoing supplier is. You are liable only for the bills from the start of your tenancy to the date of your switch, so something around 5 weeks if you started the process immediately..

System

macman wrote: »

You cannot switch suppliers without knowing who the outgoing supplier is.

Yes you can, done it myself. All you need to give them is the meter reference number and they can find out from the meter database.