Alleged EDF Debt

Cookieface

Hi,

I recently received 2 letters in the same envelope, 1 from EDF and 1 from Lowell.

The letter states that there was an alleged owed debt to EDF and this debt has now been sold to Lowell and they are trying to collect it.

The debt relates to a property I no longer live in and to a 6 month period after I moved out. The alleged debt also goes back to 2014-2015.

I’m not sure what to do. I also haven’t replied to either EDF or Lowell.

Help please

sourcrates

Hi,

As always with a debt that's not yours or that you do not recognise, send them the provit letter available from here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

This basically tell`s them to prove liability (which they must do) without acknowledging the debt at all, adapt the letter to include your leaving date, and if you can, provide evidence of this.

Then see what Lowell come back to you with.

I would advise you to deal with Lowell now, as they are fairly reasonable for a debt purchaser, but if ignored, will usually take the legal path with you.

Dobbibill

Did you send final meter readings to them when you moved out of the property?
Did they issue a final bill with either debit/credit balance?

The 6 months period following the date you moved out will be easily explained if you did/have copies of the above. You shouldn't be paying someone else's debt.

Cookieface

Hi both,

Thanks for the advice.

I!!!8217;ve just rediscovered our final bill and what!!!8217;s worse is that the EDF account wasn!!!8217;t even in my name at the time, it was my housemates. Should I worry about s ding the letters as proof if my name is not on them and also if it contains my old housemates address etc? Can I black out those details and just show the account number in question?

Thanks again

Dobbibill

What name is on the Lowell debt letter?
What do your credit reports say?

I would check your 3 credit reports and see if anything is showing on there from either company.

National_Debtline

Hi Cookieface


It is possible to be held liable for an energy debt even when you were not named on the bill. If you lived in the property and had the benefit of the energy usage you can be chased for the debt. However if you were not living in the property for the period the bill covers you should not be held liable.


Does the final bill show when you moved out and that the account was settled? If so I would advise sending a copy of that by recorded delivery to Lowell (keep the original for yourself).


Susie
@natdebtline

Cookieface

Hi,

Both letters are dated and state final bill but had a couple of pounds outstanding which we settled over the phone, no correspondence to show the additional payment.

So, to be clear, I should send the following to Lowell:
- the 'provit' letter linked above
- final energy statements, should I remove the name/ address details on the statements?

I also have the housing contract showing the term we lived there, is it worth sending that too or too much?

Thanks

sourcrates

Cookieface wrote: »

Hi,

Both letters are dated and state final bill but had a couple of pounds outstanding which we settled over the phone, no correspondence to show the additional payment.

So, to be clear, I should send the following to Lowell:
- the 'provit' letter linked above
- final energy statements, should I remove the name/ address details on the statements?

I also have the housing contract showing the term we lived there, is it worth sending that too or too much?

Thanks

Send copies of all of the above, leave the details showing.

One thing with Lowell, if the horse is dead, they usually stop flogging it.

Cookieface

I have also just double checked the letter and the account reference isn’t the same anyway. I will send all the info and hopefully get this closed out. Thanks for all your help